Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jennad]

I have an interview with a school in Bundang (Nambundang SLP) on Sunday night, and from what I've read on Bundang, it seems like a very nice, new, clean city. I've also read it's more "upscale" and wealthy than other suburbs of Seoul

So does this mean the cost of living there is much more expensive than other satellite cities? The position pays between 2-2.1 Million Won, so I don't want to live somewhere that's super expensive.

Any thoughts or info on Bundang? Thanks!

[climber159]

It depends upon where in Bundang you will be. Bundang encompasses quite a large area. Even if you're in the wealthier areas (Jeongja, Sunae, Seohyeon) it will only cost more if you make the more expensive choices. Housing might be more expensive, but so long as your school is providing your apartment, then you needn't worry about that. If you choose to eat out on "Cafe street" in Jeongja on a regular basis then, yes, you will quickly see your paycheck diappear. However, E-Marts, Lotte-Marts, Kim-bap Cheon-guks, and the like populate the area so you'll be fine.

[thejasman1]

So how is it going in Bundang? Where are you living? Any update on your current opinion of the area?

[Tropic of Cancer]

My girl and I lived in Bundang (the Migeum Station area) two years ago. I miss living there.

This is probably not the norm, but--my girl's apartment, provided by her school, was a loft-style joint with quite a bit of area to it.

Most shopkeepers and residents around us spoke some level of English. The students too. (Some of them had spoiled-rotten attitudes of entitlement, I will say.)

In Ori and Migeum there are a few tasty-and-cheap Korean restaurants--5,000 to 8,000 KRW for a large meal. In Jeongja, in the Star Park mall, there is a tiny restaurant called Luna, which serves simple and affordable fare, but with ultra-fresh ingredients; my co-workers and I frequented that place at lunch hours. Also, like climber159 said, there are numerous kimbap places. As for non-Korean grub, I haven't come across any worth raving about. There's a place on Jeongja's Cafe Street called Marienne's (or Marianne's), whose food isn't very bad; whose selling point, though, was an 8,000 KRW all-you-can-drink wine special, and I don't know if that's still available. I know there's a Loving Hut (vegan) restaurant in Bundang, as well as a Suji's: the former quite affordable.

For groceries: Home Plus in Ori (wine and whisky, 's really what I went there for); Lotte Mart in Sunae; Garak Market in, well, Garak; E-Mart in (what I think is) Jeongja, and one in Jukjeon. And a few Ahjumma on the sidewalks. (The one outside of Migeum Station, exit one or two, sell great apples for 5,000 KRW a sack.)

Haircuts: I can only speak for the Migeum area--a place called Isiah, methinks, whose barbers/stylists do a swell job; I paid 8,000 for wash, cut, shampoo, all that.

I only worked part-time during my time there. I earned, at best, 1.5 million a month and .8 at the worst. I didn't quite manage my money either. Money wasn't a problem, not for me.

[Smudger]

[Tropic of Cancer]

F-series visa. For a school.

[northway]

I've found that prices in greater Seoul are pretty consistent outside of rent and the choices available to you. The recruiters' "Seoul is expensive, you should live in Hwaseong" stuff is 90% BS. Bundang can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be.

[jennad]

[Oreovictim]

Find out exactly where you'll be living. I worked at a school near Jeongja. Yep, nice area. But my studio was past Ori Station and just outside of the border of Bundang - in Yonin. I had to live in the uber crappy Easy View Apartments.

[atwood]

Bundang is great. I really enjoyed living there. I lived right across from Central Park and what was then Samsung Plaza and is now AK Plaza.

The only negative is the little CD shop, which was one of the best in Korea, is no longer there.

[lalartu]

Bundang is slightly more expensive than the rest of Korea and it will slowly add up to your expenses for sure...


I live near Sunae and just as an example:
-most PC bangs in the area are 500 won more expensive per hour than most PC bangs in other provinces
-chicken on a stick (dakkochi) is 2500W, normally it's 1500-2000
-regular Korean food places are 500W-1000W pricier
-most restaurants in the Sunae/Jeongja/Seohyung areas are fancy and expensive
-Indian food is almost twice more expensive than in Itaewon
-you'll pay more for your key deposit/monthly utilities/other apartment related expenses if you have to pay for those


Overall, it's a good area, but it is more expensive...