Korean Job Discussion Forums

[col89]

Hi,

I'm moving here next month as a first-timer EFL teacher, and I would appreciate any help or information as to what could be done in or near the area, itself! Has anybody any ideas on the social life, places to visit (scenic and such), etc.?

I'd be very thankful if anyone can give any information, whatsoever.

[col89]

Has anyone got any idea about what this area is like?

[smithy]

I used to live on Geoje-do but I was in Gohyeon. If I remember rightly, Jangseungpo is one of the smaller towns (villages) on the island but has a ferry terminal to Busan (although the new bridge is probably a quicker way to get there now).

Anyway, search for Geoje Teachers Group (GTG) on facebook, they're a helpful bunch on there.

[jazzminedoxxy]

I live in Okpodong. Nothing much to do. http://www.gfra.net/

[Louis VI]

Jangseungpo is an awesome location relative to the beaches! (Wyheon, Gujora, Hakdong)

Jangseungpo also has a decent indoor swimming pool in the Geoje Arts Center building (you can't miss it, it's the most modern structure in the town). There is a dramatic theater and stage for classical music performances, some of which are pretty good actually.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QoU_HzWVqeI/S22A0u5xG6I/AAAAAAAAAA8/EvwDhAL3bIM/s320/SSA53088.JPG

Jangseungpo is a fishing village port traditionally (it still has some good seafood restaurants!) but with tons of tourists taking ferries from there to Oedo Island and the Haegeumgang coastal tours. Plus the town is on the southern side of the Daewoo (DSME) ShipBuilding site, half of the island's billion dollar shipbuilding industry, so the best hospital on the island is located there and a lot of apartments of shipyard employees. Lots of private lesson opportunities, trust me.

Jangseungpo is close to great tennis courts at the Geoje College campus up on the cliffside. I loved playing there.

Jangseungpo is 10 minutes from restaurant-filled Okpo and 20-25 minutes from major supermarkets in the island's biggest community, Gohyeon.

Jangseungpo and nearby Okpo have direct ferries to Busan that take under an hour. There is a new bridge-tunnel link to big city Busan from the island so I assume there would be bus service by now.

I lived in Okpo for three years and wished I'd lived in Jangseungpo between April and October given how nice the weather is, and relative location to beaches and that nice southeastern coast of the island. I told myself if I ever moved back there it would be to Jangseungpo.

Jangseungpo is a place you would want your own wheels, not to get around in the town itself, as it's walkable, but for getting around the island. Buses go up and down the coast, but it's faster and more convenient to hop onto a scooter you paid 400,000 won for, or drive a 10-year-old car you paid 1 million won for (with cheap repairs).

Oh, and Jangseungpo has a large orphanage on the hill that foreigners are encouraged to volunteer at on Saturdays.

There's quite a foreigner community on the island and there are regular events like picnics and hikes. I've met tons of European engineers and their families that way. Nice. maybe not for the twentysomething clubbish crowd though. There's also a lot of imported goods available there, which is nice (I live on Jeju Island now and there's less imported good opportunities here as far as I've been able to find).

Jangseungpo is on the east side of the southeasternmost part of the country, getting less Asian mainland winter and spring pollution, and more blue skies in winter ("Blue City" is Geoje Island's nickname) and in four winters on the island I only experienced snow once.

And, oh, by the way, there are express buses starting and ending in Jangseungpo for Seoul (straight to Nambu terminal near Gangnam) in 4.5 hours flat! The only times the fast express bus stops is to take on passangers in Goyheon (downtown Geoje Island basically) and a pit stop at a highway truck stop for 15 minutes. I have MANY TIMES taken the Friday night 11 o'clock bus to Seoul, sleeping the way up, spending Saturday and Sunday shopping and visiting museums, eating different restaurant foods, etc., then bussing it back Sunday early afternoon, getting back before dark. I did this about once every two months for years. About once a month I took the one-hour jaunt to nearby big city Busan. Bus travel is cheap in Korea and cheap motels are also easy to find. Once a month travel to somewhere else in the country via the efficient bus system is a fun hobby if you give it a try!

Jangseungpo is not for everybody, but for some it is pretty good!

[col89]

Thanks for the replies, and especially to Louis - your description sounds awesome!

I'm so excited to move over there and see what it is like for myself. I don't think I will be disappointed. I've been told before to get a scooter, and I may get myself one but I will have to save a bit for one first (I'm not sure how expensive they are, and I wouldn't have much money when I move over straight away). But, for the meantime, I will be happy to take public transport just to see what I can discover around the area.

[Murakano]

don`t think there`s anything more to add to Louis V`s post.....

I used to live in Okpo where there are lots of expats, not all ESL teachers....many European engineers due to Daewoo shipbuildng industry.

I enjoyed Geoje Island....nice beaches to visit in the warmer months. As for a bike? You can get a half decent one for 500k+. I guess, keep an eye out in the facebook link for people selling.

Kojehash.com is an excellent way to meet other people. All sorts of people do the hash so it`s never really too strenuous if you`re not much of a hiker even. It`s in Okpo though.

Can`t add much about Jangseungpo as I only really took the ferry there and back to/from Busan before.