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weso1
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
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 Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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5 years ago, Itaewon was a totally different place than it is now. You noobs missed out on the good years.
All stores were mom and pops with stolen merch they'd sell for pennies on the dollar. You could tell it was black market because all the tags were slashed or defaced some way.
All the street vendors had rinky dink little stands that looked like they'd fall apart if a strong wind blew. Now they all have the green boxes the Seoul government made them buy.
Cold stone used to be a Burger King an Quiznos was a pretty good galbi spot.
Indian and Pakistani food was king. Much like Arab and Turkish food is now.
I remember the old style sidewalk before they tore it all up and put down plates with countries on them. Which they left Alaska off the America plate, I'm still pissed about that. I wonder how they would have felt if we did that and left Jeju off the Korean plate?
There were no name brand stores. I mean none. Not even one.
The back alley with all the restaurants has changed a bit. It used to be mainly Korean stuff, not it's much more international, which I think is better.
All the bars and clubs feel like they cater to young Koreans now, rather than 30 something foreigners. Once you're in one and a few beers in, you forget you're in Itaewon and may think you're in Hongdae.
Homo hill didn't used to be homo hill. It was just called "gay hill" and there weren't any real bars or places there. Just gay dudes used to stroll around up there looking to hook up.
More transgender clubs and ladyboy bars now. Can't say that's a bad thing  I see some Korean transgender now too. Glad to see they feel more comfortable about being out and open.
Fewer soldiers these days, not sure why.
Maybe it's just me, but I miss the old seedy gritty and grimmey days of Itaewon. But times, they are a changin' |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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| weso1 wrote: |
| 5 years ago, Itaewon was a totally different place than it is now. You noobs missed out on the good years. |
lol
Should've seen it 10 years ago. There wasn't even a subway station  |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Zyzyfer wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
Yes, but Itaewon hasn't declined in terms of what it has to offer. It still has some interesting bars and pubs, and it has more of a variety of good restaurants including a Brazilian restaurant. I haven't tried the African restaurant that opened near KB a few years ago. I think I'll try it some time.
I didn't know about Busan having a Russian merchant marine place. What was that all about? I guess it's gone. I like having a Russian flavor to places because I like Russians and Russian food.
Seoul still has a huge expat population, so it wouldn't be hit by a moving of the base in the same way as Busan/Pusan. Itaewon is not as associated with an American presence as it used to be. |
Have to disagree with the bit in bold. Itaewon is really in with the younger Korean crowd nowadays. By itself, it's fine, but when they blog or whatever it is they're doing to make a place suddenly bustle with Korean customers, they end up having these long lines and falling out of the rotation of places expats discuss.
Smokey Saloon's, Taco Chili Chili's, Pizza di Roma, Jackoby's...they've all been converted. These places all do not appear to have changed their food around yet, but I'm wary that they will. |
What do you mean? The food will become Koreanized? Shame if that happened. I mean there are 999 other place in Korea to get a damn corn pizza. Don't need to get it in Itaewon too. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| weso1 wrote: |
5 years ago, Itaewon was a totally different place than it is now. You noobs missed out on the good years.
All stores were mom and pops with stolen merch they'd sell for pennies on the dollar. You could tell it was black market because all the tags were slashed or defaced some way.
All the street vendors had rinky dink little stands that looked like they'd fall apart if a strong wind blew. Now they all have the green boxes the Seoul government made them buy.
Cold stone used to be a Burger King an Quiznos was a pretty good galbi spot.
Indian and Pakistani food was king. Much like Arab and Turkish food is now.
I remember the old style sidewalk before they tore it all up and put down plates with countries on them. Which they left Alaska off the America plate, I'm still pissed about that. I wonder how they would have felt if we did that and left Jeju off the Korean plate?
There were no name brand stores. I mean none. Not even one.
The back alley with all the restaurants has changed a bit. It used to be mainly Korean stuff, not it's much more international, which I think is better.
All the bars and clubs feel like they cater to young Koreans now, rather than 30 something foreigners. Once you're in one and a few beers in, you forget you're in Itaewon and may think you're in Hongdae.
Homo hill didn't used to be homo hill. It was just called "gay hill" and there weren't any real bars or places there. Just gay dudes used to stroll around up there looking to hook up.
More transgender clubs and ladyboy bars now. Can't say that's a bad thing I see some Korean transgender now too. Glad to see they feel more comfortable about being out and open.
Fewer soldiers these days, not sure why.
Maybe it's just me, but I miss the old seedy gritty and grimmey days of Itaewon. But times, they are a changin' |
Homo hills? Where is this place? I'm not Homo. I just want to avoid it at night. Not anti gay or anything, just would prefer to avoid stumbling into it late at night. Ha ha.
There are only a couple of hills, I can think of. Up the hill where the Foriegn food mart is. I think one of the side alleys is hooker hill and there's a mosque up there somewhere?
As for time, Quiznos was there a few years back, Subway too. I do remember there being a motel above McDonalds, I think? Seemed less international places than now. Still seems like a lot of Indian Pakastani restaurants.
On an unrelated matter, when does the army base at Youngsan move out? Just curious. |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Itaewon was a cesspool back in the day, and I don't miss those stupid days at all. Koreans with no interest in either English or foreigners are going there now, and this has raised prices and interest.
Don't forget, the Itaewon area was a happenin' district in the 1980s in Korea, and its resurgence shows that history is cyclical.
A lot of the buildings are old and cruddy and need to go, too. |
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pegasus64128
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:35 pm Post subject: Re: Changes in Seoul and Itaewon over the years |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| Pancho's, the Mexican place, is gone. |
Good.
| Adventurer wrote: |
| The Turkish kebab guy who has been around for years is still there. I would have thought he would have expanded by now. I heard he was cheated by some local fellow he was trying to strike some deal with. If it's true, I feel sorry for the guy. He's very hard-working. |
Surprised he's still at it. Busan has better Kebab mobiles though.
| Adventurer wrote: |
| I saw people in navy uniforms. I've never seen that before. I've only seen people in army uniforms in the past. It was unusual. Then again, a friend who is in the navy went to Korea before. |
I'd say that's a once off. |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| the Parisian cafe with fabulous tarts |
Ooh la la! Tell me more, tell me more! |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| weso1 wrote: |
5 years ago, Itaewon was a totally different place than it is now. You noobs missed out on the good years.
All stores were mom and pops with stolen merch they'd sell for pennies on the dollar. You could tell it was black market because all the tags were slashed or defaced some way.
All the street vendors had rinky dink little stands that looked like they'd fall apart if a strong wind blew. Now they all have the green boxes the Seoul government made them buy.
Cold stone used to be a Burger King an Quiznos was a pretty good galbi spot.
Indian and Pakistani food was king. Much like Arab and Turkish food is now.
I remember the old style sidewalk before they tore it all up and put down plates with countries on them. Which they left Alaska off the America plate, I'm still pissed about that. I wonder how they would have felt if we did that and left Jeju off the Korean plate?
There were no name brand stores. I mean none. Not even one.
The back alley with all the restaurants has changed a bit. It used to be mainly Korean stuff, not it's much more international, which I think is better.
All the bars and clubs feel like they cater to young Koreans now, rather than 30 something foreigners. Once you're in one and a few beers in, you forget you're in Itaewon and may think you're in Hongdae.
Homo hill didn't used to be homo hill. It was just called "gay hill" and there weren't any real bars or places there. Just gay dudes used to stroll around up there looking to hook up.
More transgender clubs and ladyboy bars now. Can't say that's a bad thing I see some Korean transgender now too. Glad to see they feel more comfortable about being out and open.
Fewer soldiers these days, not sure why.
Maybe it's just me, but I miss the old seedy gritty and grimmey days of Itaewon. But times, they are a changin' |
I support these sentiments. |
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bekinseki
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:41 pm Post subject: Re: Changes in Seoul and Itaewon over the years |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| Dongdaemun Stadium changed its name and has a very long name. I prefer the shorter name. |
Have you actually been back there yet? Both stadiums were torn down by the end of 2008. Now they're building a giant green vadge in its place, and that's History and Culture Park. The history part comes from when they were excavating the land and found a forgotten section of original city wall, and they quickly changed plans to preserve it. |
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creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:08 am Post subject: |
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Well, well, well, well look who's back.
It is the adventurer dude.
I remember you on the "official so long suckers thread" talking about how you were out of Korea and how you would get back your dignity at home.
Looks like things didn't work out.
Probably other contributors on that thread re-registered under different names. |
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PatrickBateman
Joined: 08 Jun 2009
Location: American Gardens Building, West 81st Street
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| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:00 am Post subject: |
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Personally, I find Itaewon gross and lacking in any interesting locations. I will make the occasional trip there begrudgingly to appease some friends, but I really try to avoid going there.
Last edited by PatrickBateman on Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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PatrickBateman
Joined: 08 Jun 2009
Location: American Gardens Building, West 81st Street
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| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| weso1 wrote: |
Fewer soldiers these days, not sure why.
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Unfortunately, they've learned how to read an English/Korean subway map and have located 홍대. |
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