Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Smithington]

I've frequented two or three foreigner bars in Itaewon over the years. There has always been a healthy mix of foreigners, English-speaking Koreans and the occasional Korean checking out Itaewon. Since that "Itaewon Freedom' song came out a year ago I've found an increasing number of young Koreans (in groups of course) hanging out in my regular haunts. They speak exclusively to themselves, and don't intermingle with the foreigners. Do you think this is a temporary thing, or is the foreigner pub - a place where Westerners and others can go to escape the craziness of Korea once or twice a week - a thing of the past?

[Zyzyfer]

It's been going on since before that song. Over the past few years, Itaewon has become a hip hangout spot. I suspect it started with the restaurants over in HBC getting blogged up by Koreans, and then they decided to hit up Itaewon proper. That's what I saw, anyway.

The bars don't seem to be altering what they're doing to kowtow to the new customer influx, so it doesn't bother me too much...yet.

[english puppet]

[myenglishisno]

[rowdie3]

I live in Itaewon and this is definitely something that I've noticed especially in the last year. I think it is due to the bloggers. I was in Gecko's over the holidays and pretty much every table was full of groups of Koreans. Lunch time is the same - hardly a foreigner to be seen in the place. It's getting to the point where restaurants have waiting lists especially on the weekends.

I miss the old Itaewon before the boom. I guess we do need to find a new hangout.

[pkang0202]

What amazes me in the insanely long line outside of B One on the weekends. Its full of Koreans who are probably coming to Itaewon for the very first time and only heard about B One on the blog sites.

[12ax7]

[strangerbegins]

You take the good with the bad. I've lived in the twon for 3+ years and it's changed a lot, but the gentrification is part of the deal. As korea gets more westernized, naturally more koreans are going to come to itaewon. Personally I roll my eyes when I tell someone I live here and they cringe like I'm living in the middle of East St. Louis, so why would it make sense for me to also try to keep them away? This is Korea, right? Koreans are allowed to come here? I figure it's like hongdae... The center of it has gotten really placid and stale but new independent businesses are expanding on the outskirts. I think that's what's happening with Itaewon. A lot of cool places are cropping up in little back alleys. Anyway, there will always be a "foreigner bar". As soon as one gets saturated another one will pop up. The dude who whines about this problem is the same guy who whines about koreans being xenophobic and too snobby to enter the ghetto. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Also, as for the koreans keeping to themselves, how do you know what they would have done if you had approached them and offered to buy them a shot or something? How often do you go to a bar and strike up a conversation with perfect strangers? I don't.

[toby99]

I also lament the recent "Koreafication" of the twon, but I think certain bars will be safe for the foreseeable future, like 3 alley, Sammy Ryan's, Seoul Pub, the Opry, etc.

Very sad to hear Stompers bit the dust; Dwayne seemed like a great guy. Any word on what will be done with those, ahem, taverns on the hill that were razed in the GI fire?

[cj1976]