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nick2012
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
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 Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: Where to move to in South Korea? |
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| 12ax7 wrote: |
| stew1988 wrote: |
Hi guys.
First off, I realize similar topics have been covered many many times on these boards, however I have a few specific questions and hope I don't get hassled for going over something previously discussed 
Here are the list of things I am looking for in a place and although I have a pretty good idea of the country, would very much appreciate some suggestions! Thank you in advance for the help...
1. I don't want to live in Gyeonggi-do, but I do want to live quite nearby. For example I want to live near to Gunpo city, however I want to be outside the Gyeonggi area...
2. I want to avoid Seoul and Busan because they are a bit too hectic and a bit too westernized. I want to improve my knowledge of the Korean culture and way of life so going to these Western hubs are probably not for me at the moment...
3. I want to avoid the westernized areas, however I do not want to find myself completely isolated from home comforts. I would like to go to a town with an average size expat community. The thing is, quality is more important than quantity for me. I want to be in a place where the community is close-knit.
4. I would like to go to a naturally beautiful place, i.e.: mountains and lots of green spaces.
That's about all I can think of for now. I look forward to hearing your suggestions!
Cheers. |
I don't know about it being close-knit, but if you want to move to a town that's neither too westernized nor too provincial, where you have easy access to outdoor activities...Then I would recommend Wonju in Gangwon. |
Hi 12ax7, could you elaborate on Wonju at all? Do you live there? This is one of the places I am considering in the near future and am trying to find out as much about it as possible. Any information is useful! |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Yaya wrote: |
I hear Korea's gotten a lot smaller since that subway line connected Chuncheon to Seoul.
I figure the country will keep getting smaller with all of the KTX stops set to open and the bullet trains getting faster. |
It has already? I knew that it was going to connect as far south as Wonju, but I didn't know that the line to Chuncheon had already been completed. |
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Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| 12ax7 wrote: |
| It has already? I knew that it was going to connect as far south as Wonju, but I didn't know that the line to Chuncheon had already been completed. |
It�s been open for more than a year. I believe since around December, 2010. There were plans to extend it all the way to the East coast in a few years but the winter olympics came into the picture since so I wonder how it would affect this plan. They might just go with KTX. |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:32 am Post subject: |
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| Lazio wrote: |
| 12ax7 wrote: |
| It has already? I knew that it was going to connect as far south as Wonju, but I didn't know that the line to Chuncheon had already been completed. |
It�s been open for more than a year. I believe since around December, 2010. There were plans to extend it all the way to the East coast in a few years but the winter olympics came into the picture since so I wonder how it would affect this plan. They might just go with KTX. |
I heard they weren't going to build a KTX track to the Olympic site (in fact, I've also read somewhere that some of the events will be held in Seoul). |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:34 am Post subject: Re: Where to move to in South Korea? |
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| nick2012 wrote: |
| 12ax7 wrote: |
| stew1988 wrote: |
Hi guys.
First off, I realize similar topics have been covered many many times on these boards, however I have a few specific questions and hope I don't get hassled for going over something previously discussed
Here are the list of things I am looking for in a place and although I have a pretty good idea of the country, would very much appreciate some suggestions! Thank you in advance for the help...
1. I don't want to live in Gyeonggi-do, but I do want to live quite nearby. For example I want to live near to Gunpo city, however I want to be outside the Gyeonggi area...
2. I want to avoid Seoul and Busan because they are a bit too hectic and a bit too westernized. I want to improve my knowledge of the Korean culture and way of life so going to these Western hubs are probably not for me at the moment...
3. I want to avoid the westernized areas, however I do not want to find myself completely isolated from home comforts. I would like to go to a town with an average size expat community. The thing is, quality is more important than quantity for me. I want to be in a place where the community is close-knit.
4. I would like to go to a naturally beautiful place, i.e.: mountains and lots of green spaces.
That's about all I can think of for now. I look forward to hearing your suggestions!
Cheers. |
I don't know about it being close-knit, but if you want to move to a town that's neither too westernized nor too provincial, where you have easy access to outdoor activities...Then I would recommend Wonju in Gangwon. |
Hi 12ax7, could you elaborate on Wonju at all? Do you live there? This is one of the places I am considering in the near future and am trying to find out as much about it as possible. Any information is useful! |
Check your PM. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:46 am Post subject: |
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| 12ax7 wrote: |
I heard they weren't going to build a KTX track to the Olympic site (in fact, I've also read somewhere that some of the events will be held in Seoul). |
Fast train lines are being built to link Incheon Airport & Seoul Station with Wonju, Pyeongchang, & Gangneung. No olympic sports events in Seoul. |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:00 am Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
| 12ax7 wrote: |
I heard they weren't going to build a KTX track to the Olympic site (in fact, I've also read somewhere that some of the events will be held in Seoul). |
Fast train lines are being built to link Incheon Airport & Seoul Station with Wonju, Pyeongchang, & Gangneung. No olympic sports events in Seoul. |
Not quite...
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/01/117_102164.html |
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nick2012
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
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| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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12ax7:
Did you get my reply? I'm not sure if it sent correctly as I don't have the required 25 posts thing.
Thanks a lot though, it was really informative. Wonju does sound really nice the way you described it. |
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Garciua
Joined: 16 Sep 2011
Location: Iceland
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| What do people really mean by westernized? By having a few western food-chains or what? |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| What do people really mean by westernized? By having a few western food-chains or what |
Yes, and having foreign food in supermarkets, signs and menus in English, foreign bookshops and people speaking English a lot more widely. Have you never been to Itaewon? (google it if you haven't) That's what people mean by Westernized. In 'Westernized' areas/cities Koreans will often reply to your Korean in English so people on here often want to go to a less Westernized place so they can practise their Korean a bit more. I can't really think of any other advantages. |
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roguefishfood
Joined: 21 May 2011
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Daegu seems a nice mix of home comforts and non-westernized areas, but I won't pretend it's pretty to look at. (Though you can't swing a hammer without hitting a hike-able mountain, which is good enough for some.) |
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Garciua
Joined: 16 Sep 2011
Location: Iceland
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 1:14 am Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
| What do people really mean by westernized? By having a few western food-chains or what |
Yes, and having foreign food in supermarkets, signs and menus in English, foreign bookshops and people speaking English a lot more widely. Have you never been to Itaewon? (google it if you haven't) That's what people mean by Westernized. In 'Westernized' areas/cities Koreans will often reply to your Korean in English so people on here often want to go to a less Westernized place so they can practise their Korean a bit more. I can't really think of any other advantages. |
I've never even been to Korea so no 
From what I've read Daegu have plenty of foreign food in supermarkets and lots of ethnic restaurants? But apart from that there's nothing really different from a "westernized" place compared to a non-westernized place? Like the looks of a city? |
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Garciua
Joined: 16 Sep 2011
Location: Iceland
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 1:16 am Post subject: |
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| roguefishfood wrote: |
| Daegu seems a nice mix of home comforts and non-westernized areas, but I won't pretend it's pretty to look at. (Though you can't swing a hammer without hitting a hike-able mountain, which is good enough for some.) |
Which city is the prettiest reasonable big city in Korea then  ? |
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| roguefishfood wrote: |
| Daegu seems a nice mix of home comforts and non-westernized areas, but I won't pretend it's pretty to look at. (Though you can't swing a hammer without hitting a hike-able mountain, which is good enough for some.) |
Daegu sucks mainly because of the distorted mindset of the people. My mother is from there and... |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:00 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| From what I've read Daegu have plenty of foreign food in supermarkets and lots of ethnic restaurants? |
There are degrees of Westernization. Daegu might have cheese in the supermarkets but it won't have stilton, for example. It'll have a wide choice of wine but will you be able to find some vintage port? There might be Italian restaurants in Daeugu but they probably won't have Italian chefs. You might be able to get a pint of Guiness there but will you have a choice of micro breweries? People will no doubt say if you need these things so badly you should stay in your own country etc.... but it's just a question of choice. In Seoul I'm quite happy eating what the natives eat most of the time but every now and then it's nice to know I can pretty much find any food/drink I want, for a change. Especially if you're here for a while.
| Quote: |
Which city is the prettiest reasonable big city in Korea then ?
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If you're talking about the city itself Koreans would probably say Gyeongju
though apart from the historic places it pretty much looks like all the other towns in Korea. Basically if you're coming here you need to forget the idea of an attractive town/city in the way people talk about towns/cities in Europe for example. Some Korean towns have attractive buidlings/parks in them but that's about as far as it goes. |
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