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Los Angeloser
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:56 am Post subject: |
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Itaewon? Long after Korean customers including ethnic have mostly taken over(which is practically the case now), Itaewon will still be seen and known as a "dangereous" place according to most Koreans as long as a few foreigners live nearby but don't frequent the place nearly as much at night. Foreign shoppers during the day(if there are that many?) will be blamed for mostly Korean crime at night. The Push Is On!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-mU-YSk32I |
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kimchipig
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| T-J wrote: |
| kimchipig wrote: |
When I got to Korea in 1993 for the first time, Iteawon was the only place in the entire country to get even a sniff of Western culture. The one and only McDonald's in the whole country was there. I was in Deajeon and we often caught the late train to Seoul after class on Friday. We'd get to the Nashville Club at 11:00 pm, feast of brews and beers and then head off to Just Blues for jazz and dancing. It was loads of fun.
It was a dirty, seedy place, made more so by the subway construction, that was chronically running out of money. The whole place was a shambles for ten years. The back allies were especially interesting. I lived in Iteawon from 1998-2000 and it was quite an experience, let me tell you.
I was back in 2011 and like so much of Asia, globalisation has made Iteawon just another designer brands street. Chinese tourists thronged the place. The charm was gone. So was the filth, but I miss the total cheesy seediness that Iteawon excreted two decades ago. |
Um, not quite.
There were McDonald's all over the place. One in the basement on the Grace Department Store in Shinchon (now the Hyundai dept. store). Wendy's was here back then as well. I used to eat at the one at the COEX. Taco Bells were to be found in 이대 as well as 압구정. The TGI Friday's has been in 홍대 since '94 or so, though back then it was located on the NE side of the intersection behind the now non existent "Blue Roof Gas Station" that was iconic back in the day. Pizza Huts and KFCs were ubiquitous as well.
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I don't recall that being the case in 1993. Were you in Korea then? |
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Los Angeloser
Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| PatrickBateman wrote: |
| Hopefully The Grand Ole Opry is on its way out as well. That place is a DUMP!(I was forced to go there once) |
I suppose it's easy for you to bash what most S. Koreans don't even understand.
Most Koreans wouldn't know country music if they heard it, young and old Koreans still today think(when they listen) that "Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young" is country music. Yet, that "country", or "western(American) music" was seen and heard by Park, Chung-hee as "the most serious problem" of the day in the late 60's/early 70's.
Just because most Koreans don't know much about folk and country doesn't mean the rest of the world doesn't. I doubt The Grand Ole Opry cares whether you think it's a "dump" or not. BTW, who "forced" you to go there and when was it?
You said The Grand Ole Opry "is a dump" but when were you last there? I'd bet you were just a bundle of joy to go there with as you pessimistically thought to yourself..."Oh no, I'm being forced to go, Goo Goo Gaa Gaa."
If I don't want to go somewhere I just don't go, it's really not that hard to say "NO!" Are you really that easy? |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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| kimchipig wrote: |
| T-J wrote: |
| kimchipig wrote: |
When I got to Korea in 1993 for the first time, Iteawon was the only place in the entire country to get even a sniff of Western culture. The one and only McDonald's in the whole country was there. I was in Deajeon and we often caught the late train to Seoul after class on Friday. We'd get to the Nashville Club at 11:00 pm, feast of brews and beers and then head off to Just Blues for jazz and dancing. It was loads of fun.
It was a dirty, seedy place, made more so by the subway construction, that was chronically running out of money. The whole place was a shambles for ten years. The back allies were especially interesting. I lived in Iteawon from 1998-2000 and it was quite an experience, let me tell you.
I was back in 2011 and like so much of Asia, globalisation has made Iteawon just another designer brands street. Chinese tourists thronged the place. The charm was gone. So was the filth, but I miss the total cheesy seediness that Iteawon excreted two decades ago. |
Um, not quite.
There were McDonald's all over the place. One in the basement on the Grace Department Store in Shinchon (now the Hyundai dept. store). Wendy's was here back then as well. I used to eat at the one at the COEX. Taco Bells were to be found in 이대 as well as 압구정. The TGI Friday's has been in 홍대 since '94 or so, though back then it was located on the NE side of the intersection behind the now non existent "Blue Roof Gas Station" that was iconic back in the day. Pizza Huts and KFCs were ubiquitous as well.
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I don't recall that being the case in 1993. Were you in Korea then? |
'91 to '93 의정부, '93 to '95 신촌 and '95 to '98 홍대.
The 이대 Taco Bell was on the corner by the subway stn right next to the Pizza Hut. It closed in early '93. The 압구정 store stayed open a few years more, closed in '95 if I remember.
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Seoulman69
Joined: 14 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| cj1976 wrote: |
| I'm With You wrote: |
| fezmond wrote: |
| I agree with cj. Prost and most of the bars back there are places to be seen now. I'd much rather Seoul pub or some shithole like it that at least has a bit of character and doesn't charge stupid prices. The food in Prost is crap too. |
I agree. I walked in, took a look around, and then walked out. I can't stand places like that. Western cities are full of places like these where the trendy and yuppy-like tend to go. No soul or character at all. I'd rather sit down and drink in the Seoul Pub. |
The one time I went to Prost I ended up getting into a set-to with an angry midget gyopo and the fat American heifers he was apparently guarding, despite their obnoxious behaviour. That was after 10 minutes of entering the establishment. The whole place was full of people who didn't seem to be enjoying themselves because they were too concerned about how they looked compared to others, while supping on 8000 won Heinekens.
Saying that, Seoul pub is a little too far on the other extreme, if you know what I mean. . |
I got into a fracas with a short gyopo last year. A wretched little man who looked like he abused steroids (a clear indication of someone who lacks self confidence). I wonder if it was the same guy? Or whether there are a large percentage of nasty gyopos out there? |
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augustine
Joined: 08 Sep 2012
Location: México
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Foreign shoppers during the day(if there are that many?) |
There are a ton.
I'd call it official when there's no longer one of those crazy, half naked bums on one of the main corners screaming at people, laying in a pile of trash, or peeing in some obvious place around the corner. Once they actually make those guys move elsewhere, the dream is over. |
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furtakk
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| augustine wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Foreign shoppers during the day(if there are that many?) |
There are a ton.
I'd call it official when there's no longer one of those crazy, half naked bums on one of the main corners screaming at people, laying in a pile of trash, or peeing in some obvious place around the corner. Once they actually make those guys move elsewhere, the dream is over. |
Haha, I see the same guy twice a day. It's gotten to the point where if I don't see him, on the way to or from work, I wonder what's happened. He is always on the south west side near the bus station across from taco bell. I've seen him drop pants and take a piss right in the middle of the street on a Saturday afternoon. Scared some of the locals for sure. |
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seansmith
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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Parts of this this thread are making me all wistful and nostalgic. I arrived in Seoul in the summer of 1999. The Itaewon of that time was a place where anything could happen, and often did. Nights of stumbling about, having random conversations with friendly strangers in a range of bars, all the while looking for "open minded" Korean girls. Seedy? Sure, but I gleefully wallowed in it for a time. My God, does anyone remember the club Limelight? (aka Slimelight). Does anyone remember the weekends on Hooker Hill when there were hundreds of drunk people partying, with 12 KATUSA and US soldiers positioned at the top (where the old Stompers club was) to keep order?
I was back this April and went behind the Hamilton Hotel. I remember when the only bar there was the 3 Alley Pub owned by Gunther. It's now excessively gentrified. Can't say I'm against the swank, overpriced establishments, but after walking about and checking them out, I crossed the street and downed some pints at Seoul Pub. That's still Itaewon for me. |
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Gaininganadventur
Joined: 02 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 10:09 pm Post subject: Metro Bar |
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| Does anyone know if Metro Bar is still up and running? |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't have much nostalgia as I haven't been here as long as you dudes. But from late 2006 onward, I've noticed changes in the country as a whole. Definately less xenophobic, at least on the surface. That said, I would hate to see real "ethnic" food disappear into overpriced Koreanized versions of these places. I usually don't extol government intervention but this is one time I'd make an exception and ask for rent controls to keep these foriegn restaurants and other unique businesses in place. |
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Ralph Winfield
Joined: 23 Apr 2013
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| Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 6:59 am Post subject: Re: Metro Bar |
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| Gaininganadventur wrote: |
| Does anyone know if Metro Bar is still up and running? |
Hello,
If it is the same Metro Bar as the one that was located above Taco Bell on Bogwangdong Street a few months ago, then she should still be there. It was on the second floor of the same building that had a Family Mart on the ground floor. Geckos Pub and a Shinhan Bank occupied the building that was at the corner of Bogwangdong Street and I'taewon Street. A nice place with a cool vibe. They even offered me and other teachers homemade Korean food for free! The toilets were clean and the female employees there were very nice. |
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Knight Errant
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Location: Here and There
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| Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:38 pm Post subject: Metro Bar |
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| Fond memories; playing pool, discussions with the boys that flourished and capitulated to irrelevance, Chinese luck, a jump to the Casino, then back to Metro again. Hope it's still there when I return next year for a visit. |
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augustine
Joined: 08 Sep 2012
Location: México
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| Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Got a look at the new JR Southern BBQ joint that's opening up soon... and good friggin' lord, that place takes up half the street. I can't think of an Itaewon eating/drinking establishment that's larger in size; maybe one of those hipster rip off joints towards Hangangin where I bought a $13 smoothie once. I hope the food is good. A giant sized southern BBQ joint in the middle of Itaewon? Heh, I guess that's how it has to be done... |
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daeguowl
Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| T-J wrote: |
| kimchipig wrote: |
| T-J wrote: |
| kimchipig wrote: |
When I got to Korea in 1993 for the first time, Iteawon was the only place in the entire country to get even a sniff of Western culture. The one and only McDonald's in the whole country was there. I was in Deajeon and we often caught the late train to Seoul after class on Friday. We'd get to the Nashville Club at 11:00 pm, feast of brews and beers and then head off to Just Blues for jazz and dancing. It was loads of fun.
It was a dirty, seedy place, made more so by the subway construction, that was chronically running out of money. The whole place was a shambles for ten years. The back allies were especially interesting. I lived in Iteawon from 1998-2000 and it was quite an experience, let me tell you.
I was back in 2011 and like so much of Asia, globalisation has made Iteawon just another designer brands street. Chinese tourists thronged the place. The charm was gone. So was the filth, but I miss the total cheesy seediness that Iteawon excreted two decades ago. |
Um, not quite.
There were McDonald's all over the place. One in the basement on the Grace Department Store in Shinchon (now the Hyundai dept. store). Wendy's was here back then as well. I used to eat at the one at the COEX. Taco Bells were to be found in 이대 as well as 압구정. The TGI Friday's has been in 홍대 since '94 or so, though back then it was located on the NE side of the intersection behind the now non existent "Blue Roof Gas Station" that was iconic back in the day. Pizza Huts and KFCs were ubiquitous as well.
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I don't recall that being the case in 1993. Were you in Korea then? |
'91 to '93 의정부, '93 to '95 신촌 and '95 to '98 홍대.
The 이대 Taco Bell was on the corner by the subway stn right next to the Pizza Hut. It closed in early '93. The 압구정 store stayed open a few years more, closed in '95 if I remember.
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Denny's and Mrs Fields in Myeongdong too... |
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