Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cam83]

Ok so there seems to be a disagreement as to where the central hub of Seoul is.

Hongdae/Sinchon
Itaewon
Myeongdong

Sorry but what does Hongdae offer to families? What daytime entertainment is there? I don't go there much during the day but at night I see drunk students and English teachers mostly... and about 10 Oasis/Beatles acoustic bands! What are these authentic international food joints you speak of? Shopping? Please... name me 2 stores you (as in you personally) can buy clothes from after 11pm.

A central hub caters to everyone... I think Itaewon does a much better job.

I have only been to Sinchon a handful of times so not sure... though I didn't come across. The reason I say Itaewon is bcos I see the most diversity in a 24hr cycle.

I haven't come across any noraebangs in Itaewon... where are they?

No late cinemas? http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/midnight-movies-in-nyc-where-to-watch-late-night-films - like I said you MIGHT find 1 or 2 Hollywood movie at select CGV's late night.

Myeongdong certainly has more tourists during the day but it's mostly Fri-Sun and you do a lot of of shopping... it's dead after 11pm during the week.

[Neil]

I always liked that Seoul never had one central hub, it encouraged one to spend each weekend in a different neighborhood.

Whichever businessman gets the bright idea of opening a decent pub in Myeongdong first is going to make a killing. The place is consistently rammed with shoppers during the day yet there's nowhere to get a drink after you've loaded up with clothes or whatever.

[cam83]

[Steelrails]

It seems like we're all starting to go back and forth between the city during all hours and serving all people vs. night life and central hub vs. city as a whole. Obviously we have to differentiate because what works for one does not work for the other.

The whole hub vs. whole city thing is interesting. It would be nice to have one big megadistrict that has all of the things you mentioned, and at the same time as you say, it is nice to go into different areas because there are different things there. I don't really know where to stand because there are good things about both. Some people like "one stop shopping", others like the idea of different zones for different things so they can specialize. Yongsan technodigibootlegzone, Itaewonforeignfoodapalooza, Hongdae cheapfunorama.

As for daytime vs. nighttime, I'm a little lost here. Seems like half the time everyone was arguing over 2AM indie movie screenings and grocery stores and then we have daytime shopping.

[3DR]

[cam83]

SR, I said everyone.... you then talk specifically about Asian tourist as if that's the standard for 'everyone'. This doesn't includes locals, westerners, students, families and more importantly, people with different levels of disposable income... u can get a meal and a beer for $10 or $100, which is not the case in Apgu.

My Hongdae post wasn't addressed to u directly but another poster who claimed it to be the hub of Seoul.

Seriously, during the week, go to Myeongdong after 11pm and tell me what you can do bcos in my experience it is dead! Even the Asian tourists are back at their hostels etc. You might just be thinking about Fri - Sun though.

I have spent a lot of time in Apgu/Cheongdam... foreigners simply don't go there after the shops close. They do have awesome food and quite the variety but it's very expensive, so imo doesn't have a wide demographic. Also most of these places don't speak anything but Korean + Korean menus.

Rodeo has a few nice places like Perriot Strike or Butterfinger Panckakes (nom nom!) then it's a bunch of expensive lounges.

As you said, back and forth, I can't say 100% bcos our experiences differ, so I'm actualy interested if people have experienced the things I mention. The great thing is, is tha Seoul is always changing and rapidly growing so new bars/facilities are always a few months away.

[cam83]

[Mr. BlackCat]

There are two things on this thread that are kind of missing the point.

1) We're stuck on what's available in certain areas at 2am. I've brought it up before, that's not the be all and end all of what makes up a 24 hour city. What's available at 6am? You can't even get a cup of coffee at 6am in most neighbourhoods in Seoul. Grocery stores and almost every other kind of service is closed. In my neighbourhood close to central Seoul with a couple of subway lines running through it there is nothing open on my way to work at 830am. Coffeeshops, pharmacies, cell phone stores, grocery stores, restaurants (even the kimbap places), EVERYTHING is still closed. That's a lie, actually, Paris Baguette way down the road is just opening up. A breakfast place is just opening up at 830am!

2) Whenever people bring up examples of things not being open at certain times, we're told that it's not "important" or that it's not part of the culture. Well, those are explanations for why Seoul isn't as 24 hour as other cities, not a reason to overlook that fact.

I also just want to state since I've been misquoted several times here, I never said 24 hour pharmacies and groceries make a 24 hour "party city". I said many people around the world think of NY as a 24 party city, and in a completely different post I said these services are part of what make a city 24 hours. Instead of confronting the issue of whether Seoul is more 24 hours, some people here instead just try to diminish the importance of certain things. Because sure, if you take out grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, clothes stores, public transportation, entertainment, phone services, department stores, coffeeshops, children play areas, and pretty much every other service besides bars, then Seoul looks pretty good. But that's a very narrow interpretation of what makes a city 24 hours.

[jvalmer]

[Steelrails]

[Mr. BlackCat]

[cam83]

[jvalmer]

[Who's Your Daddy?]

^^only you brought up western breakfast places.

[Steelrails]