Korean Job Discussion Forums

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Anyone know the area around Apgujeong station? I've been living here since Lunar New Year and the place seems determined to bankrupt me. Hyundai baekkwajom is insanely expensive (especially the good cheese, its evil to display that much good cheese and charge so much Evil or Very Mad

), I went to a tent bar and on the menu has dakdori tang for 20,000 and they're even charging 6,000 for haejangguk (they never charged me more than 4,000 out in the boonies and even Gangnam area its only 5,000) and it wasn't even good haejangguk Sad

Can't even seem to find any cheapo chinese or gamjatang places Sad

And the whole place seems to be almost completely devoid of even such a basic necessity as chicken hofs Shocked

I'm used to street markets, grimy cheap hole in the wall restaurants and graffitied ex-pat bars and I can't find any of them around here. Where's a good ghetto when you need one Sad

Oh well, at least the apartment is really close to the subway station and the hagwon and the hagwon I'm working at now is great, but the prices here are driving me a little crazy.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Nip across the river to Itaewon and there's all the ghetto you want!!

I agree though. I work in Apgujeong but never eat out there. I did find one good galbi place but couldn't direct you to it.

Gangnam locals love all that though. High prices and exclusivity.

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Right, I'd go insane if it wasn't for the taco place in Itaewon, but I've got pretty long hours (get paid hourly thank god) and no car so its a pain in the ass to get out of the area for lunch.

It there any street market or decently-cheap grocery store within taxi distacne of the subway station?

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 9:35 pm Post subject:

Sure its possible. My area is even MORE expensive and I have no problem saving. I shop at Hyundai in COEX too. You can go to the outside market near Jamsil and buy tons of food there. I went there once but will go again. The orices are like 1/4 of the prices at the dept store.

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

Daechi, just out of interest why do you waste your money shopping at Hyundai? You have a number of alternatives that not only save you money but have the same products more or less as Hyundai.

Hanaro Mart close to Yangae intersection.
Walmart in Daechidong
A newly opened Emart, again close to Yangae Intersection.

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 9:57 pm Post subject:

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2005 10:27 pm Post subject:

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

Apkujeong is cheap if you know where to look!
there are plenty of cheap restaurants, bars, soju tents etc..
get off the main road and look in the back streets... I hang in Apku often
it just takes some time to know where to look..

komtengi · Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Location: Slummin it up in Haebangchon

yeah it aint that pricey... meet some people that can get you into clubs, and get you drunk for free... that saves cash...
check out �罴... nice little soju bar, not too pricey, nice atmosphere and some damn sexy women

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Yeah, I got to spend more time exploring the back streets, but I live really close to a main one, I'm lazy and I've got a really heavy schedule ATM.

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

I just left Apku last week after being there for a year....I lived the same lifestyle that I did in "cheaper" northern Seoul, and I still banked between 850,000 -- 1,000,000 won per month (half of my total monthly income, as in, I didn't do any privates). I didn't really find that it was that much more expensive -- I mean, there are MORE restaurants and bars and shops that are high-end, but there are also the same mom-n-pop supermarkets that charge regular prices, the same chicken hofs in the neighbourhoods, and the same 2,500 a pint beer hofs ... just less of them. But they do exist.

In the Rodeo area, which is only a 1,600 cab ride from Apkujeong station there is lots of stuff that you will find when you are walking around the streets beyond the main 2 that are Rodeo. If you go south from Apgujeong station and tuck in off the main road there are small neighbourhoods of villas instead of high-rise apts that have supermarkets and noodle shops and greasy chinese take-out/delivery.

And, it's only about a 3,000 cab ride to Seolleung station to get to Walmart...which is open 24-7.

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

there's tons of really awesome restaurants in the 'jong. i rarely pay more than 6,000 every time i eat.

it's an empty, soulless slum of a rich area but there's cool stuff. i'll cook up a PM with some tips if you remind me.

if you can find 'pops' which is right near the nike store, you're so stoked. best hof in korea. there's two chicken hofs on that street, too. they're pricey but i guess they'd be good.