Korean Job Discussion Forums

Panda_Dude · Joined: 06 May 2005

I have a few questions about this area as it seems I am going to be moving here soon.

A) How is the Korean night life in Bundang? I am not particularly interested in any foreign bars. I will go anywhere that's fun. (Just to clarify, fun does not mean "pick up a girl").

B) The extensive list of sports related questions Rolling Eyes

- Can anyone recommend any fitness facility in Sunae where there are lots of free weights? (IE. More than one or two barbells, lots of weight plates...).

I want to be able to load up a bar heavily without having to use up all of the weights in the entire facility. (This happened when I tried deadlifting at a Korean gym last July...). [In fact, if the facility has a squat rack (not a smith machine), that would be great]

- Now, I know Hapkido schools are everywhere in Korea and easy to find. However, can anyone recommend a particular school based on the instructors ability, quality of lessons, price...

- Can I toss around a 8 kilogram medicine ball in Central Park without risking having the ball hit someone?

- Are there any groups who play rugby for recreation around the weekend?

- Any recommended hiking trails that are nearby?

C) In central park, do I need to show some type of ID to show disability to ride one of the electric wheel chairs? Or can I just hop in one and raise hell?

(In my heart, I already know the answer. But I still have the dream of busting out electric wheel chair race events)

Thanks for anyone that answers these questions Smile

EDIT:
(Oops, if a mod can move this to the general section, that would be appreciated. I made the mistake of posting in the wrong forum!)

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject:

Night Life : Err, Sunae itself doesn't have much going on. I know where to get a good beer, but as for being busy, nothing. Seohyun is close by, though, and is usually good for some action.

Weights : Um, don't know the gyms too well, but one like you're looking for will probably be expensive. I just stick with the cheap one in my apartment complex, but I don't need much weight.

Medicine Ball : Should be fine, though I'm not sure exactly what that is. You can usually find some room there.

Hiking Trails : I went out to Gumi one time and went to a tiny little temple there. Pretty good trails out there.

Panda_Dude · Joined: 06 May 2005

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 8:03 pm Post subject:

20,000 won but it's really small. Freeweights get up to maybe 50 kg? Plates you can maybe get 150 kg on a bar. Only one separate barbell and the other bar is on a squat machine. Lots of running, biking, cross country kinds of machines though.

I don't know if you can throw heavy balls around in Jungang Park, but the Tancheon River usually has plenty of room to find a place for tossing stuff.

Panda_Dude · Joined: 06 May 2005

Awesome.

Thanks again for your information. It helps a lot.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I and another poster besides Zzyfer live here in the same apt. building. Lots of teachers live in this area. It's a nice, clean area, and the people in Bundang seem to be upper-class, and more friendly, compared to those in other areas in Seoul.

You can join other big gyms a few stops away, however they are not cheap... maybe above 80,000-150,000+ won per month, and may require a year membership, although I've only heard that. I, too, have found the gym inside my building to be sufficient for me, although I'd like to have more heavy free weights. I use the entire stack when doing fly reps and leg reps. The Korean machines seem to have less weight on them compared to the machines back home.

If I were a serious lifter, I wouldn't bother with the gym we have. It's fine for the average "stay in shape" type, though.

Panda_Dude · Joined: 06 May 2005

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Where will you live? Do you know? I live in the Royal Palace Housvill.

Panda_Dude · Joined: 06 May 2005

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

I lived in Sunae-dong for a year. It's suburbia. Not really designed for those looking to party.

My pet peeve about Bundang in general is that everything closes around 10:30. Things like food delivery, restaurants and shopping centers. Everyone in Bundang must go to bed at 11pm.

If you're going to do any unusual sporty stuff in Central Park then you will almost certainly attract an audience. You'll probably get fed up with that.

Best thing you can do in Bundang is buy a bicycle. It's one of the few places in Korea actually suitable for riding a bike.

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

dulouz · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Uranus

The 5500-1 bus runs through Sunae to Seoul Han nam dong and downtown. Goes much faster than the subway. I work right next to Su Nae but I live in Iteawon.

manofwar · Joined: 12 May 2004

Hey not to scare you, but word to the wise, make sure your school provide you with good locks for your apt. A lot of foreign teachers got robbed in the villege. If your school puts you in an offictele no worries. My girl got burned, and lot of her co-workers also got hit. Again, I'm not trying to scare u, but invest or ask your school to put in good locks.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I assume "The Village" is that complex in Jeonja-dong where several foreigners were robbed last year. The locks on those doors to that place were cheap, and someone was placing putty in the keyhole and making copies of the keys. There should be threads here if you do a search.

My place, the Housvill, has guards and card-entry doors. The locks are electronic, but have short keys that open them, so I decided to invest in an extra deadbolt for when I leave on vacation.