Korean Job Discussion Forums

[boogiet]

Hi guys,
I've been looking for a real central position in Seoul. I've always lived in the centre of town, and I don't want to change.
So, for those of you who feel the same, is Mokdong too far west? What about Balsan?
I don't need to be at the base of office buildings, but I do want pretty central digs. Is Sangdo area good?
Thanks alot,
Newbie Boogs

[ajgeddes]

Mokdong and Balsan are on the western edge of the city. However, that doesn't make them bad locations. It is close to the popular bar area and very close to the airports comparing to the rest of Seoul. Balsan is only like 8 minutes from the domestic airport by subway. Mokdong is a nice area (I think the least densely populated area in Seoul) and you can be in the old downtown area in 25 minutes be subway.

[billybrobby]

I've always considered Jongno and the area by city hall to be the center of seoul. Everything inside the original city walls (currently marked by the Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, etc.) is pretty central, right?

Kangnam kind of throws everything off, because it considers itself to be the center of everything when really its quite southern. Mokdong is getting towards the edge, but you're fairly close to Hongdae which becomes the unofficial center of Seoul every saturday night.

[rmparent]

Central Seoul can either be described as Gangnam (southern Seoul) which is considered the 'new' downtown or Jongno, which was the original downtown. IMO anywhere within the Seoul city limits is pretty much the same as everywhere else. They got the same amenities (norebangs, bars, restaurants, shopping, movie theaters, etc.) as any other neighbourhood.

Gangnam is more affluent though, with prices slightly higher than the rest of Seoul. The Gangnam station area has plenty of bars and restaurants. Mokdong is not bad too as the previous poster mentioned that it's close to the Hongdae area (if you're into clubbing) and Gimpo airport (if you like to go on a quick getaway).

I personally live in Gangnam (even though I work in Jongno) 'cuz I'm close to my girlfriend and my friends. I find it pretty central if I need to go anywhere in Seoul. Best looking girls too

[billybrobby]

see what i mean? haha

[djsmnc]

I always thought that the lack of a true center in Seoul was representative of the disorganization of the society as a whole...

[SPINOZA]

[simone]

[billybrobby]

[simone]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[SPINOZA]

My information suggests that the center of Seoul is - wait for it folks - �߱�, which of course means Middle-Gu. The areas on the edge of Chung-gu are Seoul Station in the southwest, Gyeongbokgung and Anguk/Insadong in the northwest, Hyehwa in the north, Changshin in the northeast, Namsan in the south, Yaksu and Cheonggu in the southeast, Shindang in the east. I'm familiar with west Seoul, having walked to downtown Seoul from where I live many times (about 5 miles northwest of the center) and Seodaemun station is clearly just outside the center of Seoul and a brief walk to the left will take you to the Jongno/Jonggak areas and a walk to the right will take you to City Hall and Seoul Station. I think all this is visible on the above pic, taken from Namsan Tower. Itaewon is in Yongsan-gu and is NOT in the center, since it is south of Namsan. Kangnam sure as hell isn't central Seoul, folks. There are loads of other places that are like 'other centers' like Kangnam and Yeoido, but �߱� is central Seoul.

[StAxX SOuL]

I'm guessing what you want isn't so much to live dead in the centre of Seoul, rather to be a good and equal distance from everything... geographically, I'd say Itaewon is the best place to live, it has nightlife on its doorstep and is all of a 7,000W taxi ride from Hongdae, Sinchon, Apgujeong, Gangnam allowing you to further your nighttime horizons... but I wouldn't want to live there

I'm starting to think that Sadang is a good location to live geographically... and I've had friends recommend Sinchon as fun to live in, just seems oh so far from the CoEx malls etc etc..

Mokdong is too far west IMO...

[lawyertood]

http://www.hoteltravel.com/south_korea/seoul/maps.htm

should clear everything up....

[SPINOZA]