Korean Job Discussion Forums

Eunoia · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 4:58 pm Post subject: Life in Daechi / Seollung?

My friend and I are heading back to Korea later this summer and will be looking for an apt. in the Daechi Dong / Seollung area. Our school will cover key money and offer us a modest housing stipend. Can anyone give us some info as to how much a decent 2-bedroom apt. will run us?

More importantly, what is the area like to live in? I've only been there once for a quick visit to the school and couldn't really get a good "feel" for it. I've lived in Seoul (west), Ilsan, and Bundang before so I've got a good handle on how to survive in Korea, but any tips or suggestions would be appreciated:

- are the flats in the area mostly high-rises or "villas"?
- are there any nice parks nearby? any good places for jogging / cycling / rollerblading?
- availability of western goods, i.e. proximity to "good" grocery stores?
- any good, reasonably-priced non-Korean restaurants? (please, NOT Bennigan's, TGIF's, Ruby Tuesdays, etc.)
- any decent gyms, spas, health clubs?
- any musicians around who'd like to jam every odd weekend?
- I know there are tons of "hofs" and places to buy questionable beer in K-land, but are there any good PUBS in the area to hang out in?
- how's the foreigner community network; are people "tight" or are they just tight-assed?

Methinks that about covers it for now. Cheers and thanks for any input.

shortskirt_longjacket · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject:

I live in Seocho-dong, which is close to Gangnam, and I work in Daechi-dong.

I don't understand your question about non-Korean restaurants...you DON'T want things like Outback/TGIFridays, etc...so what DO you want? There are a few Japanese restaurants in Daechi-dong. Not sure if there's any Indian food. There's a Subway sandwich shop and Popeye's Chicken...or do those qualify as restaurants you wouldn't want?

There's an Irish pub really close to Yangjae subway station if you're looking for a good pub. The atmosphere there is really cool, but the beer is expensive. There's also a WA bar (two, acutally) in the vicinity of Yangjae station. I like WA bars a lot. Huge variety of imported beer.

I wish I knew something about apartment prices, but my school pays for mine, so no insight into that. You might want to PM riley on that question...he lives in the area, too, and I think he might pay his own rent (don't quote me on this).

Grocery stores: There's a wal-mart between Seolleung station and Hanti station, but it's kind of a small one. They still have most of the food that the other, larger wal-marts have. There's also an E-Mart and a Costco a little ways from Yangjae station. Overall, the shopping prospects are good.

There's a river and a park (it's called citizens' park, I believe) just a little south of Yangjae station...they've got bike paths and trees and all that. It's maybe a 10 minute walk from the station.

I don't know much about the other foreigners around here, as I'm married and tend to be a homebody most of the time. I do know that most of the people I work with are boring assholes (with a couple exceptions) but my school is particularly wretched. I'm sure you won't have the same experience.

Good luck to you!

Eunoia · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:20 pm Post subject:

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

I live and work in Daechi-dong.

The only thing going for this neighborhood is the abundance of privates. The people around here are rich and will pay anything for native-speaker lessons. You can expect an average of 70,000 per hour.

Restaurants are okay but not special. The gyms are okay but overpriced.

The thing that really hits you about Daechi-dong is that Koreans think it's so cool and rich and korea's, "Beverely Hills"!! It's just like anywhere else!! There's nothing here to make it stand out. If this is the best neighborhood in Korea then they really have some work to do. It's as grimy and shabby as anywhere else.

You won't be able to afford a high-rise flat. One recent development has 33 pyeong apts going for 700,000 USD!!! I really can't believe people pay more that half a million dollars to live in a fairly small box in the sky that doesn't even have so much as a verandah!! But they do.

I live in a villa and they are normally priced. Well, a little expensive. Expect to pay at least 500,000 won per month for 10 pyeong. A 2 bedroom apt will cost at least 800,000 per month with a 10 million deposit. You will have to show at least 10 million key money. However, my wife has noticed that the trend now is that landlords are less interested in Keymoney and more interested in a higher rent fee.

I think you met my buddy Stu??? In the Woodstock in Yatap, Bundang? He lives in Daechi dong now and is always up for a jam. Good musician.

Anyway, overall, Daechi dong is hugely over-rated by Koreans. It's the same as anywhere else except there's a helluva lot of nouveux riche Koreans who like to throw their money around.

Jaygee · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Location: Seoul

I live and work in Daechi-dong, too.
And most of what Eamo said is correct. You can find affordable gyms, though. I found one for 20 000W per month but I have a restricted schedule meaning I cannot go as I please but it suits me fine.
A good Italian restaurant close to Seollung station called Toque. Again close to the station, GM spa is a well equipped place, family oriented so not freakish at all.
As for a foreigner community, I don't think there's one.
And yes, the privates are abundant.

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

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

have to agree with Eamo about it not being very special, except for the park/biking areas. Daechi-dong has 2 streams bordering it and both have nice walking/biking areas. You can ride forever on them. A little farther, near Seollung station is a park that is home of some old tombs. It's a nice place to chill out for the day. The trees really cut off the sound of the outside area. You're within walking distance of COEX and there is at least one Thai restuarant (thought it's part of a chain) Above one of the Starbucks, there's a damn good Italian restaurant. (Seriously reccomend it) Near Dogok station is the rich part and they also have a good bakery. As far as excitement/nightlife goes, it seems pretty dull, except for the area where all of the ajjashis party/puke in. Oh yeah, did I mention Starbucks? It's a little creepy how many there are in the area. They really seem to be taking the place over.
Don't know how much rent costs though.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Yeah,its funny.How can they think of Daechi-dong as better than elsewhere when they use exactly the same building materials as everywhere else?!

Its just the land that is "better" ie more expensive.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I used to live near Solleung sta. for 5 months; It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't nearly as good as living south of Yangjae chon (Irwon dong, Gaepo dong, etc.).

kangnam mafioso · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: Teheranno

i really liked seolleung area. it was a business district so it was quiet most of the time, but you also had good bars. no high schoolers running around. good restaurants, saunas, parks and whatever else you need. i lived in a villa near the station. i think they called it an officetel. one room studio ... new and clean. the school paid for everything. one stop to get to work near samsung station. a couple of good grocery stores and smaller markets. coex mall around the corner. good classy hotels or cheap yogwan love hotels everywhere. 20 minutes to itaewon or jamsil; 40 to hongdae. bliss.

donnie_m · Joined: 22 Apr 2006

Anyone work/worked at a school called Trinity?