Korean Job Discussion Forums

pieman1981 · Joined: 19 May 2006

Hi

I have just had a phonecall from YBM. They have offered me positions in Incheon, Bupyung, Bundang or central Seoul. Does anyone live and been to any of these places. What are the advantages of living in the suburbs?

My experience of teaching in Taiwan is that most people living in suburbs were generally unhappy due to lack of amenities and other foreigners. Is this true in Korea?

Any feedback would be great!

Regards

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

I don't know anything about Bupyong but I don't think it's a suburb of Seoul....and Incheon certainly is not. Folks who live in Incheon I've met complain about the distance to Seoul. You're talking 60,000 in a cab I think and the subway (hour journey?) closes at midnight at weekends. Incheon by all accounts isn't the most desirable location one could hope for.

Where in central Seoul do they mean? Are they any more specific?

cazador83 · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

i live in bundang. its nice, quiet, and a wealthy area. yeah you don't get a huge nightlife, here, but there are plenty of foreigners..but nowhere near the amount as you'd see in itaewon. i like it here, but i also like central seoul as well.

cwaddell · Joined: 23 Jan 2006

I live in Ilsan, and personally I'm so glad I chose this area. It's a relatively short trip into Seoul (around 40 mins), which passes very quickly, especially if it's at the weekend and you've already "had a few". I go into Seoul frequently, whether it be for a night out, sight-seeing, or even just grabbing a western magazine from Kyobo bookstore, and I find it to be no hassle.

Seoul is an amazing city, but I am still thankful to return to my more sleepy suburb of Ilsan. When I was choosing a contract, a few posts on here had me convinced that a place like this is boring, with few amenities, and no nightlife. All of this couldn't be further from the truth. So all I'm saying is, don't listen too much to these people. Unless you crave full on night-clubbing 3 times a week that is. I'm quite satisfied getting smashed til the wee hours in a cheap Hof most of the time.

I'll not bother listing the many good points that can be said about Ilsan, as it's not on your list, but apparently it is very similar to Bundang. Like another poster said, these suburbs are quite wealthy and middle class, so you can expect excellent amenities and plenty of nice parks etc.

The best thing you can do is get in touch with current foreign teachers in each area and ask their thoughts on things. Good Luck!

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Do you guys really base your happiness on how many foreigners you see around you?

I like Seoul because everything worth doing is located inside the city and it severely cuts down on transportation time.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I'm still in Seoul, but I'm in the northern part (near Eungam station), whereas I used to be near Cheongdam and Apgujeong. I can tell you that I wish I was still in the central part. The nightlife is one reason, but also the excitement of being a constantly busy area, the prettier girls (esp. in a place like Apgujeong), and the fact I spend so much time on the subway whenever I want to go somewhere.

I love cities- a place can almost never be too crowded for me. So it depends on what you like, but if it were me I'd stay away from any suburb.

KumaraKitty · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

I've lived by Bupyeong for 3 years, Bucheon area(SangDong). It's great, I have everything I ever need, not far to travel into Seoul, some express buses to take you straight into Hongdae, 30 minutes by subway to Costco, we have shopping, restaurants, parks, movie theatres and there is a foreign bar in Bupyeong that many teachers hang out in. Good area, but I have heard good things about Bundang.

jeffusensei · Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Location: Seoul, Korea

It depends on the kind of person you are. If you can't get enough of super urban areas, Seoul is your place. I used to live there but now live in Bundang and like it much more. Bundang is a wealthy suburb created out of pretty much nothing over the past 15 years and so has the advantage of very modern urban planning concepts: there are parks everywhere you go; development is concentrated so it feels like 'big city' but then you look over your shoulder and see green misty hills. I actually saw a deer the other day, a pretty rare sight for Korea, unless you're at Everland Zoo. And the air's MUCH more breathable (Seoul=black snot). To top it all off, it's only about 20 minutes by express bus to Hannam (Itaewon area), 30 to downtown.

pieman1981 · Joined: 19 May 2006

cheers everyone for the feedback, sounds like the suburbs of korea are v.different to taiwan.

re racetraitor 'Do you guys really base your happiness on how many foreigners you see around you? '

no..but when your moving somewhere on your own and cant speak the language, its certainly a factor!

ekim · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Location: Ansan, Korea

Hey... I've lived in Taipei as well (Neihu), but even then it was only a 20 minute ride to central Taipei.

Coming to Seoul you'll wanna know that outside Seoul is really an hour or so. Not sure about Bundang, but I know there're tons of part-times advertised there, and lots of rich people.

If you like to club a few times a week, you'll wanna stay in Seoul. If you're outside Seoul and go in to party, you're not leaving til 6am when you're smashed, the subway opens, and you're looking at an hour trip home (not fun).

So, like to party: choose Seoul center somewhere. Don't need the party life: go for Bundang and make a shite-load of money.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Bundang is awesome. In regards to transportation, it really is only about 20 minutes to Hannam and about 30 to Jongno when the traffic isn't rediculous. You can also take a taxi from Itaewon to Bundang for under 20,000 ($20) if you get a good driver, and it's only 10,000 ($10) from Gangnam station, and I live in central Bundang.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

It hasn't been mentioned but I highly unrecommend Suwon. It's the Bible Belt of Korea, and just a little further outside of Seoul than is tolerable. Anyang looks alright and seems to have a good foreigner crowd.

uber1024 · Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Location: New York City

I've lived in downtown Seoul and the outskirts (Sang-il dong) and Sang-il dong would have sucked to live in if I didn't speak Korean. There was literally no English anywhere except for "PC".

Other than that, I'd compare it to just about any other major city except that Seoul has comparitively less to do than another city with 6+ million. I've lived in downtown Manhattan and the Bronx, and it's not too different a comparison to living in downtown Seoul vs the outskirts.

If you're a city person like me, then downtown is going to be your best bet, the outskirts of Seoul are going to be your next best bet, a suburb with easy access to downtown is going to be next on your list. Places where it's not easy to get to a big city are going to be at the bottom of your list. If you're not like me, then your list is likely to be reversed.