Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Eunoia]

A friend and I will be returning to Korea this summer to live in the Jamshil area (we don't know the exact address or even the Dong yet...) Just wondering if anyone could give up the low-down on living in Jamshil; parks, gyms, restaurants, entertainment, shopping (groceries, clothing, household goods, books, etc...), public swimming pools, good places for cycling / rollerblading, all that sort of thing.

Thanks

[StAxX SOuL]

Jamsil is -dong... the area is Songpa-gu... if you're living in Jamsil, then you're living in Jamsil-dong...

I live in Munjeong, 4 stops along Line 8... I wish I lived nearer downtown / central Seoul purely because its a great hub from where you get to the rest of Seoul... Jamsil isn't too bad because it is on Line 2 at least...

You're near Hangang Park... don't know about gyms, but there's bound to be something there given the number of residents... worse comes to worse, a few stops on Line 2 and you'll have plenty of options... Lotte World is there... shopping you've got Lotte Department store, don't know so much about grocery shopping there however... few coffee shops, western eateries too and a bunch of Korean ones as with anywhere in Seoul...

Simply put... the essentials will be on your doorstep... but you're going to have to hop on the subway for some of the other things, but that's the nature of Seoul, I don't think there is one place which satisfies every need

[SuperFly]

There is Olympic park, which is huge...I used to rollerblade there. Best park in Seoul imho.


There is an Olympic indoor pool at the intersection Chamshil (sorry I gots to keep the old Korean romanization rules) in the SIGMA tower building basement, and a kick ass sauna down there as well.

And of course you've got your lotte world right across the skreet.

What I loved about Chamshil was that it's not that crowded, OLYMPIC apartments were great to live in, right across the street from the park...plenty of wide streets, etc.

[dulouz]

Its pretty nice there, for Korea.

[SeoulShakin]

I'm living in Jamsil Dong, Songpa-gu right now, and it's pretty nice. It's easy enough to get to other areas of Seoul because we are right on line 2, and there is great shopping there as well. You have a big Lotte mart, Lotte world, and lots of Korean and foreign restaurants at hand. You are also about 2 or 3 stops away tops from COEX mall which is huge. I live in Sincheon (one stop away from Jamsil, but still in Jamsil dong), and I don't really have to leave my area to get anything unless I want to. You are really close to the Seokchon (spelling) lakes to walk around, as well as the Hangang park by the river. At that park there are basketball nets, cycling lanes, public outdoor pools, and open green areas. Another positive thing... it doesn't have nearly as many hills to walk up and down as the rest of the city, which I'm a fan of. Getting somewhere else to hike is easy enough, I don't want to have to hike to my apartment everyday.

[own_king]

I lived in Karak-Dong and Munjong-Dong for years, so I am quite familiar with Jamsil. I think it's a good area and convenient for going to other places. It's about a 10000 won taxi ride to Itaewon 12000 at night. You can get there in about 20 min on the Olympic expressway (one guy did 140 all the way and I got back in 12 minutes at 4:00 AM - a record from me). You are also a short subway or bus ride from Coex and Kangnam. You are really far because of transfers and traffic from Apkujong or Jongro and even farther from Hongdae, at least 20000 won home at night. If you wait until after 4 AM you can maybe do it for 16000. I hate Hongdae so no problem for me. The best part is getting to the airport. Just go to Lotte Hotel, next to Jamsil Station and they have a direct shuttle every 20 min or so to Incheon for about 13000 won. Don't take the bus from Karak-Dong - I heard it's a milk run, but the one from Lotte is direct. They tell you 90 min, but I've always made it in less than an hour.