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tumbleweed31
Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:33 am Post subject: Has anyone heard of Pyungtaek? |
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I may be taking a job in Pyungtaek, but cannot find any information about this place on the web or in books. Is there anything to do here? The other English teachers seem to enjoy their job which is a good sign, but other than the military base it sounds like it offers little except cleaner air than Seoul. |
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soviet_man

Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:22 am Post subject: |
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It is usually spelt "Pyeongtaek" and its on the Cheonan subway line.
Like most places in Gyeonngi province, the location is *ok* but nothing special. Just an ordinary urban area with the usual rows of apartments.
But it would certainly take at least a good hour to get to and from most places in Seoul on the subway from down there, which would be a downside.
www.pyeongtaek.go.kr |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone heard of Pyungtaek? |
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tumbleweed31 wrote: |
I may be taking a job in Pyungtaek, but cannot find any information about this place on the web or in books. Is there anything to do here? The other English teachers seem to enjoy their job which is a good sign, but other than the military base it sounds like it offers little except cleaner air than Seoul. |
Just under 2 hours by train/subway or bus to get into Seoul, but otherwise, Soviet man was correct.
97 minutes to Seoul Station (line 1),
106 minutes to Itaewon (line 1-4-6)
plus waiting time for the train or between trains. |
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Ekuboko
Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Location: ex-Gyeonggi
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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*Ahem*
Express subway takes just over an hour to Yongsan;
Mugunghwa train takes just under an hour to Yongsan or Seoul Station;
Non-stop buses to Nambu or Express Bus terminal take 1 hour. |
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dulouz
Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Uranus
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. |
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shevek
Joined: 29 Jul 2003
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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Ekuboko wrote: |
*Ahem*
Express subway takes just over an hour to Yongsan;
Mugunghwa train takes just under an hour to Yongsan or Seoul Station;
Non-stop buses to Nambu or Express Bus terminal take 1 hour. |
Yeah don't ever take those long distance subways unless you're in a weird part of Seoul or you've missed last buses or whatever for the day. It's without a doubt the most time-consuming option and often you'll end up standing until about Anyang or so anyhow.
The buses and trains are fast and for the most part there is some form of transport heading to Seoul every 10 minutes or so. |
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Smee

Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Suwon and Cheonan are both really close, which is a plus. You don't have to live in Seoul to enjoy it. |
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Tiger Beer

Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone heard of Pyungtaek? |
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tumbleweed31 wrote: |
I may be taking a job in Pyungtaek, but cannot find any information about this place on the web or in books. Is there anything to do here? The other English teachers seem to enjoy their job which is a good sign, but other than the military base it sounds like it offers little except cleaner air than Seoul. |
Osan Airforce Base.
Air Force is fairly mellow as well. Quite a few Russian and Filipino bars just right out the front gate of the base. Tons of shops much like Itaewon as well, catering towards predominately American Military tastes - meaning the clothing styles, etc. of the shops.
Also quite a few different restaurants - pizza places, filipino food, greek, etc.. that you can't readily find throughout the rest of Korea (outside of Itaewon, etc.) |
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Roch
Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:32 am Post subject: Pyeongteak |
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I'm not sure of I've spelt the name of the city correctly or not. Anyway, it's supposed to be a good place in which to work, etc. Some refer to the Songtan area as something like I'taewon but a tad bit better, etc. |
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shevek
Joined: 29 Jul 2003
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Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:37 am Post subject: |
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Songtan is part of greater Pyeongtaek, but if you're based in Pyeongtaek City itself you're 2 or 3 subways stops away from there. Songtan is awesome though. A really mellow version of Itaewon.
What exactly are you looking for in the place...?? Just curious..? Tourist attractions, party scene etc?
I like Pyeongtaek in that even though it's not an ultra westernised town in spite of the smattering of US bases around the locals are well enough used to seeing white and black faces that you don't get the deer in the headlights style reactions that you may in comparable sized cities elsewhere. |
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fidel
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ
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Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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I went for a drive down there last winter and these are my impressions:
Great big frozen lake that looks fun sliding on, fishing etc
Quick access to the West Sea Highway for the weekends cruising down to Malipo beach
Scungy semi-industrial in parts
Yummy restaurant where we had a wicked chicken |
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Tiger Beer

Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:49 am Post subject: |
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There are only 4 places I've live in Korea (and been all over the country more or less). I'd live in:
1) SEOUL
2) Gangwon-do
3) OSAN/PYONGTAEK
4) (possibly Jeju-do - although don't know that area so well).
Osan/Pyongtaek is a good choice! |
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tumbleweed31
Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:16 am Post subject: |
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What I'm hearing is that there really isn't much going on in Pyungtaek. I guess what I'm looking for is more nature, less city, more traditional Korean culture and a variety of people. I want to meet foreigners and Koreans alike. My passions are: hiking, climbing, biking, etc. Not a big party girl, although I am a social drinker. Most of my weekends will hopefully be spent traveling around Korea, but I just want to make sure my home base is comfortable and there is enough to do to keep me occupied.
Thanks for the help. |
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Ekuboko
Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Location: ex-Gyeonggi
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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Tumbleweed,
Pyeongtaek city itself is a good central base for what you want. There are a few small mountains a bus ride away for hiking (some locals will go there every weekend) and the transport connections are good, IMO.
Bus terminal and train station are very close together right in central downtown (unlike in other cities) and express buses go all over the country. You can get trains to either southern corner of the country which is easy weekend access to a lot of the national parks down there.
However, if the job is in Anjung or Songtan, or other peripheral 'suburbs,' then it will be a little bit more dificult. |
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John Henry
Joined: 24 Sep 2004
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Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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Tiger Beer wrote: |
There are only 4 places I've live in Korea (and been all over the country more or less). I'd live in:
1) SEOUL
2) Gangwon-do
3) OSAN/PYONGTAEK
4) (possibly Jeju-do - although don't know that area so well).
Osan/Pyongtaek is a good choice! |
Ahem...you forgot Haeundae. |
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