Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BobbyTeenager]

Hey all,

I just received a contract for a position at an English School located in Suji, Yongin City. I really like the contract and the school owners seem like really nice people. However I was wanting to live in one of the larger Korean cites (or easy and quick access to such a place) and I wanted some first hand experience from some Dave's posters about Suji, Yongin City. I tried using the search function but could not find the specific answers for which I am looking. Quick background info, I'm a 23 year old American male from a large city and I am looking for a position that is close or near to a large city.

1) Whats the night life like?

2) How is the foreigner scene?

3) Is Suji, Yongin City a suburb of a larger city and what type of environment is the city?

4) What are the closest large cites and how easy or difficult would it be to visit those locations (for example Seoul)?

5) Do opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work exist? i.e. like martial arts, finding a Korean instructor, and such.

6) Would you live in Suji, Yongin City ?

Thanks for all the help,
Bobby

[kermo]

1) The night life, up until a few months ago, consisted of one crazy night a week at "Wa Bar." That bar has since closed, and I don't know where the boozehounds from all nations congregate anymore.

2) The foreigner scene (and this information is also a few months old) is very cliquey, and very sleazy. Everyone has pretty much slept with everyone else. I went to a few decent vegetarian dinners, but that scene didn't really hold much else for me.

3) Suji is technically part of Yongin City. It's much much newer and shinier than the rest of Yongin though, and growing faster, and there is talk of declaring it a city in its own right. It's drab and barren though, as only a planned city knows how to be. Blocks of towers interspersed with American fast food chains, as far as the eye can see. Yongin is really nothing special. It doesn't have any English bookstores, no real epicentre for foreigners, no tolerable nightclubs.

4) Seoul is about 40 minutes away by bus. It's tricky to have a night out in Seoul though, because the bus doesn't run much past midnight. You'll have to spring for a taxi, which will run you at least 30,000 won (30 bucks.) If you've got some friends to share the fare with, it's not so bad.

5) The opportunities for extracurriculars can be hard to find, and your success depends in large part on the contacts you make. If you network well with foreigners, they may be able to clue you in. Even better, if you can make some Korean friends, they will be invaluable in plugging you in to what's really going on in the city.

6) I personally would never ever live in Suji. I hate the grey, crowded landscape, the cliques annoy me, and it hasn't got enough amenities to recommend it. There are heaps of academies, and the competition is cut-throat. I live in Yongin, in a much older part which still has a farm-town flavour to it. I like how green and mountainous it is, and when I need books or export groceries, it's not far to Seoul.

Having said all that, the people who live there change all the time. You might get a really great batch. If you've got a good offer from a school, then consider it, despite the drawbacks of the city. Even though it's ugly, it's quite convenient in terms of large department stores, Western-style food and movie theatres. If you have your heart set on a convenient and sparkling night-life, though, I fear Suji may not be the place for you.

[Canadian Club]

A lot of people from Windsor, Ontario are in Suji...

[BobbyTeenager]

Thanks Kermo for the very complete reply to my question. Any other Dave's posters have similar or contrasting views?

Quick question, How far away is Suji, Yongin City from Bundang (or what is the nearest large city)?

[ShaneM]

1) What night life? There are a few western bars there...thats about it.

2) I live in Bundang, but work in Suji...so I wouldn't know. But from my coworkers I hear its not the best. They seem to not think too highly of many of the other foreigners in Suji.

3) Already answered by a more knowledgable person.

4) I think that Central Seoul is farther than 40 minutes. Bundang is 45 minutes and its right on a highway going into Seoul. I would estimate 1hr for Seoul. Going out in Seoul is difficult, as mentioned. Your best bet is to either stay in a Sauna (JimJilBang) for <$10 or a love hotel for $40 or $50. Cab rides will be 30,000 won

5) All three of my coworkers are either doing TaeKwonDo, Hapkido or both. So yes, easy to get into.

6) I am living with my girlfriend in Bundang but still have an apartment in Suji. I have yet to stay one night in my apartment. For me Bundang is as far as I would like to live. Its just close enough to Seoul to feel like its not a huge trip. If you are looking to save money, Suji is a great place. With not much to do, you can save almost all your salary. But if you are looking for some fun at the same time, I would perhaps suggest elsewhere.

To answer your last question, there are several buses going from Suji to Bundang. For my daily commute, it takes 25 minutes.

[jajdude]

Suji is part of Yongin?

I thought it was the other part of Seongnam city (with Bundang). Where does it start and end? Somewhere between Ori station, and toward that older part of Yongin, Gugal, I think?

If Suji is part of Yongin, then what is the rest of Seongnam outside Bundang called?

[Poemer]

Interesting. I always thought that Suji was a part of Bundang, but that it just wasn't on the subway line. It's only about 10 minutes from Migeum station by bus. From what I hear there's not much in the way of bars and restaurants there. I think that it is truly the suburbs on a level that even Bundang doesn't approach. But, you're probably only about 20 minutes from Seohyeon. That's where most of tha "action" in Bundang is.

[ChopChaeJoe]

I live in Yongin, but I'm not sure where Suji is. Seoul is 40 minutes away by bus, as was stated earlier.

Seoul is a crowded, soulless city and I'm glad that I can visit there whenever I want without having to live there.

I don't know what Yongin has going for it. I definitely spend much more time alone than I did back in Texas. It's not hard to befriend Koreans that speak English here, and they will offer you any help you need. delivering on that offer is sometimes sketchy. Luckily i have friends that go way back, both korean and texan, in Seoul to help when i need it.

Yongin is peaceful, plenty of good cheap restaurants, small mountains to hike, and quite a bit less pollution than Seoul.

[njp6]

I've lived in Suji for about eight months and haven't had any problems. Yes, the night life is lacking and that's probably the main drawback. If I want a cheap night I usually go to Seoheoyn with friends (10$ cab ride). A more expensive night out is to Iteawon or Hongdae (30$ cab) but then I only go to Iteawon once in awhile it remind me why I don't go to Iteawon.

Basically, if you want major night life, this is not the place. Lots of foreigners here do martial arts and such. Hiking trails are close as well. Basically it's up to the individual to keep themselves occupied. Just thought I'd give my vote for Suji. I'm not going to rave about it, but I could've ended up in worse spots.

[Cohiba]

"Cohiba's Rule"

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogenous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: brown bread, good beer, bars with good
tunes, English book stores etc.

Remember the FFF RULE. FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/distance. So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.

I, unfortunately, live in Inchon where the FFF factor
is almost in the negative range. I know!

[kermo]

No brown bread in the teeny tiny towns, but even Yongin has brown bread. Mmmm, brown bread.

[djmarcus]

Hey Cohiba,

I don't know if your FFF rule applies here. I currently live in YongIn city and they offer a lof ot things that a foreigner would need. I've lived in Chicago pretty much all my life so I know about needing certain things, like wheat bread, hehe. Now I haven't seen a normal wheat bread but they have tons of bakery's here that have lot's of other really delicious kinds of bread.

But the main point im trying to make is that just because your outside of seoul doesn't mean that your gonna be in some boony town with nothing to do. They have tons of bars here with good beer and a few large shopping marts. I don't know everything about this city yet because I just moved here, but I think this city has a lot to offer.

[mnhnhyouh]

Bumpity bump. I have a contract offer from Yongin, and am looking for others views....

h

[ttompatz]

[semphoon]

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUMP

I got an offer from a hagwon in Suji. Is there kickboxing or mixed martial arts? Have the westerners found their new WA bar yet?