Korean Job Discussion Forums

HijackedTwilight · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Location: Daegu

Hey, I am coming to Seoul in a month and may be teaching in Guro, in the tech district.

Can anyone tell me about the area? What is there to do there/nearby? Any nightlife to speak of?

espo · Joined: 20 Aug 2006

I work in Guro but I don't live here. There really isn't anything that I have seen, but there is a department store with good shopping. It's only about 20 minutes by subway away from Itaewon so thats good. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

pugwall · Joined: 22 Oct 2006

The best Chinese restaurants in Korea are near Namguro Stn

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

cassette_tape · Joined: 17 Dec 2007

i live and work near the guro digital complex station. not really so much in the way of foreigners, which can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. try to learn a few korean phrases before you come over. as far as nightlife, i haven't found too many clubs in my area, many pubs, hoffs, and "sexy bars." i try to leave guro-gu at least every other day to keep my sanity. it is a very korean experience, but there is definitely a charm here not found in hongdae and itaewon.

Morton · Joined: 06 Mar 2007

I live in Sindeabang which is in or around Guro gu. If anyone near is up for a drink sometime then let me know.

HijackedTwilight · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Location: Daegu

I'm not a huge club guy and don't mind mixing with the locals, so the mix of pubs, hoffs, and "sexy bars" (I might be able to guess, but what are those?) should do me fine for most of the week.

Yeah, I am learning some Korean before I come over, so at least I know I'll get to use it.

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

It has a Subway sandwich shop, a very over-priced fake Vietnamese restaurant, and a Baskin Robbins with sixty feet of one another. There is also an Outback restaurant, a V.I.P.s steak house, and an E-Mart at or near the Digital Complex subway station.

cassette_tape · Joined: 17 Dec 2007

another thing to realize in korea, and especially in guro-gu, is that there are few places to go just by yourself. i quickly learned that if you want to go out for a drink, you need a friend. my first week here i would walk into restaurants and hoffs by myself and sometimes they would not serve me because i was not with a group of people. pubs here aren't like in the west where one can just sit down, have a beer or two on a stool and be on their way. drinking is such a communal and social activity that you are expected to be with a group and to order an insane amount of food.

my advice, make friends and if you teach in guro-gu take every opportunity accept your students' invitations to go out, you will learn the area and its nightlife much more quickly.

there are no "hip" places in guro, so if you are in a lame hoff filled with businessmen and kids just out of high school drunk on soju, don't fret, that is as good as it will get here.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Guro-gu (Guro ward) is a rather blue-collar area. If you live or work near Namguro, you'll hear a LOT of Chinese spoken, as many "hanjok (Korean-Chinese nationals)" work there.

I guess the main thing is the Mario Outlet and other clothing discounters, but for nightlife, Sinchon and Hongdae aren't too far away via subway. You can also check out the Novotel Doksan, a hotel with a lounge bar and a Filipino band.

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

It's not a great place to play, but it could be a good place to live as you're very close to hongdae and itaewon (well, at least reasonably close and a lot closer than I am). You can get the best of both worlds...a short taxi ride away to debauchery and drinks, and a quiet neighborhood all to yourself when you prefer it.