Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SamJ85]

Having been here for about 4 months now and whilst I like it here, (nice food, cool people, decent job), I think it might be the worst place in the world to try and go for a run. Why?

1) Loads of traffic.
2)Red lights seem to be optional.
3) Scooters on pavements.
4) The crappy quality of the pavements in the first place, at least in my part of Suwon.
5) Having to stop every block for 5 mins at a crossing (then having to dodge the few cars that inevitably drive through the red light. I know you can turn right on a red, I'm taking about the jokers that drive straight through).
6) A new one today, dust, pollution and all kinds of crap in the air. Thanks China.

All in all, a pretty crappy place to try go for a run. Unless you go to the park and go round, and round, and round, and round... That said the park's pretty nice and well looked after, but too small to not get boring pretty quickly. I'm not going to go crying back to the UK because I can't get any exercise, but damnit, I can't be alone in having these problems. Any other runers out there hacked off?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

In the city it's pretty bad. I'd imagine that Bangkok would be a lot worse.

[bogey666]

in fairness, this depends where you live.

my town, for all its faults, has a great soft surface 400 m track a short walk from my house.. AND if you want to run along the streets, there are fairly big sidewalks with bike lanes which are rarely utilized. (but if you want to run the major streets, you have to deal with the traffic lights)

in that I haven't utilized these resources, I have no one else but myself to blame.

you do have a point about pollution though. That one sucks.

p.s. re Bangkok/Thailand, I can't imagine running in that oppressive heat and humidity.

[nosmallplans]

i'm pretty sure the seoul river path has a southern branch that goes nearly all the way to suwon. you should run that.

[R-Seoul]

If you live in Seoul, go to Namsan they have a special mountain track of 6km just for joggers (no bikes allowed) it also has fantastic views of the city below.

[losing_touch]

[oldfatfarang]

Running in a Korean city is tough going - pollution wise. I'd check the pollution websites before you run. I gave up running outside in Seoul and just used a running machine.

In fact, when I ran in Lumpini Park (Bangkok), I didn't feel like I'd just drunk heavy metals (like I did when I tried to run in Seoul).

NB: It's Yellow Dust season until April - which makes the usual pollution much worse.

Good luck.

[Mochi]

I also live in Suwon & run. If you live in or near Jowon-dong, try Manseok Park. It has a 1.3 km track going around a lake. Traffic-free and nice to look at.

[jlb]

I live in the countryside, on a university campus and it's a runner's paradise. I have a choice of rice fields, little villages and the mountain behind my house.

[D.D.]

China is the worst running place by far. If I think about it I guess Iraq would be worse.

[Xuanzang]

[PigeonFart]

I thought your title was about which country (of the 7 English speaking ones) produces the most midnight runners...proportionally of course.

Yes, i would not recommend running/jogging in Korea due to the pollution/yellow sand.

[michaelambling]

[losing_touch]

[toonchoon]