|
Korean Job Discussion Forums "The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
hochhasd

Joined: 05 Jul 2008
|
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 11:45 am Post subject: what and where is Paju located in relation to Seoul |
|
|
Does anyone know how it is to work in Paju for Gepikl and how far it is to Seoul? I understand it is very close to North Korea? Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
dporter

Joined: 26 Apr 2009
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Korussian
Joined: 15 Sep 2007
|
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: what and where is Paju located in relation to Seoul |
|
|
| hochhasd wrote: |
| Does anyone know how it is to work in Paju for Gepikl and how far it is to Seoul? I understand it is very close to North Korea? :? :? :? Thanks |
I work for GEPIK in Paju. Paju is made up of several smaller parts, which vary widely in terms of rural/city feel, amenities, and yes, proximity to North Korea. Please try to find out exactly what part of Paju you're likely to end up in.
What I can tell you is that I'm very near the terminal station up north, and it takes me about 90 minutes to get where I want to get in Seoul. The cost of the train one-way is 1,400won - i.e. peanuts.
Some folks here can see North Korea from their classroom windows. Is it more dangerous for us to be here next to the border than in Seoul or one of the nearby suburbs? Opinions vary.
The foreigner community in much of Paju (with the exception of a few places) is not huge, and for some reason we're less likely to acknowledge each other on the streets here than I've noticed in other parts of Korea. This can be a positive or a negative, depending on your preferences. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
3MB
Joined: 26 Mar 2009
|
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| do not go to Paju. Again, DO NOT GO TO PAJU. As crapholes go in South Korea, Paju is one of the worst ones. You will be isolated from civilization. In my 8 years of living in SK, I have yet to see a place worse than paju. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
|
Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| 3MB wrote: |
| do not go to Paju. Again, DO NOT GO TO PAJU. As crapholes go in South Korea, Paju is one of the worst ones. You will be isolated from civilization. In my 8 years of living in SK, I have yet to see a place worse than paju. |
Did you live in Paju? If so, when? It has developed massively and very quickly over the last few years, so I can imagine 7 or 8 years ago it was very different. I live in the next city to Paju, and whilst I don't particularly want to move there, I don't agree that it's THAT isolated at all.
As well as the train line running in to Seoul station via Shinchon, there are also 4 or 5 buses that go from various parts of Paju into central Seoul. A couple of those buses run until about midnight. Paju covers a big area so you could be able to get into central Seoul in about as little as an hour, or as much as 90 mins, depending which part you're in.
Bear in mind also, that Seoul isn't the only place you could head to from Paju for the big city stuff. Ilsan, the main downtown area of Goyang City, is much closer and has lots of shops, bars, nightlife, cinemas and even a sizeable expat population. At worst you'd be about 30 mins by bus from there, you could even be only 15 minutes away.
Paju itself isn't a place you'd suggest for a big night out, but it does have two major hypermarkets (e-mart & home plus) and there are dozens & dozens of places you'd be much worse off in Korea.
The proximity to North Korea is likely to have zero relevance to your everyday life in Paju.
Finally, I'll just add that I work in Seoul (northern outskirts) and have 4 colleagues who live in Paju and commute here everyday. Admittedly, they do so by car, but there wouldn't be people doing this if it was that far from civilisation. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|