Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adventurrre]

I'll be arriving to Seoul this Friday... What are the first things I should do/see?

Any bars/clubs that are a good way to break the ice on a first weekend?

Do I have to wait to get my ARC card to get a phone or bank account?

Will I be totally confused by everything around me?

[indyflyguy]

I'm also arriving Friday. Good luck!

[climber159]

You have plenty of time to go to the bars and clubs in Seoul. What you should do is learn your neighborhood. Figure out where the supermarket(s), the dry cleaner, the bakeries, Family Marts, and GS 25's are located. Learn which buses serve your area and where they go; often times the bus is more direct and faster than the subway. Also, learn your address (in Korean) and which landmarks (subway station, school, major company, etc.) you live near so you can tell a taxi driver as you will probably have to take a taxi home at some point before you are fluent in Korean.

As for bars and clubs...Hongdae (홍대), Gangnam 강남, E-dae (이대), Jong-no (종로), and Itaewon (이태원) are some popular places to start. As you meet people you'll figure things out.

[bassexpander]

climber's got it right. I enjoy just walking around and discovering new things.

When you're ready, learn the subway (not hard). Just take a random trip anywhere. Once you know that, then take a random bus ride or two and learn the buses.

You'll discover new things all around just by learning the transportation system (which is pretty great).

[adventurrre]

definitely sounds like some good advice, thanks

[asams]

Here you go:

http://www.urbanrail.net/as/seou/seoul-map.htm

http://bus.congnamul.com/SeoulRouteWebApp/view_english/map.jsp

The first is the subway map, the second is the bus routes where you can type in your origin and destination and it will tell you which buses to take. Both are in English.

[Clockout]

Drop your suitcases off, start drinking and see where the subway takes you.

Sort the rest out on Monday.

[Clockout]