Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lackadaize]

After doing some reasearch I think I'd rather be in the area around Hongik University, but most of the jobs currently available seem to be in Gangnam, and especially in Apgujeong. I can't seem to find much about Apgujeong, but I was hoping to get people's input on both these areas. I am hoping to be on my way to South Korea sometime in March, so I'm not just sitting around waiting for the perfect job to come.

I was also wondering if someone could tell me how long the subway (line 2) would take to get from Apgujeong to Hongik and also, if the subways are closed, how long it would take to get back.

thanks all for you input.

[beercanman]

40 minutes on subway maybe (transfer lines 2 and 3) Bit less in taxi? Ballpark guess.

[dharma bum]

hongik/sinchon is a college area that can be either laid-back or crazy depending on when/where you go (as you probably already know), but gangnam and apgujeong are more upscale areas with a mix of people and classier, more expensive bars and restaurants that are frequented by young businesspeople, etc.

what are you interested in and looking to get out of your experience in korea? that would help people focus their comments about what the different areas are like...

[Mr. BlackCat]

I have lived in both Gangnam and Hongdae. I certainly enjoy living in Hongdae more. More diversity, better food, lower prices, more 'scenes', friendlier vibe and more green space.

Gangnam was good for the first few months, but then the noise and pretentious people start to wear thin. If you live in an officetel, expect half your neighbours to be, ahem, ladies of the evening, with corresponding noise and class of visitors. The traffic is horrible and usually you have to go far for normal things like groceries, Emart and so on. It's not really that bad, I enjoyed my time there. There's lots of things to do and there is a foreigner presence even if it's more corporate. Shopping is good, too, if you like higher end things. Just to be clear, I'm talking about the area immediately around Gangnam station, but the same holds true for the next few stops around there, too.

As another poster noted, Hongdae is more of a college area, so it's younger and, dare I say, hipper. Though on club nights and some other times it does get noisy and crowded, I find it much easier to live and enjoy time away from the packs in this area. Lots of brunch places as well as other small cafes and restos. The clubs and bars are generally less snobby and more funky (not to say there isn't a presence of idiots of all nationalities). Not to mention you have Sinchon right around the corner, which is another great area. The thing I like and hate about living in this area is when you're looking for a cab home and it's slim pickings, all cabbies will agree to go to Hongdea. The flip side is that you can never find a cab to get out of the area past 9pm, especially on weekends.

Travel time between the two on subway (Hongdae-Gangnam, not sure about Apugjeong or whatever) is approximately 40-50 mins. In a cab it's about 15-20,000 won and anywhere from 20-45 minutes depending exactly where you're going and traffic.

The reason it's harder to find jobs around Hongdae is because so many foreigners want to live in this area and employers know it. Gangnam is also a richer area, so more hogwans. If the right job comes along in Gangnam (or, really, any area of Seoul) don't let the area disuade you. It's easy enough to get around here and every area has it's charms. It really takes time to hate an area even if it does suck, by which time you'll be done your first contract and can move if you choose. Good luck!

[Stalin84]

Kangnam is the nicest part of Korea if you're into fashion, pretty people and shiny skyscrapers but as the previous poster said, it doesn't have nearly as much diversity as Hongdae does. I don't even drink and I like going to Hongdae for my eats and walks when I'm in Seoul.

Indian (across from the park), Mexican (Dos Tacos in Hongdae / On the Border in Sinchon), classy Italian restaurants (sans ketchup spaghetti) and a bunch of other good restaurants make Hongdae / Sinchon one of the best places for food in Korea.

Plus I really like the streets in the university area. They're funky.

[lackadaize]

thanks for your help guys, especially Mr. Blackcat.

I think I'm more of the persuasion to be in a place like Hongik/Sinchon or somewhere around there. I'm certainly not a corporate type, I'm a musician, photographer, rockclimber, hiker, etc. I don't really want to go 40 minutes back and forth to have an interesting evening after work. And I am certainly looking to live relatively cheaply.

How about this, if not Hongik/Sinchon is there another part of Seoul that you would say is somewhat similar in character to that area that you could recommend? Preferrably somewhere close to the 2 line?

Thanks again for your input all!

[PRagic]

As long as your housing is provided by the school, go where the work is (in Seoul). Hongdae/Shinchon/Ewha is easy to get to. I lived in Kangnam for a stint and couldn't stand it. Poser central. Suits, mostly miserable; money, mostly gaudy and mostly on credit cards; women, mostly in search of an award for being cute, and mostly looking for miserable suits with credit cards. No mood, no vibe, just 'new', overcrowded, and cheasy. I moved out and that was the best move I've ever made in Korea.

The thing is, you'll be working at a hakwon there. More-so than in other neighborhoods in Seoul, you'll be at the bottom of the food chain in terms of employment level and, more importantly, income. Work there if that's where the work is, but personally, I wouldn't chalk up much to the actual experience of being there. Guess everyone should suffer Kangnam at least once in their time spent in Korea, though.

[lackadaize]

that's not exactly a ringing endorsement but I'll take it. It just doesn't sound like my kind of area at all.

[Dixon]

I lived in Hongdae and there weren't really any big supermarkets other than one, plus the Korean food was kinda pricey at local restaurants. I lived right next door to Hongik University. What most people do is live in Sinchon and take a 5 minute bus to Hongdae when they wanna go there. I think that would be more economical and you'd get most of the same benefits that Hongdae has, although you wouldn't be able to walk right home from a club after.

[CPT]

I've lived near (within 5 min bus ride, but not right in the thick of things) both areas, and I have to say I like living near Hongdae/Sinchon better.

I'll put it this way. When I was living in Gangnam, I would often go out in Sinchon or Hongdae. Now that I live over here, I can count the number of times I've been back to Gangnam on one hand.

Day to day living and convenience is going to depend on where your apartment is and the surrounding neighbourhood (that situation was actually better for me in the Gangnam area), but overall, Sinchon/Hongdae is better.

[jhicks99]

My 2 cents..
Both areas are amazing, and probably the best places you could live in Seoul. Gangnam is probably underrated by Hongdae/Sinchon people, it really has some great bars, arguably better clubs and a fantastic selection of food (from cheap to uber expensive), shopping is thrown in. It's more centered around a few main strips than sinchon/hongdae.

I agree, the vibe is pretentious in Gangnam, not so much in Sinchon which is dominated by the college crowd. As an early-mid 20'something you'll probably enjoy Hongdae more, as you hit your late 20's/early 30's I think Gangnam has more to offer that age set (providing you're not interested in just picking up 20 year olds at the bar).

The majority of English teachers in Seoul live nowhere near both areas, so consider yourself lucky to find a good hagwon in either (good hagwon's being hard enough to find, let alone one in a prime location).

[ThingsComeAround]

Hongdae / Sinchon is by far the more interesting of the two.
Unless you like people who like money. Then go to Gangnam.

Apgujeong is more Gangnam than Gangnam. By that I mean people are even more full of themselves for walking down "Rodeo Drive"

[Ukon]

Inbetween them both...I prefer gangnam for clubbing than hongdae...

Hongdae is probaly cheaper than gangnam.

[nosmallplans]

I think you guys are missing the fact that Hongdae/Shinchon is near Hapjeong which is a great neighborhood.

[Old Gil]

Hapjeong is indeed nice, as is the area a little to the east of Sangsu, all of which are close to Hongik. Hongdae is probably the best area in Korea.

I SAID IT