Korean Job Discussion Forums

[decafdave]

Hello!

I got a job in Dongtan, Hwaseong and there's hardly any info about it online except for some stuff about it being a model city with new development. Anyone here live or work in the area? I've never been to Korea but I spent a summer in China and had a blast.

I was also wondering if there are plenty of shops, bars, convenience stores, etc? Are these things generally in walking distance? Realistically, how far away is central Seoul by subway or bus?

Are the locals friendly to foreigners and open to making friends? What do people do for fun? Any info about the expat scene (does it exist) would be useful as well.

Also, Google Earth tells me it's close to Suwon which seems to be a larger city...would it be a good idea to live there and commute to my school in Dongtan?

I know these are a ton of questions but I'd definitely appreciate some insight!

[Emark]

There are a number of buses that will get you in and out of Dongtan. The 4403 is the nice new luxury coach to Gangnam. Busses to Migum Station and Byeongjeom Station are plentiful. There are a lot of parks and paths to ride your bike or roller blade. There are a number of restaurants near Central Park, most likely where you will be living if the school is providing you housing. Emart and Home Plus are close and there is a Lotte Mart not too far away toward SinYeongTong.
Hope you aren't working for L----s Pre-.

[eamo]

I drove around Dongtan once. It's a new town. Built from scratch just a few years ago.

A kind of surreal environment. Everything is new. Nothing there is more than about 5 years old.

Rows upon rows of high-rise apartments built in a huge circular pattern. You can clearly see Dongtan on Google Earth.

I've heard it's largely a Samsung town.....meaning there are some large Samsung facilities near there, so many Samsung employees live there. That means a lot of your neighbors will be young, upwardly-mobile families who will have a very positive attitude to learning English, and therefore getting to know a native speaker.

Suwon is fine but Bundang is the preferred town for foreigners. More western-style.

[gillod]

I had friends who lived there for a year. For the time they were there it was pretty bleak, but it was BRAND NEW- They were the only people living in the 15 story hi-rise for a few weeks. By the time they left it had gotten a lot better. I was there in January- It's a modern city with plenty to do, but it can feel a little bit empty. And there's not much 'traditional' Korea there. You can hop cab/bus to the subway and be there in 5-10 minutes and into Seoul in about 45. It's not so bad.

[spencer23]

I lived there a few years ago. It was just being built when I was there. There are restaurants and shops plus bars. Closet subway station is Byeongjeom. Takes over and hour to get into Seoul by train. You can get buses to Gangnam from Dongtan which take about 45 minutes.

Dongtan Park (Central Park I think it's called) has soccer fields, skate park, basketball courts and good walking paths. When I left they were building a huge development called Megapolis which was a 70 story building and 5 other huge buildings.

A really nice Korean-American Woman and her Korean husband (Joanne and Troy) run a lot of social events for the local teaching community. They have a facebook page called- Dongtan Clan.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=14889842115&ref=ts

check it out and if you have any other questions drop me a line.

[vincentmiser]

I live there now.
It is great.... clean, quiet, CLOSE to Seoul, close to Suwon.
It takes about 40 mins to Gangnam on the bus, 40 mins to Seoul Stn on the train from Suwon, etc etc.

Bars are nice. Small population, etc

[allovertheplace]

Clean but boring...really really boring. Spent almost all of my time in Suwon or Gangnam and then dreading the drunk bus ride home, wishing I lived in Suwon or Gangnam. On the bright side youll probably have a nice pad and plenty of places to eat and chat up the locals.

[decafdave]

[decafdave]

[carpetdope]

I suggest putting a sock on it cos it can get sunburned very easily.