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Thoughts on safe and unsafe areas of Seoul (for women)
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wakingup



Joined: 20 May 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:32 am    Post subject: Thoughts on safe and unsafe areas of Seoul (for women) Reply with quote

I currently live in super-safe Bundang and am looking for a change next year so thinking of moving into Seoul. However, I'm a tad bit more worried about safety in Seoul than Bundang and, despite living here almost a year, I don't know Seoul very well besides Gangnam or Hongdae (or Itaewon, which I consider a slum basically).

Any areas I should specifically (where I can both be and consistently feel safe and comfortable) look at - or specifically NOT look at - would be appreciated.
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ChilgokBlackHole



Joined: 21 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is no such thing as a safe area. No such thing as an unsafe area. Only people who are not aware of their surroundings.
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Pauliver



Joined: 01 Jul 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ChilgokBlackHole wrote:
There is no such thing as a safe area. No such thing as an unsafe area. Only people who are not aware of their surroundings.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_blaming

---

Anyway, I've heard of zero issues from anyone I know around here, but for many friends (men and women), the Konkuk University area has been a good mix of safety and affordability. Good food, nightlife, and decent shopping options too.
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Gibberish



Joined: 29 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Korea is not Darfur. Korea is not Ethiopia. Korea is not south central L.A. It's safe to go out anywhere Korea. The scariest thing you will ever run into in Korea is a passed out ajosshi.
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kiknkorea



Joined: 16 May 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gibberish wrote:
Korea is not Darfur. Korea is not Ethiopia. Korea is not south central L.A. It's safe to go out anywhere Korea. The scariest thing you will ever run into in Korea is a passed out ajosshi.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200710/200710230011.html

Not quite true.

Yes Korea is a relatively safe place, but violent crime does exist here.

You can't blame someone for being cautious, even in the safe haven of Korea.
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ChilgokBlackHole



Joined: 21 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pauliver wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_blaming

Yes... that same tired old argument.

When you leave the bar, do you know the exact route to your bus stop or taxi rank?

Are you so drunk that you can barely stand, and don't have a friend to help you?

When you leave the grocery store, are you fumbling with packages, or do you have your keys in your hand?

The richest neighborhoods are the least safe because people believe that money buys safety. Not true. Money buys things. All the more reason for someone to stalk rich people, not poor people.

Do you wear expensive jewelry when you go out? Do you carry your purse or camera bag on one shoulder instead of across the body?

If you don't take simple precautions, you'll be marked as a rube, and robbed with the best and the rest of them. Sorry, but that's life.
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kabrams



Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Location: your Dad's house

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ChilgokBlackHole wrote:
Pauliver wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_blaming

Yes... that same tired old argument.

When you leave the bar, do you know the exact route to your bus stop or taxi rank?

Are you so drunk that you can barely stand, and don't have a friend to help you?

When you leave the grocery store, are you fumbling with packages, or do you have your keys in your hand?

The richest neighborhoods are the least safe because people believe that money buys safety. Not true. Money buys things. All the more reason for someone to stalk rich people, not poor people.

Do you wear expensive jewelry when you go out? Do you carry your purse or camera bag on one shoulder instead of across the body?

If you don't take simple precautions, you'll be marked as a rube, and robbed with the best and the rest of them. Sorry, but that's life.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_blaming
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ashland



Joined: 05 Dec 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:25 am    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on safe and unsafe areas of Seoul (for women) Reply with quote

wakingup wrote:
I currently live in super-safe Bundang and am looking for a change next year so thinking of moving into Seoul. However, I'm a tad bit more worried about safety in Seoul than Bundang and, despite living here almost a year, I don't know Seoul very well besides Gangnam or Hongdae (or Itaewon, which I consider a slum basically).

Any areas I should specifically (where I can both be and consistently feel safe and comfortable) look at - or specifically NOT look at - would be appreciated.


even bundang, especially bar districts around samsung plaza, would not be a safe place after midnight. just follow your common sense, and do not invite crime. overall korea is a safe place to be though.
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kiknkorea



Joined: 16 May 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have to commend kabrams for having the perfect avatar in relation to his post!
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Ukon



Joined: 29 Jan 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ChilgokBlackHole wrote:
Pauliver wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victim_blaming

Yes... that same tired old argument.

When you leave the bar, do you know the exact route to your bus stop or taxi rank?

Are you so drunk that you can barely stand, and don't have a friend to help you?

When you leave the grocery store, are you fumbling with packages, or do you have your keys in your hand?

The richest neighborhoods are the least safe because people believe that money buys safety. Not true. Money buys things. All the more reason for someone to stalk rich people, not poor people.

Do you wear expensive jewelry when you go out? Do you carry your purse or camera bag on one shoulder instead of across the body?

If you don't take simple precautions, you'll be marked as a rube, and robbed with the best and the rest of them. Sorry, but that's life.


Hence why wealthy areas are havens of crime....oh wait....

The poorest neighborhoods are the least safe...criminals generaly don't travel too far for many stupid reasons.

I'm gonna guess itaewon isn't the safest place....poor korean neighborhoods I know are exceedlying safe places...I can't think of anywhere that was dangerous or scary.
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Draz



Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ukon wrote:


I'm gonna guess itaewon isn't the safest place....poor korean neighborhoods I know are exceedlying safe places...I can't think of anywhere that was dangerous or scary.


Aren't you also male and like six feet tall and work out all the time? Based on post history.
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DeMayonnaise



Joined: 02 Nov 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't think there are many dangerous neighborhoods, just bad people. And they could be anywhere. I guess since nobody has actually put forth a specific place that's a bad neighborhood, it means most are pretty good. Itaewon isn't that bad. If that's the worst neighborhood in a city of ten million, they're doing OK.
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ThingsComeAround



Joined: 07 Nov 2008

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gibberish wrote:
Korea is not Darfur. Korea is not Ethiopia. Korea is not south central L.A. It's safe to go out anywhere Korea. The scariest thing you will ever run into in Korea is a passed out ajosshi.


+ Korea is not Moscow. Rolling Eyes


There are plenty of sick people living in Korea, they just arrested and beat a confession out of an alleged pedophile this week. The OP has a right to be scared. As a woman, she must exercise common sense when moving about after dark
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ChilgokBlackHole



Joined: 21 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ThingsComeAround wrote:
There are plenty of sick people living in Korea, they just arrested and beat a confession out of an alleged pedophile this week. The OP has a right to be scared. As a woman, she must exercise common sense when moving about after dark

Sounds like somebody's blaming the victim!
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Bramble



Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: National treasures need homes

PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I feel relatively safe in Korea because there are usually a lot of people around at all hours ... but you do have to be careful here (just like anywhere) and avoid isolated areas, especially late at night. Personally I think it's safer to live in a decent officetel with an electronic lock, located on a main street, rather than a first-floor villa on a side street where a landlord or old tenant may have the key.
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