Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rudolph123456]

I'm thinking about taking a job in the Gangdong-Gu area of Seoul. I was just wondering if anybody could let me know what it's like or give me a wee description of the area?

If you do, I'll buy you a beer when I arrive...

[RMNC]

Pretty much the same as the rest of Seoul. Apartment bloc buildings, jjimjjilbangs and noraebangs, love motels and hagwons. The occasional Emart or Homeplus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=airtpZnHk2Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS6kvLLRGa4 (especially this one)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangdong-gu

[youtuber]

Gangdong is kinda boring actually. Cheonho is one stop away but is not that great either. Gangdong is also quite polluted due to a huge main road that runs through it.

And no, there aren't many jimjillbangs there or hagwons.

I wouldn't live there again.

[beckett]

I don't know too much about other areas of Seoul but I'm happy enough here. Have all the amenities I need for here , loads of bars ,coffee places , gyms / swimming pools restaurants etc around the place.
Olympic park is very close , So is Jamsil.
Cheonho is not that bad there is usually a bit of a buzz around the place.

[rudolph123456]

Thanks guys!

[working title]

Here's my take on Gangdong-gu:

Bennies:

-Shopping in Jamsil: You have Lotte Mart, Lotte Dept. Store, Kyobo and a few other stores inside the giant shopping mall.

Drinking in Cheonho or Sincheon:
-Sincheon (technically in Songpa) is cool, I recommend the Country Western Gold Bar, kind of a chill place (not Korean style, hence "Western") and good liquor selection at reasonable prices.
-Cheonho is one street lined with cafes, bars, "nightclubs" and restaurants. It has its good days and there are a few diamonds.

-Pollution is less than other parts of Seoul -- I've traveled all over the city on my bike and have come across some real concrete jungles (Silim-dong, Jongo). In terms of livability, Gangdong is quite nice. There may be fewer things to do, but it's less hectic and much quieter.
-It is a newer area of Seoul (in terms of development).
-This part of Seoul is relatively flat, so bike riding is convenient. You're also next to the Han River, Hangang Park, etc.

Drawbacks:

-Diametrically opposite that of Hongdae, Sinchon and at least 45 min. away from Itaewon.
-Fewer native teachers in the public school district. There are more now, but much fewer when I started and not nearly as many as in Mokdong or Mapo. Actually to think of it, in the past few years I've seen more and more hagwons open up (primarily near the Olympic Park). So I've seen more foreigners around that don't work for the p.s. district. A lot of the hagwons are concentrated around the periphery of the Olympic Park.

Overall I take the bennies when I can get them. I like living in this part of Seoul, and if I need to get around, I just use my bike.

Just one thing, line 8 is like the caboose of the metro system. You're ALWAYS having to transfer (especially the Jamsil interchange between line 8 and line 2 uuuggghhh). And don't live beyond Gangdong Station on line 5 because then you have to change lines because the tracks are shared by two lines going in opposite directions! Aigoo, I miss the MTR in Hong Kong