Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cyeast97]

Is this a nice spot to be in? When searching for info on Suwon it seems that there are clean and not so cleans areas. I have learned that Yeongtong is where the expat scene is..

I am choosing between Suwon and Changwon so anyone spending time at both those cities can chime in

From what I gather Suwon has more of an authentuc Korean vibe where Changwon is open/clean but somewhat "sterile".

[sallymonster]

I live in Suwon, in Maegyo-dong, but I've passed through the area you're talking about a few times. I don't really like it here in Suwon and I go to Seoul all the time, but some people seem to feel differently. Anyway. . .

Yeonghwa-dong is way across town from the Yeongtong area, like a half hour bus ride away, and in my opinion Yeongtong is the only area of Suwon worth mentioning.

That being said, you will be just north of the Hwaseong Fortress, if you're into that sort of thing. The area around the fortress is decent, with shopping and restaurants and such, and there's an expat bar, The Big Chill. A quick bus ride should take you to a Homeplus. You should be close to several express buses to Seoul, but you won't be that close to the subway. Subway line 1 sucks anyway.

The foreigner community in Suwon outside Yeongtong is fairly "tight-knit", which means you'll either fit in or you won't. If you do fit in, you're set, and if you don't, your social life will likely be in Seoul or perhaps across town in Yeongtong. I hear Anyang, about a half hour north, has a decent scene as well.