| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
HollyLove
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
|
 Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 2:37 am Post subject: yeosu vs. changwon vs. tongyeong vs suncheon vs busan vs... |
 |
|
| I want to move from Seoul to a coastal city and all of these look nice. Anyone have any experience in one or more? Particularly outdoor activities, cost of living, night life, day life, ability to get out and travel, and foreigner community... |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
metalhead
Joined: 18 May 2010
Location: Toilet
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 3:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
I hear ya. I lived in Seoul for over a year and it was too draining. I'm in Changwon now (it's not a coastal city btw), but it is a great city, not crowded, clean, foreigner bars (with a lot of foreigners), and you still have the yank stuff like Cold Stone, Subway, BK etc everywhere if you need it.
Prices are about the same as in Seoul though as it's a rich city, but it's not that big; can walk everywhere pretty much, so that makes it cheaper as opposed to those 20 000 won cab rides in Seoul.
Stores sell a bunch of imported foods, too. Out of all the places I've lived in in Korea, Changwon is by far my favorite. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
metalhead
Joined: 18 May 2010
Location: Toilet
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 3:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I should mention that I live a couple of blocks from the downtown area, so I can walk everywhere (that I need to), not sure about other parts of the city. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
metalhead
Joined: 18 May 2010
Location: Toilet
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 3:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Also, the Koreans down south are a bit more laid-back and friendly (open to foreigners) than up north. And don't worry about the dialect if you speak some Korean, you'll still understand them. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HollyLove
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| how far is changwon from the beach? or from hiking spots? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Epik_Teacher
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 9:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I remember when most of Changwon was mostly rice paddies, but then I remember when Masan got it's first McDonald's (it was a BIG deal). I also remember when Koje-do was mostly fields and you could actually see the ocean in downtown Tongyeong. Things have changed a lot, but I still like Changwon and Koje. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've wondered about GiJang, just a little north of HaeUnDae in Busan.
Changwon isn't on the coast at all. But it's a nice place.
Tongyeong I've heard is all right, but it's far from a large urban area. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mssinmymind
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I just sent my first signed contract off today. It looks like I will be in Changwon by the end of next month. I've been speaking with the FTs working at the school and it seems like a really good fit for me.
I've heard Changwon is a " small " town ( 1 million + population ) and there is nothing to do there nor are there many foreigners ( this is coming from someone who DOESN'T even live there, they're in Busan ).....
Hmm things sound a lil different according to this thread, and of course the FTs I've been speaking with.
I'm excited about beginning this new adventure. Maybe some of us will have the chance to meet up before too long.
Holly: I've been told Changwon is approx 45 mins from Busan, which is right on the coast. 3 - 4 hr train ride from Seoul. 6 hrs on the bus.
Correct me if I'm wrong people ?? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
yeah i lived in masan for a year and a half. changwon is great. take a 3500 won bus to dongrae in busan. i did it every weekend. clean, spacious, enough creature comforts. great city. i liked masan too, but im crazy  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
| happiness wrote: |
| i liked masan too, but im crazy |
Indeed.
Masan is clearly the ugliest city in Gyeongsangnamdo. Now, whether that is a really bad or not too bad thing is for one to judge. But it is nowhere as nice as Geoje, Tongyeong, Jinju, Jinhae or even Sacheon and nearby Changwon.
It's got a lot of old buildings but not in a charming Gyeongju or neglected appeal Jindo kind of way. It's got smokestacks on the horizon from the free trade zone, not away from the sea vistas like Yeosu nor inland like Jinhae. It's got a serious lack of downtown charm, unlike the riverside hill area in Jinju or the bay in Tongyeong or urban core of Suncheon. It's got the most xenophobic people around for some odd reason, and I only have seven years experience in the southern provinces to compare it to, having travelled on weekends regularly just about everywhere, with - get this - 4 of 5 distinctly xenophobic experiences coming there!! I'm biased based on my experience, but others have said the Pakistani factory workers have a bad rep locally just because of their skin color and that other waygookin are reacted to accordingly, with outbursts of frowns and gasps, fear and delight, like seeing a three-headed creature, monster or intriguing object, that's how it's felt on the streets of Masan. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
drewbudd
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: yeosu vs. changwon vs. tongyeong vs suncheon vs busan vs |
|
|
| HollyLove wrote: |
| I want to move from Seoul to a coastal city and all of these look nice. Anyone have any experience in one or more? Particularly outdoor activities, cost of living, night life, day life, ability to get out and travel, and foreigner community... |
I live in Yeosu.
We have mountains and beaches, not sure what else you want for outdoor activities. There are also plenty of islands to ferry to.
It's cheap to live here. Not nearly as much to do compared to Seoul, which means you spend less.
We have one (or two) foreigner bar(s). We also have 3 Night Clubs (the ones where you have to buy a table). 2 of them are good places to meet adjummas, one has a younger crowd.
If you have any foreign food cravings, we have a McDonald's and a Quiznos. The options should increase over the next year and a half because of the Expo.
I can't imagine there being a harder place in Korea to travel from (well, maybe Jeju or Wando). Seoul takes 5-6 hours by train or bus. I think Busan is 3 hours. 2 hours to Gwangju. They are building a new KTX line for the Expo, it will open someday.
Yeosu has a pretty tight foreign community, but it can sometimes feel like high school. On one hand, we often have parties or we get together and play sports. Those are usually good times. On the other hand, we have little cliques and rumors. It is quite childish. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HollyLove
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
bump ^^
Any other opinions on any other southern cities? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shifter2009
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Location: wisconsin
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| HollyLove wrote: |
bump ^^
Any other opinions on any other southern cities? |
I'll agree with the other guys, no beach in changwon. But you can head over the the Jinhae fairy terminal and take the ferry to Geoje very easily as well bus it into Busan for beaches. New train station in town makes taking the train to various sunny spots. Changwon is a good place to be if your looking for a city that has a bit of everything but not crazy big like busan or seoul |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| mssinmymind wrote: |
I just sent my first signed contract off today. It looks like I will be in Changwon by the end of next month. I've been speaking with the FTs working at the school and it seems like a really good fit for me.
I've heard Changwon is a " small " town ( 1 million + population ) and there is nothing to do there nor are there many foreigners ( this is coming from someone who DOESN'T even live there, they're in Busan ).....
Hmm things sound a lil different according to this thread, and of course the FTs I've been speaking with.
I'm excited about beginning this new adventure. Maybe some of us will have the chance to meet up before too long.
Holly: I've been told Changwon is approx 45 mins from Busan, which is right on the coast. 3 - 4 hr train ride from Seoul (2 and a half hours now the KTX(bullet train) line has opened up). 6 hrs on the bus (5hrs usually).
Correct me if I'm wrong people ?? |
I've lived in Changwon over 9 years now and there are VERY few other places in Korea I would be willing to live. There are a lot of long term foreign residents here for a very good reason, it's one of the nicer places to live in the entire country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HollyLove
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| does anyone have any opinon on Geoje vs. any of the others? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
