Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SL57]

I am about to work at a hagwon in Bundang, but do not want to live there. Where in Seoul can I find a relatively cheap place 4-600k with 5mil key money, that doesn't have a monstrous commute? I can handle around an hour. Please help

[Totti]

Why wouldn't you want to live in Bundang?

I think the only area that you might be able to find something is in and around Itaewon. You'll probably get nicer housing in Bundang though.

[SL57]

I have a girlfriend that will be living in Jamwon-dong and Bundang is so far from everything. Isn't housing in Bundang expensive?

[Totti]

Sorry, I meant the housing offered by the hagwon, if they are? It'll probably be more expensive than Itaewon/ Haebangchon.

With Bundang you can get express buses into Gangnam in about 25mins or so depending on the exact location in Bundang. If you know the bus system, it won't take you that long to get anywhere in Seoul. An hour at most.

[ttompatz]

[orosee]

I have 2 recommendations which I've both tried. It really depends where in Bundang you need to go.

When I was living in Gangnam, Daechi-dong near Seoulleung station, where the green and yellow lines meet, I used the yellow subway line to go to Sunae station. Bundang is strung along this line like pearls on a string. It takes about 32 minutes from Seoulleung to Sunae, roughly 2-3 minutes between stations. You could also move southwards along that line.

Now I live in Hannam-dong, close to the IP Hotel. But anywhere from Hannam Ogeori to Noksapyeong should be fine. Let's assume you'd find a place behind the Hamilton Hotel...: Take the 110 (blue) or 0018 (green) for a quick ride of 5 minutes down to the main bus stop in Hannam (you could even walk there if you like that). That's also where stop 73-001 is. From there, I take red bus 5500 for an 18 minute(!) ride to my office, all bus lanes and toll roads. This is an express bus that doesn't stop until it gets to KIS and it travels mainly on highways.

Alternatively, 5500-1 and 5500-2 will get to Bundang the slow way, stopping at several points near the yellow line subway stations. But outbound, you're doomed to spend much time at Yangjae where all Korean car owners meet in the morning to discuss things.

Carry on from there with a blue bus (e.g. 420) that takes you towards Gangnam station, and you can switch into the red 6800 which uses a mix of city roads and tollways to get you through Bundang.

Best to have a look at the 73-001 stop and see what buses depart from there, and which buses go where you need to go. Count 20 minutes for buses on the tollway and few stops, up to 45 minutes for city road buses. The Seoul Bus app or this link http://bus.congnamul.com/SeoulRouteWebApp/view_english/map.jsp will help.

So, there's absolutely no need to live in Bundang, although I found the area around Sunae station quite pleasing.