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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Daithi
Joined: 19 Jul 2010
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 Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:11 am Post subject: How far to Seoul from Seoul? |
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Okay I've a simple-ish question. If I'm going to Korea, if all goes well that is, next month I will most likely be placed in Seoul.
What i'd like to know is, even if I was placed out in the outskirts of Seoul whats the max amount of time it should take me to get to the places where i'd want to go? eg. Market in Itaweon, nightlife etc.
I know it depends how close i am to a metro station or bus stop but I would like a worse case scenario and an average expectation if possible.
Thanks in advance! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:26 am Post subject: Re: How far to Seoul from Seoul? |
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| Daithi wrote: |
Okay I've a simple-ish question. If I'm going to Korea, if all goes well that is, next month I will most likely be placed in Seoul.
What i'd like to know is, even if I was placed out in the outskirts of Seoul whats the max amount of time it should take me to get to the places where i'd want to go? eg. Market in Itaweon, nightlife etc.
I know it depends how close i am to a metro station or bus stop but I would like a worse case scenario and an average expectation if possible.
Thanks in advance! |
If you are in a satellite city (like Bundang in Seongnam) you can get to the good places in 30-45 minutes by express bus.
If you are inside Seoul and not on a direct subway or single transfer it can take twice as long (time waiting for train transfers).
You can get from Suwon Station to Seoul station in 40 minutes but sometimes it can take as long to go from Jeongno (city hall) to Itaewan Station.
Good news is that everywhere in Seoul is NEXT TO a bus stop and not far from a subway station. Compared to the west, Seoul's (dare I say Korea's) public transportation system is better than owning a car (frequent, cheap, fast and no parking problems).
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:34 am Post subject: |
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Tom's right, as usual.
It really depends on how close you are to certain subway and bus lines.
Good luck, you're 30 mins from almost everywhere. Bad luck, and it could take you an hour + each way. |
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Daithi
Joined: 19 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:42 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks! Exactly what I wanted to know |
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lalartu
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:47 am Post subject: |
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the only thing not mentioned by the previous poster is that the transportation system, especially the bus system, is extremely complicated.
it took me 8-9 months before I was brave enough to use a bus because you really need to know where you're going and it's easy to miss a stop if you have no idea where to get off.
once you do it a few times, it's kind of easy to figure out, but don't expect to get the hang of it right away. Like everything else in this country, buses are a "bali bali" affair (fast, fast), meaning that you have to get on, buzz in and get off the bus extremely quick if you want to be efficient.
I've had a bus driver close the doors in my face on many occasions because I wasn't fast enough getting off my seat and it took me a while to swipe my card before getting off.... |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:12 am Post subject: |
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| I find that living in Gunpo, a bit outside of Seoul, I can get pretty much anywhere I want to go on Line 4 within an hour, most places within 45 minutes. Checking out which line you're on and how it connects to everything else is fairly relevant. That said, if partying is your plan, unless you want to get home at seven or eight in the morning, taxis will get pricey. |
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definitely maybe
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:18 am Post subject: |
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| lalartu wrote: |
the only thing not mentioned by the previous poster is that the transportation system, especially the bus system, is extremely complicated.
it took me 8-9 months before I was brave enough to use a bus because you really need to know where you're going and it's easy to miss a stop if you have no idea where to get off.
once you do it a few times, it's kind of easy to figure out, but don't expect to get the hang of it right away. Like everything else in this country, buses are a "bali bali" affair (fast, fast), meaning that you have to get on, buzz in and get off the bus extremely quick if you want to be efficient.
I've had a bus driver close the doors in my face on many occasions because I wasn't fast enough getting off my seat and it took me a while to swipe my card before getting off.... |
8-9 months? I'll agree it can be complicated, but not if you take some chances early on. So you miss a stop or go the wrong way. Get off, turn around, and try again. You've got transfer options, so it's not like you're paying for each bus. Buses become infinitely easier once you learn to read Korean as well. You may not understand much, but the characters are fairly easy to memorizr early on. Start studying the written language right away, get on the bus, and try to count stops. You'll have it down in less than a month. |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| I lived in a small town in Namyangju-si, about an hour (on average) from central Seoul in 2005. My best friend was living in Daejeon. We used to race (him taking a cab to the train station and catching the next KTX, me taking the bus) to Seoul Station at least once a month and on most occasions I'd find him on the steps of the station waiting. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| definitely maybe wrote: |
| lalartu wrote: |
the only thing not mentioned by the previous poster is that the transportation system, especially the bus system, is extremely complicated.
it took me 8-9 months before I was brave enough to use a bus because you really need to know where you're going and it's easy to miss a stop if you have no idea where to get off.
once you do it a few times, it's kind of easy to figure out, but don't expect to get the hang of it right away. Like everything else in this country, buses are a "bali bali" affair (fast, fast), meaning that you have to get on, buzz in and get off the bus extremely quick if you want to be efficient.
I've had a bus driver close the doors in my face on many occasions because I wasn't fast enough getting off my seat and it took me a while to swipe my card before getting off.... |
8-9 months? I'll agree it can be complicated, but not if you take some chances early on. So you miss a stop or go the wrong way. Get off, turn around, and try again. You've got transfer options, so it's not like you're paying for each bus. Buses become infinitely easier once you learn to read Korean as well. You may not understand much, but the characters are fairly easy to memorizr early on. Start studying the written language right away, get on the bus, and try to count stops. You'll have it down in less than a month. |
Agreed. The bus system is actually really simple IF you take the time to read up on it. Buses come in colors - red, blue, ad green. They also have numbers on them. The colors represent the distances they travel/stops they make, and the numbers represent general areas they go. So, for example, a red bus that is numbered 9XXX will be going into central Seoul from a satellite city (9000, 9401, 9001, 9408, 9409 - all from Bundang to Dongdaemun/Namdaemun/Yeongdeungpo areas)
The thing that SUCKS about Korean transportation is finding out specific information. For example, on the Korail ticket page, if you want to go from Seoul to Mokpo, it'll tell you "no trains found" because you have to use Yongsan Station instead of Seoul. I've noticed lots of Korean transportation pages are like that - you have to know the EXACT station/stop name because it won't readily suggest nearby alternatives. THAT is what takes some research and effort to figure out.
Anyway, the BEST thing you can do for transportation is LEARN ALL YOUR OPTIONS. You could live in Cheonan and use the national train and be in Seoul faster than if you lived at Osan and used the subway. Living in a satellite city, or even further out isn't that bad IF you can plan ahead. Use a bicycle/motorcycle/walking with subways, trains, city buses/intercity buses/cross country buses, and taxis TOGETHER and you'll be golden. |
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