Korean Job Discussion Forums

[World Traveler]

[nukeday]

The subway is nice, but the lack of any express trains, in my view, makes it vastly inferior to New York's dirty, expensive system.

And a subway system is not a tourist attraction, so, good luck with that.

[orosee]

Some stations are actually worth visiting, take Noksapyeong for example. There should be a special tourist pass that would allow you to exit the gated areas, take a few pictures and re-enter without any extra charges.

A guide book with interesting sights within a 200m radius around each station for all lines would also be nice. Sometimes you can find such spots on the schematic maps inside the trains. The whole thing sponsored by nearby businesses.

But if the subway is such a great tourist attraction, why not let it run 24h a day and increase tourist revenues? Have sleeper cars on the green line from 1am to 7am for $10 a bed! I'm sure there are more things to add value.

[brento1138]

I dunno about you, but I'm here for the nice, clean air and laid-back atmosphere!

[isisaredead]

seoul will never be a tourist attraction. they should really just give up.

it's not a big deal. they should focus on other ways to generate cash, if that's what they're after.

but honestly, korea will never be seen as a tourist destination to anyone for any reason.

and using the subway system as a drawing point is pathetically laughable.

[Steelrails]

They should remove the smoking bans and promote it as one of the few places left in the free world where you can drink and smoke wherever you want. That and not have to worry about strolling through the wrong neighborhood. That and you can drive in a libertarian manner. If you like baseball you can bring in your own food and booze.

That and you don't have to worry about being PC because no one can understand what you're saying.

Come to Seoul and enjoy the freedom.

[northway]

The supertall skyscrapers currently under construction might help tie it all together.

[Modernist]

Hear this, all the would-be teachers panting like dogs to live in Seoul at all costs? My God, the SUBWAY is the best they can come up with? Talk about a backhanded compliment. Even New York doesn't really talk up its subway, and it is 100X more authentically historic and interesting [albeit filthy] than Seoul's [read the book 722 Miles, it's fascinating].

I mean, think about it. What do they really have? Certainly no architectural landmarks or distinctive neighborhoods ['look kids! Over there is one of I'Park's 8 complexes of 7 identical concrete block towers. And just across the street, if you can believe it, is one of Hillside's 12 complexes of 9 identical concrete block towers! See, there's the orange one in front of the green one!']. Oh, there's N Seoul Tower, which is pitiful compared to Shanghai's Oriental Pearl, Tokyo's Sky Tree, or Guangzhou's TV Tower. There's Korea's tallest, uh, 63 City? 38K for, um, well, something...compared to Shanghai's WFC, Taipai's 101, HK's ICC, etc etc.

There's the Five Historic Palaces, or whatever, which have some fraction of the appeal of Beijing's Forbidden City or Tokyo's Imperial Palace. But why would any tourist choose the former over the latter?

Museums? Not world-class. Zoos or aquariums? Not world-class. Symphony, opera, theater? <cough, cough> But hey, there's always deafness-inducing DRUMMING...

There's the grand central public space and beautiful park...oh, wait. There's the active, energized riverfront...oh, wait. There's the lively cafe culture bringing to mind Vienna or Zurich...oh, wait. There's the quiet, tree-lined streets with gracious, well-kept historic homes beckoning you for a stroll...oh, wait.

Oh, of course. How could I forget? There's the SHOPPING. Mall after mall after endless department store stuffed to the gills with junk. Lotte and Shinsegae and Hyundai and I'Park and COEX and Mesa and on and on. AND the 'traditional' markets, if you like to have to haggle for your junk on top of trying to find it. Solution, Korea! Just show a global map of credit cards: 'Seoul. Shopping, Unleashed. '

[orosee]

[orosee]

[GoldMember]

Time to make my travel plans. Now where should I go?

Egypt, see the pyramids and temples
Cambodia, see Ankor wat
Thailand, gorgeous beaches, and great food
England, castles, and countryside

I know, I'll go the Seoul to visit the subway system. The relatives back home will be thrilled to see all my photos of subway stations and subway cars. The higlight will be getting line 1 from Seoul station to Incheon, standing for a whole hour whilst getting pushed and shoved.
Beats a massage on the beach anyday!

[rainism]

[DaHu]

Just compare Seoul to the rest of Korea.

Seoul's the best!

[cj1976]

This is a tough on e. Seoul is a good place to live for a young expat looking to party. For the casual tourist, there really isn't a lot of justification for choosing Seoul over China or Japan. Korea isn't really cut out for mass tourism.

[FDNY]