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lostdymension
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
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 Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:33 pm Post subject: Recommend a place to live in Seoul |
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I spent so much time last night typing up this post and must've hit preview instead of post and logged off. Aargh!
Anyways, I was just looking for advice on where I should live in Seoul given my desire to do some side acting gigs and enjoy large, green, outdoor spaces with lots of outdoor activities available. I'm on an F visa, 24 y.o., and I don't have any pressing need to go clubbing every night.
I was thinking of either Gangnam or Hongdae/Sinchon but the only things I know of them are that Gangnam = really expensive, upscale, sterile, and Hongdae = funky, hipster, artsy, cheaper. So maybe Gangnam is like Madison/5th Ave in NY and Hongdae is like the East Village? |
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lostdymension
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| also, for those who've tried it out, how feasible would it be to rely on just your bike to get around in Seoul? |
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Jotun_Symph
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I rode to work on my bike every day for a year and a half, but that was about it (it was only 3.7K round trip). Getting anywhere outside your immediate "gu" is going to take a lot of time and leg energy. It's great for exercise but so not so great when you show up everywhere sweating your ass off. Also, it can be very difficult to ride on the sidewalks because of all the people, which means you have to risk your life on the road. But all in all, I would try it out, you'll be in great shape and for short distances (under 5-6K) it can't be beat. |
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lostdymension
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:06 am Post subject: |
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| Jotun_Symph wrote: |
| I rode to work on my bike every day for a year and a half, but that was about it (it was only 3.7K round trip). Getting anywhere outside your immediate "gu" is going to take a lot of time and leg energy. It's great for exercise but so not so great when you show up everywhere sweating your ass off. Also, it can be very difficult to ride on the sidewalks because of all the people, which means you have to risk your life on the road. But all in all, I would try it out, you'll be in great shape and for short distances (under 5-6K) it can't be beat. |
Thanks Jortun. The commute between Hongdae and Gangnam is about 8 or 9 miles which works out to between 13 and 15 KM. I guess at this point it might be more feasible to take the local transit? |
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Jotun_Symph
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 9:06 am Post subject: |
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| Absolutely, those kinds of trips are great for exercise but not very convenient or timely for keeping social engagements. Like I said, I tried it a few times but I always showed up to places sweaty and exhausted. |
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lostdymension
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| Jotun_Symph wrote: |
| Absolutely, those kinds of trips are great for exercise but not very convenient or timely for keeping social engagements. Like I said, I tried it a few times but I always showed up to places sweaty and exhausted. |
Thanks, Jotun. I used to bike to work in LA and the same exact thing happened then. I don't know why I assumed Seoul would be any different?!?
By the way, any advice on where to live, between Hongdae and Gangnam? |
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Gorf
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:47 am Post subject: |
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| Biking will suck monkey balls in July-August when it's hot as hell and humid as all get out. All you need to know is the closer you live and work to a line 2 station, the better. It doesn't matter where. |
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wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Recommend a place to live in Seoul |
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| lostdymension wrote: |
I spent so much time last night typing up this post and must've hit preview instead of post and logged off. Aargh!
Anyways, I was just looking for advice on where I should live in Seoul given my desire to do some side acting gigs and enjoy large, green, outdoor spaces with lots of outdoor activities available. I'm on an F visa, 24 y.o., and I don't have any pressing need to go clubbing every night.
I was thinking of either Gangnam or Hongdae/Sinchon but the only things I know of them are that Gangnam = really expensive, upscale, sterile, and Hongdae = funky, hipster, artsy, cheaper. So maybe Gangnam is like Madison/5th Ave in NY and Hongdae is like the East Village? |
comparing seoul neighborhoods to nyc neighborhoods is very difficult. gangnam as a whole is massive and can change how it feels from block to block. if you needed to compare, i'd say gangnam is more like a giant midtown. apujeong is more like madison/5th ave.
that said, if you enjoy large green outdoor spaces with lots of outdoor activities available, gangnam is not a good place for you, but really neither is anywhere in seoul unless it is next to a park. also, if you don't enjoy clubbing, gangnam and hongdae probably aren't good choices either.
have you thought about living outside of seoul in places like suwon or anyang, saving some money on rent and having plenty of greenery at your disposal? |
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lostdymension
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: Re: Recommend a place to live in Seoul |
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| wishfullthinkng wrote: |
that said, if you enjoy large green outdoor spaces with lots of outdoor activities available, gangnam is not a good place for you, but really neither is anywhere in seoul unless it is next to a park. also, if you don't enjoy clubbing, gangnam and hongdae probably aren't good choices either.
have you thought about living outside of seoul in places like suwon or anyang, saving some money on rent and having plenty of greenery at your disposal? |
lately, i've been giving lots of thought to the quieter, greener suburbs outside of central Seoul like Suwon and Anyang. I would definitely be excited for those areas in perhaps a few years.
But for right now, I'm still in the mood for being right in the thick of things. I want to live close to where I work, and I want to find some work doing editing or translating or maybe even acting (for those educational english language DVD's they make), so I'm ok with sacrificing the greenery for that...at least until I can pick up enough gigs or something stable enough so that I can move out to the suburbs and not have to worry.
I can't tell if Gangnam would be better for my goals, or if an area like Hongdae would provide more opportunities. I've heard good things about both in terms of nightlife and fun things to do, but honestly, my priority right now is finding a job in a field mentioned above. |
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Jotun_Symph
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| I think Shinchon is way better than Hongdae. Most of the same perks of Hongdae, plus there's a friggin mountain behind it. It's Ansan, it's an easy climb, and there's several outdoor weightlifting facilities and dozens of different trails. For all the other fun Shinchon offers (gorgeous women, great food, batting cages, arcades, and Beer O Clock) having a mountain within 15-20 minutes walking distance ain't too shabby. Perfect blend of urban frenzy and accessible isolation. |
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lostdymension
Joined: 30 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| Jotun_Symph wrote: |
| I think Shinchon is way better than Hongdae. Most of the same perks of Hongdae, plus there's a friggin mountain behind it. It's Ansan, it's an easy climb, and there's several outdoor weightlifting facilities and dozens of different trails. For all the other fun Shinchon offers (gorgeous women, great food, batting cages, arcades, and Beer O Clock) having a mountain within 15-20 minutes walking distance ain't too shabby. Perfect blend of urban frenzy and accessible isolation. |
That sounds great, Jotun. I was definitely considering Shinchon for all those reasons listed above. However, I still have to go for the area that will provide the best job opportunities. And I'm still unsure of whether it will be closer to Gangnam or over by Hongdae/Shinchon. |
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