Korean Job Discussion Forums

[michi gnome]

I took a job near Changwon, and will be arriving around mid-November.

Lived in Busan previously, but am not familiar with the small towns which are west of the city.

Any decent places to hike around there? A good bar or two (maybe even with a pool table)? Somewhere to get a good cup of coffee? expat meet-up groups? Food options outside of the ordinary? Is there a bus that goes to central Busan?

Thanks for all info!

Cheers

[waseige1]

Someone started a website www.changwon5.com

There is also a facebook group for the area "dream bay packers".

[alwaysgood]

Any decent places to hike around there?
Completely surrounded by mountains. There is a trail that goes around the surrounding mountain ridges.

A good bar or two (maybe even with a pool table)?
There are 3 decent size foreign bars and a couple of small ones. If that seems like a lot for this size town, it's because there are many engineers here from other countries.

Somewhere to get a good cup of coffee?
There are the standard coffee shops: Tom n' Toms, Dunkin', Cafe Bene, etc.

expat meet-up groups?
Not that I know of. There is a Facebook group "Changwon Expats", but it's not particularly active.

Food options outside of the ordinary?
International Pub has the closest thing to Mexican food in town, and decent burgers. There are a couple of Indian restaurants. More 횟집 than most towns. Otherwise, pretty standard fare.

Is there a bus that goes to central Busan?
You can get to Busan from the bus terminal (Sasang/Dongnae/Haeundae).

Changwon is a nicer city than I expected before moving here. Unlike most other cities this size, half of the Changwon industrial, and that brings in plenty of money. It was created in the 70's as a planned "backup capitol" in case Seoul was attacked. The mountains would be shield against missiles/artillery and the massive central road is designed to land airplanes on.

There are enough places to buy things. We have E-Mart, Lotte Mart, Homeplus, Lotte Department Store, and a market.

[shifter2009]

Changwon is where it is at. Join the O'brien's group on facebook to find out a lot of the happenings but there is plenty to do. We have chairty groups, book club, all sorts of activities if you get in with the right people.

[Skipperoo]

It's a very nice place to live. Good expat community, very safe and convenient city and a decent travel hub.

[maladict23]

Watched some formula 3000 at the race track there.

[BigBuds]

[michi gnome]

Thanks for all the info. I will check out the facebook and web links.

I'll probably head into Busan on occasion, but it's great to have places within walking distance, & I like to know stuff is around. A few years ago I lived around Dadaepo, on the far southern fringe of Saha-gu. There was a small & tight group of wayguks there, some crazy characters. Those were good times. Sounds like Changwon is similar, but with far more going on than Dadaepo.

This is probably too much to ask for, but are there any archery places nearby? Been meaning to get into that. Pool leagues? Bands?

[BigBuds]

Their is an archery place down by the stadiums but I've never been in so can't tell you what it's like.

The foreigner bars have open mike nights and quite a few people are into it so it won't be hard to get some people together to jam with.

[traydragen]

[BigBuds]

I'm liking it just fine.

Been here ten years and counting.

[traydragen]

[sundizz]

I am glad to hear that it is a nice place. I will be very likely be moving there at the beginning of March. Bookmarking this thread for future reference!

[shifty]

[traydragen]