Korean Job Discussion Forums

[HeavyTZM]

Hello guys, I've been offered a potential position in Namyangju, but I can't find to much information about it online. I only found one short thread on Dave's about the place. If there is anyone that lives there or has some knowledge of the city, I would be appreciative for some information.

I'm not huge into drinking or nightlife, so that's not high on my list. I mainly want an area that's:

- not huge but not rural
- has some local food markets
- has the convenience of the bigger cities (dept stores, coffee house)
- a gym with free weights (most important)
- some good local scenery/heritage. I saw Namyangju has a nice mountain with recreation on it's city website

I really just want to make sure this area isn't the boonies with no convenient downtown area

Thanks for any input

[thrylos]

Namyangju "City" is pretty big-- eastern part is next to Seoul/Guri, so it's pretty well developed, western part borders the last town in Kyeonggi-do (Seoul's greater area), in Gapyeong, which is pretty boonie...

Depending on what area of Namyangju you're in, you're bound to find all the things you're looking for. Is it all within walking distance? Depends...

Do you have a specific area in Namyangju, as it's split up into different 'dongs'/neighborhoods that aren't necessarily close to each other. There's Pyeong-nae, Deokso, Hopyeong, etc...

Maybe look up those specific areas within Namyangju, it may be more helpful...

[Captain Corea]

Yeah, I've lived here for about a year and a half now, and still don't really know the boundaries of the area.

I live in Dokso and find it pretty boring. Lots of the streets are very old and narrow, and there's really not an interesting "town center" to speak of.

But perhaps things are different in other parts of the city.

[CrikeyKorea]

I lived in Pyeongnae and it was pretty cool. All those things that you want plus fairly easy to get to Seoul especially now with the subway.

[daevrojn]

I'm slated to come and teach in Namyangju at the Technical high school, sometime this month. I'm not if this is the address or not, but I suspect it might be: hwadoeup gyeongchun beongil 25.

I'm really curious about the place and what the city is like.
Any advice for a first time visitor/teacher to this are, or Korea in general?
What's the scene for foreign teachers like?
Any advice or info would be really appreciated.

[thrylos]

The 'neighborhood' is Hwado-- Pretty new and relatively 'open'/spacious, a bedroom community with all that entails-- newly-built apartment buildings and supermarkets/ home shopping, a subway station (Maseok station?) nearby, but not much of a nightlife... Here's the Korean version (Kyeongcheon beyongil 25 is the street address-- the 25th street of K-b)

Good luck..

경기도 남양주시 화도읍

[Modernist]

Better gird yourself for that Technical HS. Those places can be really rough for foreign teachers. To say that learning English is not a priority there would be an understatement. They are the schools for the absolutely worst MS students in terms of skills and behavior and motivation. There can be serious discipline and respect issues, sleepwalking CTs, and absolute disinterest on the part of the students, if you intend to do anything except watch movies or play the most simple games. A friend of mine barely lasted 6 months at one [just held out to avoid airfare reimbursement]. Just letting you know.

As for Namyangju, it's hardly the worst place to live in Gyeonggi. You won't be as close to Seoul as you think, but that's not a big deal. You've got the subway, decent shopping options. I doubt there's any 'scene' though. It's one of the sprawling cities, not more compact like Guri or Bucheon or Anyang or the Ilsan parts of Goyang. Go to Seoul when you need that kind of environment.

[HeavyTZM]

I didn't take the offer there, but I found a facebook group called namyangju hub. It was pretty useful in finding out some information about the area

[daevrojn]

I really appreciate the information you guys are giving me. Although this seems more daunting now than it did before (one of the teachers I talked to over the phone did mention the student's English was less than perfect), I'm still really excited to move forward and actually get to Korea.

Maybe this is asking alot, but does anyone know how to locate the address I provided on Google Earth? I've tried and can't seem to do it.

Thanks in advance.

[tigress]

Hi crikeykorea, could you pm me please about Pyeongnae? I have a job offer there and would like to know more about the place. Thanks!