Korean Job Discussion Forums

[missty]

I am going to be moving to this area in just over two weeks. I've not lived in Bundang before, mainly being located in the south west of Seoul, but I've been there a couple of times to sign contracts etc.. and I am really looking forward to moving to the area.

I guess I really want to know what Sunae is like in particular. Is there a big foreigner crowd there? (Not that there has to be or anything, but it would be a bonus I suppose). What is the nightlife like? Is there much to do in the area, I am especially looking to do more stuff outdoors, such as bike riding/hiking etc.. It seems like Bundang would be good for that sort of thing?

Anyway, if anyone is currently in the area/has lived there and can give me any info on the place then that would be great. Thanks!

[Tropic of Cancer]

There are a great many expats in the building I live in, and I encounter non-Koreans daily.

Sunae Station is nestled in between Seohyeon and Jeongja. Both stations are a brief walk from Sunae (Seohyeon is a bit closer than Jeongja). Seohyeon has the nightlife aspect going for it: a couple nightclubs; one bar that I think is great (Traveler's, next to First Tower), and two others that aren't bad (Pub 210 and Dublin). As for Jeongja, there is a foreign-goods store there called I Love Cookie. Generally, the stuff they carry is slightly more expensive than what you'd encounter at Foreign Food Mart or National Food Mart in Itaewon. (Of course, their stock is more limited. But they have been known to carry such items as cottage cheese -- every now and then. Expiry date on said cottage cheese is what you should check, though.)

Attached to Sunae Station is the Lotte Department Store. The prices are generally high, but there's a UNI QLO on one of the upper floors. Seohyeon's got AK Plaza. Same deal as the Lotte Department Store, but just a shade better if you don't mind spending the dough. (Grocery, too, on the station/basement floor -- I think.)

There are at least two Daiso locations in Sunae. One of these is actually on the station floor of Sunae Station. Well, it's not really a Daiso store proper; right now, it's just an arrangement of shelves beside one of the sets of turnstiles. But it's got Daiso stuff and Daiso prices. It's a quick-fix Daiso. The other location is not far from a Home Plus Express (which is quite big for a Home Plus Express) and a Pizza School. I can give you directions to those if you wish.

The riverside park is a quick walk from the station. I mean, the park stretches all across Bundang, and it's accessible from mostly anywhere on the main strip. The closest access point from me is along the way to Seohyeon Station.

Then there's food. I ate at a fairly-priced, rather-good Korean joint outside of Sunae exit one just the other day. On the menu was a soup styled after chaeyuk bokkeum (sorry, no Hangeul on this computer), which is pretty much a 6,000 won barbeque order, in my opinion. Other than that, there is a wide array of Korean food choices outside of either side of the station. There's a pretty fantastic king-dumpling place not far from the station. There's a Quizno's. There's a wine store outside of exit one that does two-for-twenty on some of their mid-shelf bottles. There are good joints around Seohyeon and Jeongja.

The thing I like most about living in Bundang is how compact the area is. The stations are all arranged down a line, more or less. So say you want to have dinner and a movie. You ride down the way on a bus or a subway train -- head to Ori, where there's a CGV (and Home Plus proper), where there is a fantastic vegetarian buffet as well as a damn-good kong-biji place, and you'll have little trouble managing to fulfill both aspects if you don't mind exploring a little.

Anyway. I hope some of this is helpful.

Good luck.

[mike in brasil]

I used to live in that area and thought it was the bees knees at the time.

Since then I've lived in Busan and both north and south of the Han river in Seoul proper.

The strecth from Yatap all the way to Migeum is cool, especially the part from Imae to Jongja. It's one of the wealthiest parts of the country and it's nice to live in that enviornment. If you score a nice apartment/officetel in Sunae you'll be living in the lap of luxury. Walking around Jongja and Sunae on a nice sunny afternoon is pretty damn nice.

The downside to it is that it's one of the most expensive areas in Korea you could live in. The only markets around are pretty expensive, few cheap restaurants (that are worth a damn) and there are no open air markets to buy food at the "right price". I used to think the nightlife was ok but now I realize it was pretty weak, unless it has improved recently. The natives who live there are some of the most stuck-up and self absorbed people I've come across in Korea. Gangnam isn't much different in that sense.

Overall Bundang is a great place to live but now I've come to the conclusion Busan is the best place to live in this country.

[missty]

Thanks for all the great information! I wasn't expecting such detailed replies, but these will all come in a lot of use.

I am aware that Bundang is an expensive area to live, but thats one of the reasons why I want to go there. I don't know, but after living in horrible places in Seoul in some of the poorer areas I am most definitely ready for the change! Plus where I live now has zero nightlife, and I have to make a thirty minute trip to civilisation if I want to go out, so although Bundang isn't the nightlife capital of Korea I think it will have more than enough to keep me entertained.

I am living in Sunae and working in Jeongja, so all the information will come in handy. Especially thanks to tropic of cancer, your info has made me suitably hyped to move there knowing that it is tons better than where I am now!