Korean Job Discussion Forums

masuro · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 2:02 am Post subject: Moving to Gangneung

I'm moving to Gangneung next Sunday and I'm looking forward to exploring the city. I've been there before but not for any length of time. I have a few questions for people living there.
How are the theatres? Are there many?
Can you recommend a few restaurants, Korean or Western?
Is it safe to ride bicycle there?
I can find good beer and cheap Australian beef (Korean beef is good but too expensive) in Emart but the sausages they sell there don't look especially appetising. Has anyone tried them? Does anyone know of a market that sells foreign goods?
Will I go mad in the summer from the heat and tourists?

Please fill me in on the good, bad, and ugly if you can spare a few minutes. I was told Gangneung was voted the best city for living in Korea.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

I believe teachingld2004 worked up there for a couple of years and would have lots of info to share.

As I have been there several times I have a few things I can share.

I believe there are at least 2 theaters(maybe more that I dont know about)

There is a good Greek restaurant near the 5 street intersection. The place has many good restaurants.

Bicycling there is actually easier to do there, many of the areas have nice wide roads, good visibility and even bike lanes in some areas.

Check out the sausages, they may not look that great but some arent bad. I do recommend Franks Sausage which you can find in the meat section(they look like smokies and taste pretty good)

The heat in Summer isnt all that bad the offshore breezes in the AM and PM make for some decent weather...the mosquitos on the other hand!

masuro · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:14 am Post subject:

Thanks for answering.
Wow, a Greek restaurant. I'll definitely look out for that. I'll also try the Emart sausages and the Frank's sausages.
It's good to know I'll be able to get some exercise without having to worry about getting creamed by a taxi.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

It'll be quite a change from your village.

I dont live there but I visit from time to time. "The best city for living in Korea" seems a bit of a stretch. Others may well be more knowledgeable but as far as I know theres one movie theater & Emart is it for western-style shopping (with maybe a few small generic import shops downtown). Downtown is compact & the rest of the city sprawls out from there, a bit grubby & down at the heels. The streets are narrow & busy -- I wouldnt ride a bike to commute but Gyeongpo Lake might offer a nice recreational ride. Gyeongpo Beach is popular with tourists for a month in summer but you'd hardly notice in the city itself. Summer gets hot but not crazy hot. The local beaches arent so great but there are lots of others up & down the coast, not far away. Lots of nice mountain parks at hand too.

Good fresh seafood restaurants, & sundubu is a local specialty -- they make it with seawater there & its distinctive & good. A pseudo-Mexican restaurant called Bean is quite nice & the Hyundai Hotel at Gyeongpodae serves up good pricy western-style meals overlooking the sea. Last memorable meal I had in Gangneung was at a funky little juk restaurant near the central market -- locals could steer you there.

A couple interesting museums, & you'll be there for the Dano Festival later this spring, thats a big event. I find the locals friendly & theres a small but pleasant expat community -- check out Bar Bumpin on a friday or saturday night.

All in all not a bad little city. Hopefully others more familiar with it can add to (or contradict) my info. Best luck.

masuro · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:43 am Post subject:

Hi. Long time, no see. Smile

Thanks for pitching in to help.
The Mexican restuarant sounds good but I'll probbaly avoid the pricy hotel restaurant; they never seem worth the price. I like juk and also sundubu. I know the sundubu neighbourhood and I've eaten there. It's good.
I'll have to try cycling for myself. I'll be working in my home so I don't have to commute. If cycling is bad in the city then perhaps I can bring my bike to the lake and ride it there.
Give me a ring if you're planning on coming to Gangneung for a weekend or something. We can go out for a drink and the place I'm moving to has 'crash' space.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

I have eaten in "Bean". Average price for foreign food, and its a beautiful place. Food is good, but not great. I have eaten there twice, and would not go again.
Who ever has been in Gangneung knows the beaches are beautiful. Jungdonjin is only a 20 minute 3,000 train ride away, and what is so cool is the train lets you off right next to the beach.
Bike riding safe and many beautiful places to ride to.
The people here are wonderful, and there are no crowds.
I do not go to bars, but I have heard they are very friendly. Most of the foreigners here seem to know eachother.
You will love it here.
And by the way, Grotto is a nice guy.

masuro · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 8:07 pm Post subject:

Well, we've moved in and I'm impressed so far. Once I get my bicycle fixed I can start exploring the city. The people I've met so far in the shops seem friendly enough and driving isn't too bad.
I coudn't find Frank's Sausages in Emart, by the way. I'll have to try the store-made ones.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Franks sausage are at the Emart(sometimes they run out) in the far right area of where all the hotdogs and ham etc are. Square shaped package with 5 big smokies in it.

Try some of the store made ones i mixed and matched and some of them were pretty tasty. Luckily they give free samples(cooked)

masuro · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 1:51 am Post subject:

Okay, I'll have another look. Did you see them in Gangneung Emart? Or are all Emarts the same?