Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sarahkweber]

I was hoping to get some advice about places to live in Seoul. I am a very soical 23 year old who just graduated from college and likes to be around the nightlife scene. I have done some research and it sound like the Hong dae area is a good place to live. I also know that Itaewon is a major area for nightlife, especially for westerners. How far apart is Hong dae from Itaewon? I can't find Hang dae on a map. Also, how easy is it to get a teaching position in the area I would like to live? I saw some posts about best places to live in Seoul. Are these people arranging their own apartments or just making sure their teaching position is in the area they would like to live? I appreciate any advice you may have.

[Tiger Beer]

[sarahkweber]

Thanks. But what about getting a job in a place you want to live. Do schools let you choose your location ever or would it be more important to live by the school. How picky should I be about the area of Seoul I live in?

[Ya-ta Boy]

Seoul is well-served by an excellent subway system. You can get to Hongdae or Itaewon (or anywhere else) easily. Your first concern should be a quality job.

Korean cities are not divided into commercial and residential districts like at home. Here they are mixed. No matter where you end up living, restaurants and bars will be within feet of your front door. Some areas are cooler than others, but for daily living, and a casual beer, any place will be OK.

Anyone know how long it takes to get to Hongdae from the other side of Seoul? Is it much more than an hour?

[poof]

Seoul nightlife scene is about the worst of all Asian capitals bar Brunei Darussalem! Seriously!

I would agree though, that transport networks are pretty efficient, and Seoul as a whole is not that big to traverse. (Less than an hour end to end).

Hongdae is not really a residential area for families, so there are not so many institutes there as in other places. It's essentially a university area.

If you want nightlife, then at least avoid SINDORIM like the plague. Unless there are any takers, I would like to vouch for this place to be the most devoid place in the whole of Seoul.

[ekim]

I gotta say, you MUST be careful when accepting a job as to where it's located. My job is the most quality job of all my friends in terms of hours and wage, but I'm stuck out in Ansan! I love my job, but if I had to do it again I would make sure it was somewhere near downtown Seoul, or somewhere great for part-times. Nothing's worse than the 6am one hour subway ride home when you're shit-faced. Usually you wake up five hours later on the wrong side of the city. So I say get centrally located.

You don't have to be right in Hongdae or Itaewon, but somewhere that's only a five to fifteen minute taxi ride from 'em.

Just wondering, how would you compare the nightlife in Taipei with Seoul?

[poof]

Nightlife in Taipei much more sophisticated and chilled out - perhaps it's because Taiwanese people seem so much more mature and forward thinking that Koreans, the ambience and decor is much better imo.

[marcus]

If you're into clubs and djs, slick production, all night parties followed by after-after parties, cutting edge, innovative music, art and a thriving indie scene, you will be terribly, painfully disappointed. While you're here, the closest your favourite bands or djs are likely to get, is Osaka.

(Go to Osaka)

[ajgeddes]

[ekim]

well.. when you ain't familiar with the city, anything on the subway line looks like Seoul. I thought I was in Seoul when I got on the subway. Once I started passing trees, farms, and rolling hills I got worried. I guess she's not familiar with the city, which is basically why she's asking.

[bellum99]

Forget the movies....Korea is nothing like the Asian movies. Just think lame when you think about the nightlife in Seoul. Try to imagine slightly American decor but done as cheaply as possible. Then imagine pathetic hip hop dance music with sad little dance routines, and this covers 90% of the nightlife.

[Son Deureo!]

That's right, the nightlife in Seoul is so uninteresting that most of the English teachers here don't even bother to participate in it. No one here ever stays up until 5 in the morning or later getting hammered and chasing tail.

I can't imagine why anyone would even want to do that here.

[ekim]

[Bill Brasky]

[Bill Brasky]

nm