Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tumbleweed31]

I may be taking a job in Pyungtaek, but cannot find any information about this place on the web or in books. Is there anything to do here? The other English teachers seem to enjoy their job which is a good sign, but other than the military base it sounds like it offers little except cleaner air than Seoul.

[soviet_man]

It is usually spelt "Pyeongtaek" and its on the Cheonan subway line.

Like most places in Gyeonngi province, the location is *ok* but nothing special. Just an ordinary urban area with the usual rows of apartments.

But it would certainly take at least a good hour to get to and from most places in Seoul on the subway from down there, which would be a downside.

www.pyeongtaek.go.kr

[ttompatz]

[Ekuboko]

*Ahem*

Express subway takes just over an hour to Yongsan;
Mugunghwa train takes just under an hour to Yongsan or Seoul Station;
Non-stop buses to Nambu or Express Bus terminal take 1 hour.

[dulouz]

Yes.

[shevek]

[Smee]

Suwon and Cheonan are both really close, which is a plus. You don't have to live in Seoul to enjoy it.

[Tiger Beer]

[Roch]

I'm not sure of I've spelt the name of the city correctly or not. Anyway, it's supposed to be a good place in which to work, etc. Some refer to the Songtan area as something like I'taewon but a tad bit better, etc.

[shevek]

Songtan is part of greater Pyeongtaek, but if you're based in Pyeongtaek City itself you're 2 or 3 subways stops away from there. Songtan is awesome though. A really mellow version of Itaewon.
What exactly are you looking for in the place...?? Just curious..? Tourist attractions, party scene etc?
I like Pyeongtaek in that even though it's not an ultra westernised town in spite of the smattering of US bases around the locals are well enough used to seeing white and black faces that you don't get the deer in the headlights style reactions that you may in comparable sized cities elsewhere.

[fidel]

I went for a drive down there last winter and these are my impressions:
Great big frozen lake that looks fun sliding on, fishing etc
Quick access to the West Sea Highway for the weekends cruising down to Malipo beach
Scungy semi-industrial in parts
Yummy restaurant where we had a wicked chicken

[Tiger Beer]

There are only 4 places I've live in Korea (and been all over the country more or less). I'd live in:

1) SEOUL
2) Gangwon-do
3) OSAN/PYONGTAEK
4) (possibly Jeju-do - although don't know that area so well).

Osan/Pyongtaek is a good choice!

[tumbleweed31]

What I'm hearing is that there really isn't much going on in Pyungtaek. I guess what I'm looking for is more nature, less city, more traditional Korean culture and a variety of people. I want to meet foreigners and Koreans alike. My passions are: hiking, climbing, biking, etc. Not a big party girl, although I am a social drinker. Most of my weekends will hopefully be spent traveling around Korea, but I just want to make sure my home base is comfortable and there is enough to do to keep me occupied.

Thanks for the help.

[Ekuboko]

Tumbleweed,

Pyeongtaek city itself is a good central base for what you want. There are a few small mountains a bus ride away for hiking (some locals will go there every weekend) and the transport connections are good, IMO.

Bus terminal and train station are very close together right in central downtown (unlike in other cities) and express buses go all over the country. You can get trains to either southern corner of the country which is easy weekend access to a lot of the national parks down there.

However, if the job is in Anjung or Songtan, or other peripheral 'suburbs,' then it will be a little bit more dificult.

[John Henry]