Korean Job Discussion Forums

jcan · Joined: 08 Oct 2006

I've been living in Ilsan for the past five months and although I like it a lot it would be interesting to compare it to poorer areas of Seoul. The sociologist in me is ready to be exposed! What places do you consider to be poor? What kinds of things have you seen?

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Has it been two weeks already?

Anyway, here's a link from a few days ago which mentions Eunpyeong-gu. Somebody else can add more, but if I remember correctly there's an area of Eunpyeong-gu often used in movies because of the older Western-style houses. I'll dig up the webpage later. http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=73142&highlight=Eunpyeong

jcan · Joined: 08 Oct 2006

Come on.

I've explored Seoul, the usual places where foreigners go, and I am just wondering if anyone works in a poverty-stricken area. What is wrong with wanting to experience other, lesser-known parts? I think it would be a good experience to see, and develop a larger understanding of Korea as a whole.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Please don't be rude to newbies and less prolific posters, Smee. The OP might actually have a life and not read previous threads discussing this on my beloved Daves.

Can we please ban the rolleye emoticon, by the way?

Jcan, my co-teacher informed me that Eunpyeong Gu (not terribly far from Ilsan, you'll realize) is the poorest of Seoul's districts. If so, Seoul has a very high standard of living, because Eunpyeong is the least poor-looking poorest side of town I have ever come across, by western standards. Roughest parts of London and New York are actually dangerous. Some things you'll see in Eunpyeong are empty, unsightly apartments, filthy windows, disused properties, but nothing in the way of actual poverty and criminality is observable.

jcan · Joined: 08 Oct 2006

interesting. thanks for the info. It would be interesting to compare poor parts of Korea to say, the slums of London or other western cities.

bosintang · Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject:

I think the poorest parts of Seoul can be found around dongdaemun-gu stretching East into Jungnang-gu. There are quite a few slummy parts found in there if you look for them, including Cheonyangni's red-light district, but it's more subtle than shocking.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

My apologies.

jcan · Joined: 08 Oct 2006

thank you.

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

You could also check out parts of Guro gu on the southside of the river and the section where Incheon borders Bucheon. There are also some older slummier parts of Ilsan up north towards Tanhyeon.