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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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 Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: What's the scoop on Songpa? |
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I'm moving to Songpa (5 subway stops past Jamshil on the pink line).
What's shopping like around there? Any E-Marts? Anything of interest? |
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twg
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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Songpa Gu has:
The Olympic Park
Lotte World/ department store
A small lake
The Han river
A lot of rich people who aren't rich enough to live in Gangnam next door.
A lot of public transportation going to Gangnam next door.
I think there's a Costco there, and though I haven't paid enough attention to tell if they have an E-Mart or Lotte Mart, I'd be surprised it there wasn't. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks. So far all I've seen is the subway stop and the street is lined with a fence for as far as I can see in either direction--LOTS of construction going on. |
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waterbaby
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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I used to live in Songpa - the area around Cheonho subway (the junction for lines 8 and 5) has a dept store (can't remember which one - maybe Hyundai?), EMart and heaps of restaurants etc.
Jeeez... I've been away too long - my memory is fading.  |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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| I have some friends in Bangi. It's an okay area but kind of expensive. A bottle of beer costs 1600 won, which would cost 1300 most other places and costs only 1200 in my area. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:24 am Post subject: |
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| Good information so far. Thanks. |
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Yesterday
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Land of the Morning DongChim (Kancho)
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| Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject: Re: What's the scoop on Songpa? |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
I'm moving to Songpa (5 subway stops past Jamshil on the pink line).
What's shopping like around there? Any E-Marts? Anything of interest? |
Oh no! Country boy - are you really leaving the sticks behind and edging yourself back towards the city?
the scoop? the despicable "yesterday" lives in SongPa-Gu.....
well.... I know Songpa very well but as you said 5 subway stops past Jamsil on the pink line - I guess you are talking about living at Songpa station...
well to tell you the truth - Songpa Station does not have much at all.....
just the local Garak markets.... (fruit/vegetables and fish wholesale market).....
and lots of traffic passing by.....
| twg wrote: |
Songpa Gu has:
The Olympic Park
Lotte World/ department store
A small lake
The Han river
A lot of rich people who aren't rich enough to live in Gangnam next door.
A lot of public transportation going to Gangnam next door.
I think there's a Costco there, and though I haven't paid enough attention to tell if they have an E-Mart or Lotte Mart, I'd be surprised it there wasn't.
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twg is talking about Songpa-gu (the greater region) - most of those things such as Lotte World/ department store, a small lake are at Jamsil station and The Olympic Park is either at MongChontesong Station - (for inline-skating, bicycle riding, skateboarding, ice-skating, hockey etc etc and Olympic Park station for quick access to the 3 Olympic-size indoor heated swimming poolts - so you will just have to catch the bus (3143 green bus is best) or subway to Jamsil/MongChontoseong/Olympic-Park station to get to those places.... (10-20 mins)
from Songpa station your best grocery shopping would be either at GS Mart (Garak Market station - one station from you) or Lotte mart at Jamsil station or E-mart at Suseo station (both only 10-20 mins by bus/subway or 5 mins 4,000won by taxi from Songpa station) - but I think the Lotte mart at Jamsil is better - as it has a very large variety as well as stocks many foreign products and is cheaper than E-mart, GS mart and Kims Club - Lotte Mart is also more relaxed and larger -so no bumping in to people and having to squeeze your way around... (Jamsil station also has Lotte Department store (headquarters) and many other things..... )
(an extra 7 minutes travelling will get you to Cheonho (Gangdong-gu)- which has Hyundai department store, E-mart and many markets .....)
actually I have been in this area many years - and I have never seen a Costco - although I have "heard of" an ex-costco - now apparently "homeover" close to Sincheon station - however I have never seen it and this is a little too far too travel for groceries from Songpa station.....
OK - for eating out - ALL your popular foreign restaurants such as VIP's, TGIF's, Chilli's, Outback Steakhouse, Kahuna, etc etc are found at Jamsil and Mongchontoseong Station - (also Burger King, dunkin donuts, Subway, and Pizza hut)....
also many larger Japanese, Chinese, Indian and Korean restaurants are at MongChontoseong Station (Bang-I dong) (behind the 150 love motels).....
| twg wrote: |
| A lot of public transportation going to Gangnam next door. |
I would not bother going to Gangnam - everything you need is at Songpa-gu and getting caught in that traffic going to and from Gangnam especially during mornings and evenings - you could get stuck in traffic-jams for up to an hour.....
if your sick - the friendly English speaking staff at the Foreigners clinic at Asan Hospital (2 minutes past Mongchontoseong Station) will be happy to help you - weekdays only.....
there is an overabundance of gyms and sauna's also at Bang-I dong and lots of fun activities at Olympic Park....
(also a very large YMCA near Jamsil/Sincheon station) - Sincheon station is also a very large nightly hangout....
as for -
| twg wrote: |
| A lot of rich people who aren't rich enough to live in Gangnam next door |
- its been common knowledge amongst many korean people for the last couple of years - that more wealthy people now prefer to live in Jamsil rather than Gangnam.... and Jamsil (SongPa-gu) is fast taking over as the richest/most expensive area in Seoul......
Yes - drinks etc in Bang-I dong are more expensive than Gangnam and Bang-I dong is SongPa gu.... (it's where I live) - so I recommend this area well.... (Don't get Bang-I dong mixed up with Bang-I station - as Bang-I dong is at Mongchontoseong station or 7 mins walking from Jamsil station)....
I just think you should live at little closer to Jamsil station or MongChontoseong station or Olympic Park Station - as these places are closer to all the big things - although these places are more expensive than Songpa station....
Jamsil (SongPa-gu) also has the MOST foreign English teachers residing in Seoul....
also the air quality is much nicer than most other areas of Seoul - as Songpa-gu is situated on the far-south/east of Seoul against all the mountains and border of Seoul - before you pass over into Gyeonggi (Hannam city or Bundang)
Oh - just in case you miss the country - travelling about 10 mins by bus etc south of SongPa station will take you to that very famous mountain (I can never remember the name) where lots of people go hiking and has the famous little temple etc etc on - been hiking there a few times and the scenery and view from the top is spectacular....
Last edited by Yesterday on Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:27 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, we could have a Song pa/Gangdong get together. I'm in Gangdong gu, right on the edge of Songpa, across the street from Olympic park. I quite like it, for many reasons that yesterday outlined. Primarily, I like the fact that my area lacks the congestion of greater Seoul. Generally a much less oppressive feeling than I thought Seoul would offer. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:36 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Oh no! Country boy - are you really leaving the sticks behind and edging yourself back towards the city?
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Oh yes. Bright lights and big city, here I come. I hope Seoul is ready for me.
Thanks for the info. I learned several important pieces of information. For one thing, I didn't know Songpa was a Gu, although I suspected it when I read that's where Olympic Park, Lotte World and the lake are.
The other time I lived in Seoul I was in Hongdae just before it became a hot spot (kind of the story of my life--I prefer to think of myself as a trend-setter, but others could see it differently).
I'll be living on the military base there, with our own private mountain (complete with a huge day-glo orange spot painted on it. Not sure if it's a target or what.) Looking out from the office window, the base looks beautiful. Kind of ideal for a country boy like me.
Trying to decide if I should sell my car. I know I'm too chicken to drive in Seoul. Where I'm from, 6 cars are heavy traffic. But not crazy about taking a bus/subway to a grocery store. Guess I could get one of those discarded baby buggies the elderly use.
| Quote: |
| Well, we could have a Song pa/Gangdong get together. |
If as reported, our area is becoming the hoity toity area of the city, I think we should be careful about letting in second-raters like the Gangnam folks.
Quite honestly, I'm not sure how I'll handle being around real live foreigners. Except for 4 years out my 11+ I've been the only white boy in town. I think 4 months is my record for going without even seeing another one. |
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twg
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:31 am Post subject: Re: What's the scoop on Songpa? |
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| Yesterday wrote: |
| Bang-I dong is at Mongchontoseong station |
With more love hotels than you can shake your stick at |
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leebumlik69
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: DiRectly above you. Pissing Down
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject: Re: What's the scoop on Songpa? |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
I'm moving to Songpa (5 subway stops past Jamshil on the pink line).
What's shopping like around there? Any E-Marts? Anything of interest? |
Ha! An almost reasonable distance from me jk. Good luck |
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Yesterday
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Land of the Morning DongChim (Kancho)
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
I'll be living on the military base there, with our own private mountain (complete with a huge day-glo orange spot painted on it. Not sure if it's a target or what.) Looking out from the office window, the base looks beautiful. Kind of ideal for a country boy like me. |
To be honest - I never knew there was a military base in SongPa-gu.....
The closest military base I know of - is the "Seoul Airport" (Korean Air-Force base) - which is located 5 minutes past Suseo station in a small village called "DaeWang" - I had an elementary school there once.....
(its has no subway station - only accessible by bus or car.....) altough Suseo station is the closest subway and only 4 subway stops away from Songpa Station....
DaeWang and "Seoul Airport" (Korean Air-Force base) is the largest Korean air-force military base but it actually lies on the border of Seoul - its actually half in Gangnam and half in Gyeonggi-do....
Its has most of Korea's air-force, and is also used a a secure place to fly in North Korean and other refugees as well as VIP's and presidents of other countries.... there's always large entourages of limousines complete with full police-escorts coming and leaving that place.....
(It's also one of the places the USA will use to evacuate USA citizens from in the case of war/disaster - although it is a Korean military base)...
If that is the military base - then it is mostly country, and the villagers at DaeWang are mostly either Korean military or farmers....
Now - I am curious - is that the place? if not I would like to know what other military bases are located in or near Songpa-Gu.... |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Now - I am curious - is that the place? |
I don't think so.
Here is what I know...
I came up out of the subway, Exit 1 or 2 and was picked up. The driver headed (south?) about 300 meters and took the first left (east). Very quickly on that road we passed a gate on the right that had a big ROTC arched across it. Kept going maybe a mile, maybe less to where the road ran into another gate blocking the street. Armed guards and road blocks. That's my base. Haven't learned the name of it yet and maybe my directions are screwed up because I was talking to the driver and the person in the back seat at the same time as trying to watch where we were going.
I'm pretty sure it's an Army (not Air Force) base.
I'll do some investigative work next week after I move in.
I'm a little bit in mourning this morning. Last night the Naval Academy called offing an interview. I would have loved that job. Had to turn them down for the interview because I've accepted this job. Too bad they didn't respond as quickly as the Army. |
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Yesterday
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Land of the Morning DongChim (Kancho)
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
I came up out of the subway, Exit 1 or 2 and was picked up. The driver headed (south?) about 300 meters and took the first left (east). Very quickly on that road we passed a gate on the right that had a big ROTC arched across it. Kept going maybe a mile, maybe less to where the road ran into another gate blocking the street. Armed guards and road blocks. That's my base. Haven't learned the name of it yet and maybe my directions are screwed up because I was talking to the driver and the person in the back seat at the same time as trying to watch where we were going.
I'm pretty sure it's an Army (not Air Force) base.
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So, it sounds like a different base... somewhere in the middle of SongPa station, Garak Market Station and Bang-I station (yes thats SongPa-gu)...
| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| The driver headed (south?) about 300 meters |
if you had kept going south you would have been at Garak Market....
| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| ..... and took the first left (east) |
after taking the first left (east) if you had kept going another 3 minutes you would have been at Bang-I station...
so I can guess where it is...
so welcome to SongPa-gu.... |
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