Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wings]

I am going to be in Korea with my boyfriend who is looking for work as a Spanish teacher, so we figure that Seoul is probably the best option. I will be heading over first and my boyfriend will follow, so I am trying to be very strategic about where I work.

I like what I have heard about Ilsan (eg, less pollution, big park with lake etc) and I have a few questions for anyone who is living in the area.

how long does it take to get into central Seoul on the subway? Is Ilsan actually a separate city, or is is basically impossible to tell where Seoul ends and Ilsan begins?

I am also basically looking for any comments from anyone living in the area who has good/bad things to say about it.

CHEERS!

[plutodog18]

I recently asked the same questions and was supplied the following information:

1) Ilsan is part of a newer satellite city (perhaps a farther suburb if you will). Because it is newer it is suppose to have less pollution and urban issues than Seoul (though there are nice parts of Seoul..i.e. MokDong).

2) Ilsan has 2 or 3 subway stops towards the NE end of Subway Line #3. I was informed it would be about 20 minutes by bus to Seoul or 40+ plus minutes by subway.

3) I have not been to Ilsan but there are those who have who can give greater insights.

Finally Dave's is a great forum. If you peruse the board for previous issues you will learn quite a bit about Korea and the experience.

MAKE SURE YOUR BOYFRIEND SOLICITS INFO FROM PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD ABOUT SCHOOLS AND CONTRACTS!!!!!!!!

[wylies99]

Ilsan is a big town.

It's longer than 20 minutes to Seoul, but how much longer depends on where you live.

It's nice- but in some parts of town there aren't very many other white dudes and babes. I prefer it that way (some of these white dudes and babes in Korea have PROBLEMS). From what others post, in parts of Seoul, EVERYONE speaks English. In some parts of Ilsan, it's hard to find Koreans who know any English. That can be a pain in the --- if you need any information.

If you're coming to Korea to PARTY, go to Seoul. Live there. If you're loud and like to drink 7 days a week, Ilsan is NOT for you. If you're coming to work, save money, and be a productive member of society, then you'll prefer Ilsan. It's quieter and cleaner.

[Jack_Sarang]

Ilsan is very clean and convenient, the western equivalent of a middle-upper class suburb.

Ilsan is not a city in itself, its a district of Goyang city. Its quite seperate from Seoul and swaths of farmland and mountains seperate it.

If traffic is light it takes only 15 minutes by car on the Jayu-ro (Freedom Highway) to get into western and central Seoul (Shinchon/Jongro).

It takes 35-40 minutes on the subway to get to Jongro (central seoul). 30 Minutes by bus to get to Shinchon.

Ilsan has 5 subway stops on the Orange line: Daehwa, Juyeop, Jungbalsan, Madu and Baekseok. Daehwa is the last stop on the Orange line.

Lots of parks, open spaces, hiking and tons of other social amenities.

[darkhorse_NZ]

hey, i'm sposed to be teaching at an elementary school in ilsan too. I was originally going to be placed in yongin a city south of budang but I wanted to be closer to seoul.

I'm single, from NZ and pretty keen for a good time when I turn up...anything under an hour's travel is all good by me to Itaewon or wherever the foreigners hang out.

I was just wondering whether the transport system was cool to sort you out a ride home in the morning after a night out in Central Seoul?

I'll be very keen to socialise and meet some people from other English speaking countries.

If you live in the countryside around Auckland and you have a night out on the town there, 30-40 minutes by train is nothing. Our transport system is totally messed up!

So a little ride home on the train sounds like the money!

[plutodog18]

Darkhorse:

I am not exactly sure about the buses, but I believe the subway runs from 5:30AM to about Midnight. Not sure if this holds on Sunday however.

Worst comes to worse, I am betting a cab will get you home for about 10,000 to 15,000. Not too bad.

I am sure others will help with some additional info.

[darkhorse_NZ]

cheers Pluto...hey, can you give me the heads up on the nightlife, I'm guessing there's quite a few western pubs in Seoul and its surrounds?

Although, I almost feel like an a-hole going to a foreign country and seeking out westerners, it's my first time out of NZ and I'm sort of looking to ease myself into it.

Cheers again

[plutodog18]

Not much of a party animal anymore, but if you peruse this forum I am sure you will learn a great deal about the Korean Experience, including stores and pubs.

Another thought would be to start a thread of your own asking about where some of the better night spots are and what to stay away from.
Also if you look at the top of the page you will see the "Search" function. Try a few keywords "beer", "bars", "night spots" and "Itaewon" might be a good start.

I have found that most folks how surf these forums are genuine in giving good advise and help.

Within the next 24 hours I imagine other will follow up on this post....but do not be shy about asking and starting the conversation.

[wylies99]

It's not hard to find bars anywhere in Korea.

[vox]

[darkhorse_NZ]

I'll keep a good stick handy...for close encounters

[wings]

it sounds good except for he sterile part. Are there any areas of Seoul that are similarly endowed with nice parks etc, and with less than average pollution, but that aren�t sterile???

[chris_J2]

I quite like Ilsan & go through there regularly on my way to & from Seoul. Took me a while to figure out there are 2 train lines in Ilsan. The nicer part of the city in the west (around La Festa & the lake) is near Jungbalsan subway station. Ilsan subway stn in the east on the Munsan line is a fairly nondescript area. Here's some photos I took:

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeonggido/Ilsan/

http://www.treklens.com/gallery/Asia/South_Korea/North/Gyeonggido/Ilsan/

[wylies99]

OP- so, your priorities are to be a party animal? If you ACTUALLY went to college, then you should have that out of your system, by now.


You can LIVE in Ilsan and PARTY in Seoul.

[makemischief]

much good troublemaking with both koreans and foreigners can be had in and around ilsan as well... though seoul provides a wider swath of available avenues to jolly good mayhem.