poll: best home for climber

[miniD]

i posted this before but it was pre-season and i didn't get much response. now that everyone's back on the scene i got an important question:
where do ya'll think is the best place for a climber to live (and teach) in ROK?

[Eric]

you really have to ask yourself 2 questions:

1. what kind of climbing do you prefer? sport or trad. also, are you into ice?

2. what do you need as a foreigner? nightlife? other foreigners? walmart?

for myself, i really like daejeon, big city with a "small city" atmosphere and it's "2 Hours" from everywhere :)

most the most ideal place for me might be Heungdeok, which is the last town on your way to seonunsan. i think you could throw a stone over the entire town but you could almost hit the crag from there too. the town also has a really nice chicken hof that stays open at least until 10:00pm :) they serve pizza, too.

[robb]

I have been living in Daegu for almost five years. There is good and bad like anywhere else, but the city has undergone a lot of change. There are Wae-gooks into the thousands and all the facilites that go along with it (foreign bars, music, stores, activities, etc.). However, I still hear from people that they seldom see other people in their neighborhood. Now for the best part... Deagu is surrounded by four different climbing spots all within a 20-40 min drive. They feature different rock, very different climbing style, and in very different locations. Eric brings up a great point, if you let people know what you are looking for, more specific info can be given. Hope your search goes well, good luck!!

[Possum]

As far as Possums go, Seoul has been an awesome forest to climb in, especially mid-week at the climbing walls (Does Daejeon or Daegu have em?). It's always easy to roll off for the weekends on trains or buses, and getting back is never a hassel.....so....if I worked a solid week but had a few hours in the morning, Seoul is perfect, since it's so easy to leave for the weekend. However, if I the free time like our Daegu buddies, then I'd look at living there since the local crags are a short drive away.

I think I'd stick with Seoul. However, only for the climbing, not for the living. If I knew walls existed in other towns, the I'd peace outa here!

Chopit
Chaplin

[skinsk]

Here's the rundown on places I've lived:

Incheon: It's been awhile and at least one gym has opened since then, but it's a drab city with little to offer besides a subway link to Seoul. I used to commute allmost two hours to the gym or to Anyang to clib outside.

Seoul is nice if you're new to Korea, in that the transport is convenient (in the city and to everywhere else). Gyms and outdoor walls are everywhere, and there are plenty of cultural and international events. Also, work opportunities of every ilk, as it's the economic, political and entertainment capital. Despite not being a city girl, I liked living in Seoul, and I took advantage of many things, from vegetarian buffets to art exhibits to free Korean lessons. These days, there's even more, and I try to get there once a month. There's even Pukhansan National Park nearby with a lot of climbing. Ice nearby. That said, it's bright, noisy and polluted and hard to escape these things day to day. You sit on subways, busses or in traffic. Biking in the city would be hazardous and difficult and even running is genrally best dome in a park, though there are many.

Jeonju is home now, and I consider it the Boulder of Korea. On the downside, there is one gym (a second recently closed) and a handful of Mountain Shops. On the upside, Sununsan and Maisan are an hour away, as is Daejon; Kwangju is about 1 1/2) and Shilli is just outside of town.

The air and earth are relatively clean; Jeonju is the capital of Jeollabuk-do, the acrigultural province of Korea. There are farms nearby and vegetable patches all over the city. Many organic farms are located nearby, and organic items are available in town. There is a vegan buffet with a small grocery/wholistic store attached, and at least 4 other good vegetarian restaurants. Imported goods are available at one import store, several department stores, and E-Mart and Jeonju Mart. The latter often promotes locally grown products. Sharp cheddar, feta, and brie are available as is red wine; other prducts come and go. Several coffee shops serve real espresso drinks and multi-grain bread can be had. You'll have to subscribe to an English language paper, and my IHT is a day late as it's printed in Seoul!

Jeonju is devoted to preserving traditional culture and promoting regional crafts and agricultural products. There is a strong community spirit, progressive movement and drive for sustainability over rampant growth! I find this refreshing. I have met city councilmen, local architects and ministers and I am way impressed with their vision. It's evident in practise as well.

While the immigration office seems neither as friendly or efficient as Seoul (and lacks English speakers), someone there is on the ball. The foreign community is surveyed regularly, and maps and info on cultural events, festivals etc (in English) is delivered to my home and office well in advance. There is an annual festival week, with many mini-fests, the majority of which promote local products and traditional culture, from "healthy" wines to Jeonju's famous Bibimbap to hand made paper. All of this coincides with the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), a huge undertaking. Over 170 films from 36 countries were screened, many progressive and provokative. Local volunteers, from students to housewives were on hand making everything run smoothely. As someone who goes to a lot of festivals and events in Korea, I was extrememly impressed with how well the city coordinated these events.

Jeonju is preserving traditional architecture and developing areas of traditional housing, etc. One of the two "last descendants" of the Jeosan Dynasty, Yi Seok (his cousin lives in Japan) was recently recruited to live here at a traditional guest house that was built by his supporters. He lectures at my University and generally promotes Korean culture, as the "Royal Grandchild". He spent over a decade in the US (at one point running a liquor store in LA) and has quite a few stories from the Japanese occupation to a few years ago when he was living at ch'im cil bang around Korea. Now he loves Jeonju too, and near his guesthouse is an entire mini-village of traditional shops, tea-houses, oriental medicine clinics. . .

The Well-being fad is strong and taken to heart here; there are many walking paths (some seem almost like wilderness along the poutskirts) and many have fitness parks attached. Old women tend vegetable patches and flower gardens throughout the city.

Biking is very popular in Jeonju, with many clubs and bike paths, and more paths and links under construction. The city paths are essentially the sidewalks with bikes stencilled on them, so a mountain bike and helmet are almost required! They veer, cross streets, dip sharply up and down and often have low concrete blocks are full size poles in the middle of them; my biking skills are tested regularly. Along the river, however, and leading out of town there are nice, paved, quiet paths.

There is a University Area and a small downtown with some fast food and chains for those who need them. Both attract mostly young people and are great for people-watching. There are several traditional markets. North of the city is a world cup stadium and there's an ice rink in town. Near the University is a small amusement park and a (sorry) zoo. Near the downtown is a hole-in-the-wall foreigners bar with many scheduled events and a regular clientel. People are freindly enough, but it doesn't get going until late (10:00 or so).

If you read Korean, the local bus-stops list final destinations and many have the entire routes posted. Quite a few have screens that show how often the busses that stop there run, how long until the next bus (for any given bus) and which busses are coming. I have a bus map from a tourist kiosk (in Korean) that lists every city bus, times and most stops. We have a train station, but it's not on a main route. Inner city and Express busses, however, go to all major and many minor destiations.

On the West end of town, my small apt overlooks a farm and mountains. The frogs and roosters (and occasional pig) are my noisiest neighbors. It's peaceful, but the company of like minded Westerners is the main thing I miss, though with my schedule I get out a bit. I also have frequent visitors (mostly old friends from Seoul), and everyone finds something new here.

I welcome specific inquiries about Jeonju, and if you have an MA my Uni is hiring for fall.

Another "ideal" town is the very Korean Shilli, nestled in the valley SE of Jeonju, towards Namwon. It's 1 1/2 hours by bike from Jeonju, and Shilli Am Jang (climbing) is right in town. A car would be handy here. There is a New Zealand Intenational School right up against the mountain, which is a bit odd, but I met the new kiwi principal and she seems nice. Shilli is connected to Jeonju by farm roads/bikes paths, train and busses. About 2k away is Jungnim Hot Springs.

PM me for more info, if it sounds like a place you'd like to live!

[miniD]

hey i just wanted to hear about all the climbing cities/towns in korea. not looking for a move just yet; just a poll for beta...thanks though

[Baek Su]

Daegu. Hands down.