New Climber-Friendly Gyms...??

[avenue]

I've finally gotten myself settled and situated here in Seoul. I'm looking for suggestions for gyms that are new climber (read, weak climber)-friendly. Anyone? Suggestions??? Please??? :becky:

Thank you!

[skinsk]

What part of Seoul do you live in? I'd recommend checking out those that are close to your home/work. Most will let you try one day free, or for a small daily fee. Go at a time you'd normally go and get a feel for the place. . . you can check hours, price, "friendliness", classes or training, whether they go on trips. . .etc. Convenience will probably play a big factor, as commuting time will cut into your workout time. A shower can be nice, as can good fans/heat depending on the seasons. Gyms in Seoul vary from very neighborhood to delux showpiece-- you'll have to decide what you want from a gym (and how much you want to pay:). Some will just vibe with you more than others, and that's important too. Once you join, GO! It takes some people awhile to warm up to new people, and some are especially shy around foreigners, but once they see you a few times they'll warm up to you. You don't have to speak Korean well, but trying the few words you know and learning a few more goes a long way! If you mention where in Seoul you live/work, I/others can make better suggestions.

[shanja]

Skinsk has it bang on. Most gyms are friendly, especially to foreigners....but it really needs you to make an effort at getting to know the locals. Just turning up regularly is the biggest step forward. Most gyms see a lot of folk just come once or twice then never again. Also Koreans can be reticent about using English, so don't mistake lack of interaction (initially) as coldness. They are just shy about their English. Maybe take a few climbing mags from home along and put 'em down where others can see them...this breaks the ice well, as pictures and pointing need little language. A phrase book (Lonely Planet etc) is also a good giggle as they can flip through it seeing the Korean. As you get more integrated into a gym, make a habit of once a while bringing in a sharable snack for whoever is there (in winter I often bring in a big bag of the sweet fish shaped breads- 뿡어빵 2000wons worth), some coffee mix or whatever.
Later this month I hope to have out a printable list of commonly used/needed phrases in Korean/English, so you can break the ice. Some will be slang, which KOreans find hilarious when used by Foreigners. Good luck!

[avenue]

Do any of the gyms in Seoul offer climbing lessons? Dare I press my luck and say climbing lessons with an English speaker???

[skinsk]

Oh, and let's not forget a KOTR T-shirt (Are there still some? What sizes?) can be a great conversation starter! With some English and some Korean on the back. Most? gyms have lessons, or will assign you a trainer-- English will depend on who's there, but even if no one speaks much English, they can show you how to grab the holds, where to step and how to hold your body to make the moves by pointing, demonstrating and pantomiming. Gyms are for training; for any technical how-to's best that explanations come from a fluent language speaker. A book like Betty and the Silver Spider )Craig Leubben) or How to Rock Climb (John Long) can help give to the basics pf gym climbing/rock climbing.

Most Korean climbers will let westerners train alone or join in the gym bouldering games. . . whatever. . . gyms are pretty much do as you like, but there's usually some group games or working problems and everyone is welcome to try.
Offhand I know Cho Kyu-bog, Chung Seong-kwan (Climbing Academy or "Suyu") and Son Chung-jun all speak some English (don't know how much training they are personally doing these days).