South of Seoul, Author at South of Seoul https://blog.southofseoul.net/author/south-of-seoul/ Localized Guides for Your Life in Korea Sat, 03 Feb 2024 19:34:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://blog.southofseoul.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/South-of-Seoul-logo-for-header.png South of Seoul, Author at South of Seoul https://blog.southofseoul.net/author/south-of-seoul/ 32 32 Halloween in South Korea with a Focus on Pyeongtaek https://blog.southofseoul.net/celebrating-halloween-in-south-korea-with-a-focus-on-pyeongtaek/ Wed, 14 Oct 2020 08:58:14 +0000 https://blog.southofseoul.net/?p=3352 South of Seoul

Halloween isn't a Korean holiday, but they still love it! Throw a party and invite your friends.

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5 Must Try Western Sushi Spots https://blog.southofseoul.net/5-must-try-western-sushi-spots/ Fri, 18 Sep 2020 08:40:10 +0000 https://blog.southofseoul.net/?p=3179 South of Seoul

Western sushi is becoming popular in Pyeongtaek and that makes life better. Here are 5 to try.

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Clinics for Pain Management in Pyeongtaek, South Korea https://blog.southofseoul.net/clinics-for-pain-management-in-pyeongtaek-south-korea/ Mon, 14 Sep 2020 05:42:43 +0000 https://blog.southofseoul.net/?p=3106 South of Seoul

Pyeongtaek has a variety of excellent clinics to help with pain management. Here are three options used by SOS Volunteers.

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Therapy Options for Expats https://blog.southofseoul.net/therapy-options-for-expats/ Thu, 31 Oct 2019 17:02:00 +0000 http://blog.southofseoul.net/index.php/2016/01/08/therapy-options-for-expats/ South of Seoul

Updated: November, 2019 Living abroad is filled with all kinds of stress.  There is no way around it and there is no shame it it. Instead of turning to online forums that only feed the insanity, may I recommend therapy as a far more productive option. As a former Social Worker and a current teacher, I wish everyone spent more time in therapy. Mental health is a critical part of well being; like going to the gym or getting a haircut. It’s something to embrace and enjoy on a day off. Of course the issue for us, as Expats in the Korean countryside, is that – at a time when we nee it most – it’s harder than every to access. It you are an expat struggling with relationship issues, culture shock, depression, fear or anxiety – PLEASE – reach out and ask for help. Therapy is awesome. It’s so much cooler than you think and way less costly than binge drinking or eating all the food. If you ask me, this is one of those times you save money (and relationships, sanity, your life) by spending money. In Korea there are a few options available to you. Since it’s therapy I can’t really try them all (as much as I secretly want to) but I can tell you about them all so you know where to turn. English Speaking Counseling Services with Offices in Pyeongtaek and Seoul Adaptable Human Solutions in Pyeongtaek Seoul Counseling Center in Pyeongtaek You & Me Psychological and Consultation Services in Pyeongtaek If you are not able to visit a therapist in person don’t give up on getting help. You can google online therapists and giving a few a try until you find the right fit. Many offer free 30 minute initial consultations and affordable rates so you have nothing to lose except your fear and stress. Some are even expats themselves and understand your unique issues and situations. Sure, in person therapy is dreamy, but sometimes it’s just not possible. The point of all this is that, if you are struggling, don’t wait until the last minute to reach out for help. Don’t be down on yourself for not being able to do it all alone. That’s just ridiculous. We all need extra support sometimes and we need to reach out for it early, not late. Ideally we catch ourselves as we stumble instead of after we hit the ground. Strength is about more than hanging on the longest, it’s about knowing when it’s the right time to ask someone for help and let them catch you.

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Neighborhood Intro: Sosabeol https://blog.southofseoul.net/hood-tutorials-sosabeo/ Thu, 30 Aug 2018 02:38:47 +0000 http://blog.southofseoul.net/?p=9 South of Seoul

Welcome to Sosabeol the click on the locations to learn more about restaurants, cafes, and things to do in this relaxed and fun neighborhood. Pyeongtaek (평택) is made up of many different, unique little neighborhoods. Over the last 2 years these neighborhoods have been reorganized, a new address system created, and often – completely new names assigned. Combine this with the constantly changing English-speaking population that rotates through each year, and life becomes like a big game of “telephone” as half information turns into mythical information. That’s where South of Seoul comes in. We are on the ground and update the South of Seoul app (available for iPhone and Android) each time we are alerted to a change or inconsistency.  Always let us know if a business is closed, a new one has opened, or something isn’t working right! We make those changes and keep things running smoothly. Introducing Sosabeol (소사벌) The South of Seoul community voted Sosabeol the Best Date Night Neighborhood in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The Sosbeol neighborhood is made up of a few dongs (동), but mostly it is located in a new section of Bijeon-dong (비전동) called Bijeon2Dong (비전2동).  A few years ago this area was farms and pear orchards. Faster than you could say Pyeongtaek, developers filled in the agricultural land and developed it into what is one of the hippest, happening parts of Pyeongtaek.  Sosabeol offers food and fun in one centralized location. Where can I find this in the South of Seoul app? If you are looking for a place to go out and have fun,  this is where you want to go. Simply search “Sosabeol” in the South of Seoul app. The Sosabeol neighborhood has something for everyone in a very compact little area. Families, singles, couples, and friends can all find something brilliant to do together. Here is a quick look at what is happening in Sosabeol, Bijeon2dong, Pyeongtaek-si. Every week new things arrive so visits are always an adventure. It moves at record speed. Sosabeol’s fast development has caused plenty of issues in the area. For years no maps worked, not event Naver. It was nearly impossible to tell anyone how to find anything. That’s why there are so many WAZE pins entered there. Our volunteers walked all the streets and entered things so they could be found. It was a crazy amount of work but it paid off. Of course, that work also becomes antiquated since these pins often aren’t updated as the community changes. As the WAZE data becomes less accurate, Naver and Kakao have started working correctly so things have worked out. Google is still entirely unreliable in Sosabeol. The correct address will take you to a completely incorrect location. What kind of things are there to do in Sosabeol? If there is a fad in Korea, it’s almost guaranteed to show up in Sosabeol. It has all the key features that define a modern Korean city. In short, Sosabeol is a playground for people with disposable income.  It’s laden with brand-name restaurants, Instagram-ready cafes (which are often more about getting the shot than getting the flavor but still fun), dessert spots, and drinking establishments that will make you feel fancy. After dinner you can have a blast with things like archery, bowling, getting massages, tennis, darts, walking in the park with stunning skylines, strolling by the pond or streams, watching movies, etc. It’s a great place for everyone. Families, friends, dates, and co-workers will find something to do here.  Thursday to Saturday expect fancy cars and slow traffic. However, it’s not cheap. Everything here is new and now. If you are on a budget this might not be your spot. What’s the transportation situation? Parking: Parking in this area is terrible. There are parking garages below many of the buildings and we recommend paying for parking whenever you can. Make sure you leave plenty of time to drive around looking for a spot. There is no cheat or easy answer. Carpooling is 100% a great idea. If you are meeting someone, give yourself.  If you visit a business, most will offer some free parking in their building. You simply need to show them your vehicle’s license plate when you check out. The parking systems are linked to each business’s computer system that your parking discount is automatically applied when you leave. Subway: There is no subway station in this area. The closest one is Pyeongtaek Station. You can catch a taxi from there. We recommend this over parking or buses. Buses: There are no “fast” ways to get to Sosabeol right now. Often it’s faster to walk than take a bus. You can find bus routes on Naver and in Google. Taxi: We highly recommend taking a taxi here from Pyeontaek Station if you don’t like fighting for parking or public transportation. It’s just easier. Businesses in this area do tend to come and go. Rent and property prices are through the roof, parking is terrible, and there is no good public transportation. This makes it hard for them to do business. Sooo, if you love a place there tell ALL your friends. Let South of Seoul know all about it. Leave them reviews and post pictures. We have watched great places arrive and leave in months because they just couldn’t get people flowing fast enough. It’s cutthroat in Sosabeol so show them your support and love. Download The South of Seoul app from Google Play Download the South of Seoul app from the Apple App Store

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Guest Post: Weekend Trip to DeokJeokdo https://blog.southofseoul.net/guest-post-weekend-trip-to-deokjeokdo/ Mon, 13 Aug 2018 01:30:00 +0000 http://blog.southofseoul.net/?p=6 South of Seoul

Guest post by: Nick DeokJeokdo Island, South Korea Deokjeokdo island is situated about 45 miles off the west coast of South Korea from Incheon’s port.  My wife and I recently visited and here is a synopsis of our experience: Before you go: A little bit of planning before heading to DeokJeokdo Island.  Although on Google Maps it looks tiny, it is deceivingly big without a vehicle.  So, make sure you at least bring cash.  100,000 won would be a good amount to bring.  Many of the stores and taxis do not accept cards, and there is only one ATM on the island but you have to have a Korean card to use it.  Secondly, try to figure out your accommodations beforehand.  There aren’t traditional hotels…it is mainly mom n’ pop motels.  We stayed with Daniel at his place near Seopori Beach.  His phone number is: 010-8352-0599.  He speaks nearly perfect English and is super nice!  His place cost 80,000 won/night, and breakfast 8,000 won/person.  It isn’t 5-stars, but it is a bed and has air conditioning. Getting there: Getting to the island is pretty simple.  You will need to find your way to the Incheon Port.  There are four ships a day, with the earliest at 0800, and the latest around 1200. Two of those ships can take vehicles, and the other two are for passengers only.  Taking your vehicle over with you is very simple but be sure to arrive 2-3 hours before sailing time to ensure you can get your ticket and get the vehicle loaded in a timely manner.  We didn’t bring our car, so our tickets were around 80,000 Won roundtrip.  It takes about 70 minutes on the non-car bearing ferry, and about 90 on the one with vehicles. Arriving: You will arrive at the Dou Ferry Pier on the southwestern part of the island.  The ferry building has some maps available.  I highly recommend you grab one as they are very helpful in orienting yourself.  Once you get off the ferry there will be some shops for food, buses, and taxis (there are only like 2-3 taxis on the island).  Make sure you ask the bus driver where they are going (use the map to point and talk) so you don’t get on the wrong bus. Things to do: Biking: There are a ton of options for mountain biking, and road biking here.  Plus is that you can bring your bike on the ferry for free. Hiking:  There are a ton of trails on the island.  My wife and I have hiked a ton of mountains in Korea and as you may know, most of them are very well maintained.  Some of the trails on this island are not…and very difficult to find.  Luckily they are listed on the map you pick up at the ferry.  We hiked Bijobong peak and Unjubong Peak (see below pictures).  They are pretty short hikes, and accessible from Seopori or the port town.  They give you incredible views of the island.  If you are really up for a challenge you can hike Gooksubong peak as well.  You will follow the ridges from Unjubong or Bijobong to reach it on the other side of the island. Another option is going to the Seopori Ferry Pier.  There is a trail right by this pier that boasts some awesome views of the coastline. Beaches: Seopori Beach: This beach is huge…it is 2 km long and has nice sand.  Sadly, we have pretty high standards for beaches, so it wasn’t that nice for us.  The tide goes WAY out at low tide, and the water is pretty dirty. Batjireum Beach:  This was the best beach for swimming we saw there.  The water is very clear and calm.  There is also free camping on the beach here, and the sand is perfect! Neungdong Jagal Madang:  This is a rocky beach with calm waters.  I don’t think you’re supposed to swim here, but it has some incredible views.  If you like to climb on boulders this is a fun spot to visit too. Sojae Beach: I didn’t see anyone at this beach…and it was pretty dirty. Camping:  You can camp on this island pretty much anywhere, and for free! Food:  There are a couple restaurants in the port town, Seopori and others spread throughout the island.  There is a pumpkin café near the elementary/middle/high school located on the southern end of the island, and west of Seopori beach.  They have awesome muffins and cookies! There is only one commercial store on the island (a CU) in Seopori.  This place is always hoppin too! All in all Deokjeokdo island was a welcomed change in pace.  It was quiet, and very slow compared to the mainland.  It has fully adopted the “island time” mindset and is a great place to reset yourself before heading back into our day-to-day grinds.  Lastly, the people we met here were so incredibly nice…honestly some of the nicest people we have met in the six countries we have traveled in Asia.  For example, we got on the bus one afternoon to only be left at the port b/c the bus going to Seopori had stopped running.  The bus driver that dropped us off turned the bus around, came back and picked us up.  He then took us to where they park the bus and then drove us in his personally owned vehicle to our hotel.  Seriously…I have never experienced something like that before without them wanting something in return.  He just did it out of the kindness of his heart.  If you ever have any questions let me know, and I can try to help as best as I can: nickcav777@gmail.com ________________________ South of Seoul would love to thank Nick for the fantastic post. Anyone in the community is allowed to submit blogs for consideration. We love to help share information, tips, and ideas. Submit your blogs or blog ideas to: blog@southofseoul.net

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2018 Beach Bus Reservations Have Started https://blog.southofseoul.net/2018-beach-bus-reservations-have-started/ Wed, 27 Jun 2018 18:16:00 +0000 http://blog.southofseoul.net/index.php/2018/06/28/2018-beach-bus-reservations-have-started/ South of Seoul

2018 Beach Bus Season Has Arrived! For the second year in a row, South of Seoul has ride-share buses leaving Pyeongtaek on select Saturdays, headed to beaches. Bus travel is wonderful because you can avoid the stress of traffic, driving home exhausted, not being able to have a drinky drink while at the beach. Heck, we even have cars but we still go on these buses because it makes the experience so much more relaxing. Not only are they the easiest way to get there, but the buses are surprisingly affordable. One-day trips are all under 20,000 won per person. Considering it usually takes 6-8 hours (BUT ONLY 2.5-3 WITH US!) on public transportation, it seems like a steal. In fact, outside of having your own car, the SOS ride-share buses are the only real option for getting to the beaches nearest Pyeongtaek. These beaches are not for those who are looking for an experience just like the Bahamas. It’s not going to be perfectly manicured to specific western ideals or super warm water. These beaches are about being outside and enjoying the sea air, splashing around, and being free of the city for the day. Korea has its own unique flavor and we love it. We swim, surf tiny waves, play in the sand, collect shells, dig for things, look at tiny crabs, and blissfully waste our day. On a rainy day, we read next to the sea, get wet, go to the botanical gardens, and still have a brilliant time. However, we understand it’s not for folks who are shy about being in a new country. Especially the SOS ride-share trips because no one will be holding anyone’s hand. Instead, we just all go together and enjoy our own free time. Maybe make some new friends or chill with the friends you came with. WHERE ARE ARE GOING: (we will update this as we add places) Dates                   Seats           Ride-Share Contribution July 7, 2018            44            Mallipo  18,000 won round trip West Sea July 14, 2018           44           Mudfest  19,000won round trip West Sea July 21-22, 2018      19            Sokcho  38,000 won round trip East Sea HOW TO JOIN US: Registration for the rideshare buses is handled via the South of Seoul app which is available for Android and iPhone. This system allows us to easily manage the rideshare and keep costs to a minimum. Thank you for playing along :p HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR CONTRIBUTION: You don’t pay in the app. Instead, we offer two ways to pay for the convenience of our local and US Military participants. Payment needs to be completed within 24 hours of submitting your seat request. Once payment has been verified you will get an email confirming your reservation. ******To pay in US Dollars: ******OPTION 1: PayPal southofseoul@gmail.com – please select the gift option or there are high fees taken out and that leaves the shared cost short. ******To pay in Korean Won:******OPTION 1: transfer directly to KB account 468601-04-118306 Name: Rivers-Woods A few regularly asked questions: WHY A BEACH BUS? Pyeongtaek is close to a number of delightful beaches, yet they are surprisingly hard to get to because there are no direct express buses. We are changing that. We are doing this by harnessing the power of the community and renting buses for us all to share together. By pooling our resources we can all enjoy some time in the countryside even if we don’t have cars or don’t feel like driving. IS THIS A TOUR? Nope, it’s not a tour. It’s a bus to the beach. There won’t be interpreters, no hand holding, no special stops, or pre-made meals. The bus driver picks us up, drops us off, and we explore the area. You are going to love it. Bring all the things you need to just sit back and relax. They will not drive us to lots of different places along the way. We go from Pyeongtaek to the beach and back. WHO CAN GO? Anyone can go on the bus if they pay for a ticket. It’s for families, single travelers, teachers, military, friends, etc. You can be from Songtan, Anjung, Paengseong, Suwon, Dongtan, Yongin, etc. It’s also not just for foreigners. Bring all your friends no matter where they are from. It’s about having a beautiful time together in the summer. If you have a group that wants to go together (language meetup, church group, kids whatever, etc) just be sure to buy your tickets early so everyone can go. WHERE WILL THE BUS PICK ME UP? There will almost always be three stops. You will select which stop you will be at when you reserve your seat in the South of Seoul app:  Songtan Subway Station Pyeongtaek Station Exit 2 Camp Humphreys walking gate.  You will need to be there on-time. We can’t hold the bus on the street for long periods of time. ARE THERE DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR (fill in the blank)? No, there are not. The bus costs a base amount. We’ve based the tickets on that price. We are not a tour company nor good at math… simple division is all we can handle. Also, we are not affiliated with the military. This bus is for EVERYONE! So prices, are prices, are prices. WHAT ARE THE BEACHES LIKE? The beaches on the west coast of Korea tend to be shallow with very small surf (often no surf). This makes them really fun for kids because they can play like crazy in the water. When it rains or there is a storm at sea it will affect the clarity of the water. No way around that. It’s how the ocean works. Over the last few years, we have seen clear blue waters as well as silty/muddy waters. Just depends on the weather around the time you visit. The beaches are sometimes a mix of rocky and sandy. There tend to be lovely tide pools and lots of little crabs to chase around. This is not Hawaii. It’s not South Florida. It’s not Mexico. It’s not a comparison game. We are sure that at some point in your life you went to a different beach than this and it was so much better. We aren’t going to the beach because it’s the best beach to ever exist in the world. We are going because beaches are awesome and these are the ones we have. WHAT SERVICES ARE THERE AS THE BEACH? There are always restrooms, places to rent floaties, a snack shop, maybe a restaurant, and often showers. 95% of the food is Korean since this area is not heavily visited by tourists due to the lack of public transportation. If you don’t like Korean food, be sure to pack a picnic for the day. However, there will always be a convenience store for drinks, chips, water, etc. If we get there and you did not bring food and also don’t like Korean food, this was your own personal choice to go hungry. Korea has done nothing wrong by having its own food at beaches visited by Koreans. WHAT SHOULD I BRING? A tent or umbrella to get out of the heat Wet wipes Dry case for your phone Swimsuits/rash guards  Snacks  Towels Clean clothes Sunscreen Hammack WEATHER If there is a massive storm coming in we may re-route to a potentially less crazy area. However, we are talking a HUGE storm. If it’s just raining we still go. The beach is awesome always and so far we have had great luck with the beach weather being excellent even when it’s storming in Pyeongtaek. REFUNDS & CANCELLATIONS We don’t refunds because we are all in this together. We rely on everyone paying their part. However, you can certainly find another person to fill your seat. That’s up to you though. We can’t help with this aspect. We don’t have staff so we can’t do the hustle. Of course, if we have to cancel we will give everyone their money back. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH (fill in the blank question on the trip)? No, not really. We are not going as tour guides, translators, or as information support. So, although we will be helping make sure all the passengers are loaded who are going to and from the beach, that’s the extent of it. We are an all-volunteer organization and don’t have endless time to dedicate to this so please read everything before you ask questions.  All that said, we are so excited for beach season!!!!! Let’s do this!!!!

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Outdoor Pools Open in Pyeongtaek July & August https://blog.southofseoul.net/outdoor-pools-open-in-pyeongtaek-july/ Thu, 21 Jun 2018 17:17:00 +0000 http://blog.southofseoul.net/index.php/2018/06/22/outdoor-pools-open-in-pyeongtaek-july/ South of Seoul

We have already told out about the splash pads that will be opening in August (read that here) but did you know there will be outdoor pools opening up soon as well? These are fab and fun places to connect with the local community while cooling off from the oppressive heat. Remember, these are very Korean outdoor spaces so following local customs is very important and doable. No reason to be scared, but be prepared. Culture NotesIn order to have the most fun possible, be sure to read the South of Seoul Culture Notes that are embedded in each listing. These are useful tips we have compiled based on the surprises we have experienced. If you have a tip to add to the list just let us know! The more prepared everyone is when they arrive, the more fun we can all experience when integrating into the local culture. However, with this blog, we are going to take this to the next level and tell you a few more things you need to know in order to have the most fun and relaxed time possible your first day out. Here they are! Our 5 Extra Pro Tips: 1. When you try something new you are going to feel uncomfortable and this will be no exception. However, don’t worry about it. Once you get the hang of it that feeling will go away. It’s true that people might stare. Foreigners haven’t known about these places until now. Not because we aren’t welcome, but because information hasn’t been available in English. This means all the locals are sitting there wondering, “How did they find this pool out in the countryside?” Don’t worry, nobody hates you. Just go about your business of having fun in the sun. 2. It’s going to be packed so politely squeeze in. For the best results show up early and stake your space with the cool picnic tents and mats from Daiso or Emart. There aren’t that many pools, but there are a lot of people and they like their outdoor supplies. If you are freaked out by this then maybe outdoor pools aren’t the right experience for you. That is ok. Know your limits. On the other hand, if you can deal with the experience it can be emotionally uplifting and help you feel more welcome and integrated into the community. We personally love it. We bring all our food, a tent for naps, and splash around like fools. 3. These pools aren’t like the ones at home. They are usually waist deep, there aren’t diving board or any other type of fanciness. These are old-fashioned, sometimes also just old, outdoor play areas for families to escape the heat. You aren’t going to be swimming laps or diving for pennies. They are built for splashing and being silly together. Truly excellent places for kids. Think giant puddles and embrace it. 4. Go check out opening times as a test run. Before you pack up the kids for a pool day do a test run. Go find out for sure the days and times it’s open (these can change from year to year). There is also a chance you could get lost going to these pools for the first time, so do a trial run before there are 3 kids in the car screaming they want to be in the pool. We ALWAYS recommend doing a trial run for any adventure. 5. Bring your own snacks and mat/tent to eat them on/in. In Korea food is almost always available but maybe it doesn’t match with your dietary requirements or preferences. In order to avoid being hot and hangry, bring snacks. Also bring a mat/tent to lay claim to your dining and napping area. That’s it! Those are all the helpful ideas we can think of right now. Hopefully, these extra tips combined with the tips in the app will empower you to show up prepared for a wet and fun adventure with friends or family. We know we always feel better the more information we have before we try something for the first time. Good luck and happy splashing. With no further ado, here are the outdoor pools we’ve found for you: Easiest for Osan Air For Base Access…Jinwee Countryside (Kid and Family Focused) Jinwee Countryside (Good for adults and kids) 3 Easiest for Camp Humphreys Access… Anjung Countryside (Great for adults and kids) Dunpo, Asan (Great for adults and families. Very limited space. Maybe need a reservation?) Asan North Countryside (The pools is for kids, but the park is for everyone.) As always, the exact details of each listing is in the South of Seoul app which can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

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SOS App Quick Tips: Transportation https://blog.southofseoul.net/sos-app-pro-tip-transportation/ Tue, 05 Jun 2018 04:12:00 +0000 http://blog.southofseoul.net/index.php/2018/06/05/sos-app-pro-tip-transportation/ South of Seoul

The South of Seoul app is more than pretty pictures of food and fun things to do put together by some very dedicated volunteers. It is also embedded tons of information “easter eggs” that will make your life in Korea much easier. For example, our Transportation Hubs directories can be a huge help when you need them most. Need to know what is the closest bus terminal to you? We can help with that. Looking for a bus schedule? We can help with that. Wondering which station the SRT leaves from? We can help with that. Unsure of what subway stations are in Pyeongtaek? We can help with that as well. Plus so much more. Here is how they work. First, each area has it’s own transportation directory: Asan, Cheonan, and Pyeongtaek. The directories have a pale blue background and come after the neighborhood directories. We will look at Pyeongtaek’s today because that’s where most of our readers live. To find the Pyeongtaek Transportation Hubs in the South of Seoul app follow this path: Food & Fun Directories  Pyeongtaek Pyeongtaek Transportation Hubs If you are new in town and don’t know where the closest transportation hub to your home is (i.e. bus terminal, subway station, train station) we have two important features that will help you feel more confident: First, each Transportation hub listing is going to sort from the one closest to you to the furthest. If you look at where we circled you can see the distance the transportation is from you in miles. (This is how all the directories should sort.) Second, if you click on the little map icon in the top right, it will open a screen that will show you as a little flashing dot and all the hubs compared to your location. In addition to all this, we have started the process of uploading the bus schedules into the headers like you will see in the Anjung Bus Terminal. When you click on the image it can then be enlarged to focus on details. Sometimes it will take more that one image to show the entire schedule. In this case, swipe left to see more images. (You will see a little arrow in the banner image on the right if there is more than one piece of media embedded.) The final useful tidbits we added are in the listings themselves where we list what types of transit options are available at the particular transit hub as well as important places located nearby. Please let us know if there is more we can add that will be helpful. We know you will find this aspect of South of Seoul useful again and again. Good luck on your many adventures and let us know if there are other things we can add that will help make things in life easier.  South of Seoul is a volunteer-managed app which can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store. We currently receive no funding and simply function off the love and passion for helping our community. We know things aren’t always perfect, but we do our best with our limited time and funds. Every day we try to improve things a little bit more and a little bit more with the resources we do have.  If you find the app helpful please you can pay it forward by reviewing restaurants and businesses around the city which helps make Pyeongtaek easier and more approachable for those that come next. Happy adventures!

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Songtan & Seojeongri Recommendation: Y Dental https://blog.southofseoul.net/songtan-seojeongri-recommendation-y/ Thu, 31 May 2018 17:23:00 +0000 http://blog.southofseoul.net/index.php/2018/06/01/songtan-seojeongri-recommendation-y/ South of Seoul

Business: Y Dental Neighborhood: Songtan In the South of Seoul App search: Y Dental Sometimes we randomly get contacted by a business that finds us online. We don’t always go check them out because we have jobs and lives to live, however, if the business seems to might offer something that our local community needs we go check them out. Since those of us that run and volunteer at South of Seoul do it for the community, karma, to battle boredom, and to keep our job skills relevant it takes something pretty important lure us into action. Which brings us to the point of this blog. Recently a gem of a business, that meets a need in our community, found us and asked us to stop by and we accepted. Y Dental Clinic is new to the area this month and the dentist in charge speaks FLUENT English. That’s right, we FINALLY have a dentist with a super cute, new dental clinic near Osan Air Force Base and Seojeongri! This is fabulous news for teachers AND air force families who have had to commute for their dental needs. Those days are over. Daniel Yoon D.D.S. actually grew up in the US and English is his first language. Twenty years ago he moved to Korea (he is Korean) and has been living and working in the southern part of Korea. However, with Pyeongtaek booming he moved his clinic north and decided to open in a spot that was comfortable for both Koreans and Foreign clients. At South of Seoul we prefer businesses like this. Ones that serve both communities. It creates a more stable and reliable business. Easy to miss from the outside because of how busy outside, the Y Clinic is beautiful inside (Be sure not to visit either of the dental clinics to the left or the right of Y Dental. It’s easy to go in the wrong door). Everything is super new and the staff is very nice. There is even free wifi in the waiting room. It’s quite lovely and relaxing. This matters to us. We want our dental visits to feel as stress-free as possible and waiting room snacks and Netlix can keep away the jitters. Plus, when we said we weren’t eating sugar and would be going for espresso after we stopped by (so we could have the energy for the going to Von Fitness, the new gym we are obsessed with in Seojeongri), Dr. Yoon made us coffee from beans he roasted himself. Mind blown! A kind dentist who roasts their own coffee, speaks fluent English, offers free wifi, and is only a short walk (or taxi) from Osan AF Base or Songtan Station is a find worth sharing. Don’t take our word for it though. Go check it out yourself. We have confidence you won’t be disappointed. In fact, we have already loaded Y Dental into the app and we look forward to your reviews. If you go be SURE to review him because it helps the new people that arrive and Dr. Yoon. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. You can download the South of Seoul app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. We provide English language information on Pyeongtaek, Cheonan, and Asan. NOTE FOR TRICARE USERS: They are currently working on getting Tricare setup but have not completed the process. They will work closely with you to help you submit the right kind of paperwork you need to file a claim yourself. Tri-care allows you to use any dentist when you are living outside the US. 

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