A guide to Gwangju (광주), and to a lesser extent South Korea.

A guide to Gwangju (광주), and to a lesser extent South Korea.
A definitive guide to Gwangju (광주) and South Korea is impossible as a lot businesses don't last long.
Places pop up and disappear faster than the cherry blossom bloom so this guide is going to go over the broad strokes and focus on bigger establishments than tend to last longer.

Transportation:
The public transport in Gwangju is pretty good and easy to use.
What you need is a "hanpay" card that you can use on both the subway and buses.
You can pick one up from any convenience store (7/11, CU, G25) and charge it at the store, subway stations and even online. Note, this card is for Gwangju and you'll probably need something similar if you travel to different cities in Korea.
https://www.hanpay.net/

(Image from www.gwangjunewsgic.com)

Supermarkets
There's the big 3; Lotte mart (lottemart.com), E-mart (emart.com) and Homeplus (homeplus.co.kr).
All these stores are basically departments stores with sections for food, electronics, clothing etc.
However, they are relatively expensive and you'd be better going to a local mart 마트 (SMmart - www.smmart.kr) for food. In addition, be aware the big 3 don't open the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.

School / Household Supplies
The best place to pick up anything for the house or school is a dollar store type place called Daiso (다이소)
www.daiso.co.kr

(Image from seoulistic.com)

Clothing / Electronic Stores
There are many clothing shops in the Gwangju city center. The city center which can be reached via the subway station 금남로4가 (Geumnamno 4 Ga). There are many local shops but also big brand stores such as H&M, Uniqlo and Zara with staff that general speak more English.
There is also high-end clothing at Sejong Outlet which is right next to the Sangmu subway station.
In addition, there is also U-Square which is the biggest mall in Gwangju and houses the bus terminal as well.
For electronics there is a huge department store called Kumho World near U-Square. www.ikumhoworld.co.kr

Banks
There are many banks you can sign up with but we'd recommend KEB.
KEB (or the Korea Exchange Bank - 외환은행) www.keb.co.kr/main/en is a bank that specifically caters to foreign business thus has more English speaking services and even online banking.

Cinema
There are many cinemas that you can visit in Korea, including Lotte Cinema, Megabox and CGV.
We personally recommend CGV (http://www.cgv.co.kr/reserve/show-times/eng/).
CGV tends to have more English speakers and most have ticket machines with an English option.
There is also this great site http://cineinkorea.com/movie/index.php that provides times in English.

Doctor / Dentist
For a dentist there is
http://mediphildent.com/
Next to usquare/shinsegae. There is a footbridge close to shinsegae on the main road. Cross the bridge and you will see a bank. The entrance is where the IDk Bank is and on the 6th floor.

Fitness
There are no big gym brands in Gwangju so most places are local.
We go to Star Fitness which is located on the 6th floor above SMmart.
It's only 5 minutes from Sangmu subway station.











Karaoke
There are many great Korean Karaoke/Singing rooms or locally called Noraebang 노래방.
In the city center there is an 'Alien' themed room which is is in the building next to the Burger King where the arcade games area is (35.147004, 126.916903).Below is a guide to the controls that you'll find in the different rooms:
http://www.korea4expats.com/article-noraebang-machine-functions-english-translation.html

Other Resources:
The best resource for life in Gwangju is the GIC Gwangju International Center (eng.gic.or.kr)
We personally recommend their Korean Classes.
Social media is also a great resource, especiaaly the Gwangju group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2330675731/

Immigration
Address: 광주출입국관리사무소행정실 광주광역시서구쌍촌동
627-1 Gwanju Immigration Office Seo-gu, Ssangchon-dong, 627-1
Relocation Date: Monday November 4th, 2013
Phone Number: +82 62-605-5333
Public Transportation -
Bus #16, 19, 69, 72, 760, stop @ Honam University Entrance (호남대입구) - Subway stop @ Uncheon Station (Honam University) 운천역 (호남대입구), Exit 4
Hours:Open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 am until 18:00 pm. Closed for 1 hr between 12:00 pm and 13:00 pm for lunch. Open on Saturday from 09:00 am – 13:00 pm. Closed on Sundays and Holidays.
*TIP* Smiling and being friendly seems to speed things along considerably. These people have a difficult job…try not to make it more so by yelling at them.
-Fingerprinting, if you need it, can be done at any of the large police stations…not the little “on the corner” ones. Print out the card from your government’s website and head on down. The one I know many people go to is at the end of Art Street nearest the Culture Center construction. Big place with a wall around it.
-Immigrationis where you go to renew your visa. You will fill out a form at the desk when you go in. Check the “Extension of Sojourn” box. Take a number for Residence and wait. Cost: 30,000 won. Bring your passport, copy of contract, and your school’s business license. Many schools will take care of this for you…this is for those that don’t.
-You can also get a new ARC here. Same form as the renewal, different box. Will cost @10,000. Bring a picture on a white background. They have a photo booth outside the office if you forget.
-Same form for changing your address as the above two items.
-If your Visa is an E-2, it is tied to your place of employment. You work in Korea with your school’s permission. Working at another job without it is illegal. Some programs like EPIK have understandings with other schools. Other opportunities may come up through your school. Try to find out what your school allows. Private tutoring is generally not allowed unless you are an F visa holder.
(great guide from Brian Burgoyne)

Facebook:
Below is an awesome list from the (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2330675731/) gwangju fb group.

A small collection of groups around Gwangju (with which you may become involved):

Nerd Culture:

The Collective: https://www.facebook.com/groups/235702633253214/
Gwangju Tabletop Players:https://www.facebook.com/groups/509676919069734/
Gwangju Game Exchange:https://www.facebook.com/groups/164667410313238/
Gwangju Board Games Club:https://www.facebook.com/groups/178693872194160/
Gwangju Magic Players:https://www.facebook.com/groups/633049646715191/
Gwangju Wargamers:https://www.facebook.com/groups/483058101793674/
Gwangju Chess:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/197097030362009/
Gwangju Cosplay: https://www.facebook.com/groups/622858204469349/

Arts and Entertainment:

Gwangju Photography Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gwangjupc/
Gwangju Artist Collective:https://www.facebook.com/groups/217124318293/
Gwangju Writing Groups:https://www.facebook.com/groups/199740556849330/
CREATE and GIFT: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CreateAndGift/
Gwangju Juggling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/383709831711493/
Gwangju Performance Project:https://www.facebook.com/groups/247670875342672/
Gwangju NaNoWriMo:https://www.facebook.com/groups/462935570403859/
Gwangju Euchre Lovers:https://www.facebook.com/groups/225019097581700/
Gwangju Book Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/68487510072/
Gwangju Stitch & Bitch (knitting/crochet/etc.):https://www.facebook.com/groups/307669809622/
Petit à Petit  쁘띠 따 쁘띠https://www.facebook.com/groups/petitapetit/
Language Lounge in Gwangju: https://www.facebook.com/groups/languagelounge/

Buying/Selling/Trading:

Gwangju Currency Exchange:https://www.facebook.com/groups/714253218601199/
Gwangju Home Businesses:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1374527246151182/
Jeolla-do One Stop Flea Market:https://www.facebook.com/groups/thejuonestop/
Gwangju-Jeolla Second Hand Store:https://www.facebook.com/groups/404333959670566/
Gwangju Freecycle: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gwangjufreecycle/
Gwangju Book and Magazine Sellers and Traders:https://www.facebook.com/groups/587114221340945/
Gwangju Housing and Rentals:https://www.facebook.com/groups/530396783676298/
MacPC Guys (computer parts/repairs):https://www.facebook.com/groups/KoreaMacPCGuys/

  

Athletics:

Gwangju Climbing Team:https://www.facebook.com/groups/178981185621680/
Gwangju Inter FC: https://www.facebook.com/groups/70583932242/
Gwangju Running Club:https://www.facebook.com/groups/113340165347695/
Gwangju Cricket: https://www.facebook.com/groups/238905016227191/
GIST Volleyball Club:https://www.facebook.com/groups/225583140964871/
Gwangju Basketball Club:https://www.facebook.com/groups/260555600667322/
Taekwondo: https://www.facebook.com/groups/443567179032931/?ref=br_rs
Gwangju Ladies' Soccer:https://www.facebook.com/groups/161750414018652/?ref=br_rs
Gwangju Ultimate Frisbee:https://www.facebook.com/groups/185585458154674/?ref=br_rs

Gwangju Hikers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/895350487188528/?fref=nf

Restaurants/Cafes/Taphouses:

Tequilaz:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tequilazr/
Corona Mexican Food:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/146972625500831/
The First Alleyway:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/345509095224/
Alley Tap House: https://www.facebook.com/allytaphouse?ref=profile
Able Taphouse: https://www.facebook.com/abletaphouse?ref=ts&fref=ts

Voyagers: https://www.facebook.com/voyagersgwangju?fref=ts

Jobs:

Gwangju-Jeolla Job Bank:https://www.facebook.com/groups/154136797947014/

Community:

Global Families of Gwangju:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1415320322015004/
Jeolla-do Travel Advice:https://www.facebook.com/groups/551274054925072/
Gwangju-Jeolla Pet Sitters:https://www.facebook.com/groups/138227567287/
Gwangju Language Exchange:https://www.facebook.com/groups/258201910995284/
Gwangju EPIK Teachers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4951693838/
Ladies of Gwangju and Vicinity:https://www.facebook.com/groups/gwangjuwomen/
Gwangju Korean Learners Club:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/338781432841101/
GIC Talk:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/191633644281304/
Jeollanamdo Readers & Speakers Club:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/152066238290044/
Gwangju Heath Care: https://www.facebook.com/groups/519690444837832/
광주동부 "피해자 전담경찰관" Victim Support Officer (Gwangju Korean Police Officer for Crime Victim Support): https://www.facebook.com/victimsupportcop?fref=ts

Gwangsangu-ers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/129079153968737/345627412313909/?notif_t=group_activity

Gwangju Community Builders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/452871204866054/

 

Ecology:

Gwangju Birds Korea:https://www.facebook.com/groups/birdskoreagwangju/
Gwangju Window Gardens:https://www.facebook.com/groups/572225996206954/

Clean Gwangju: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CleanGwangju

Lifestyle/Well-being:

Gwangju Meditation Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/408348579191780/
Reiki Exchange:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/421194037972085/
Gwangju Veggie Club:https://www.facebook.com/groups/241128392567698/
Gwangju Foodies: https://www.facebook.com/groups/372251809476685/
Gwangju Yoga: https://www.facebook.com/groups/102721549793483/
Jeolla Safety Alliance:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/531604226867515/
Gwangju Energy Community:
https://www.facebook.com/gjenergy
Gwangju Fitness: https://www.facebook.com/groups/540385619327509/

A Sangmu (상무) guide.

We've been in the Sangmu (상무) neighbor for about a year (2015) so I've put together a quick map of all the key locals that we frequent.

Update on Visa and Packing

We received our Visa Issuance number!...and now we wait for the Korean Visa. Mine will be ready by July 14th and Neil's on July 17th-ish.

I started cleaning, organizing and packing my suitcase. Neil has less stuff (:P) so he's pretty much packed. I, on the other hand, have been doing it almost every night. Going over all my stuff and putting them into, take, keep and throw piles. I've pretty much sorted all the "keep" stuff and now need to decide between take and throw. It should be done by this weekend. And then I have a week and a half of living out of my suitcase :)

This is my take/throw pile of make up/lotions

This whole process has been pretty quick from the moment we decided to apply online. This wasn't something spontaneously decided on a drunken night. We've talked about it for a while and even applied for EPIK but neither of us made it through. So the next logical step was to apply for private schools through recruiters. I started applying online at the end of May and Neil started at the beginning of June. Below is a time line of how quickly everything happened. (Please note it probably helped that we both had our documents ready before we got a job offer)

May 26 - I applied online
June 2 - Neil applied online
June 9 - contacted by TEK to apply as a couple
June 14 - potential job offered
June 15-16 - interviewed with the school
June 17 - accepted job offer
June 18 - officially confirmed/job offer - emailed signed contract
June 19 - sent documents/paperwork to SK via Fedex
June 22 - my documents arrived in SK
June 26 - Neil's documents arrived in SK
July 2 - Visa Issuance number received
July 2 - I went to the Korean Consulate in Vancouver to submit my papers for the Korean Visa
July 3 - Neil mailed his documents to the Korean Consulate in London
July 3 - exchanged CAD$ for British Pounds and Korean Won
July 14 - pick up Visa & Passport in Vancouver
July 16 - I leave for the UK
July 17 - Neil to receive Visa & Passport
July 21 - we leave for SK
July 22 - arrive in SK

All of this is happening in less than a month! Like I said, super quick!

Korean Won and British Pounds

When I'm done packing this weekend, I'll let you know about all the things I'm packing. While most things are available in Gwangju, there are some things that's not readily available, like deodorant!

Great News!

Neil and I are going to South Korea!!!!

To be more specific: Gwangju. It's south of Seoul and about a 4-hour bus ride. Everything happened super quick! We just sent in our documents which is due to arrive on Monday in Seoul. Then we wait to get our Visa Issuance Number so we can get our Korean Visa. After which the school will purchase our flights.

Since I am in Canada and Neil is the UK, we've decided that I will go visit him for a few days and we'll fly to Seoul together. It makes it easier for the school to purchase our tickets together and have us arriving together rather than separate. It works out because I really want to visit the UK! Albeit a short visit, it will still be packed full of fun things to do!

I leave for the UK on July 16, which gives me 3 weeks to get all my paperwork and packing done. I think the packing will be the hard part. So many things but so little room. I only want to take a big luggage (29") and a small carry-on (20"). It is a great opportunity to get rid of a lot of old things but it's also so hard to just throw things away! I might be a bit of a hoarder...might.