Housing: North Seoul

North of the Han River

You will find the following residential areas to be typically attractive to the expat community. UN Village, Itaewon, Hannam-dong, Dongbingo-dong and Sobinggo-dong are all located immediately south of the Seoul city center. South of the Han River are Banpo-dong, Apgujeong-dong and Samsung-dong and further to the southeast are Yangjae-dong and Kaepo-dong. North of City Hall is Songbuk-dong, Pyongchang-dong and Yonheei-dong.

UN Village

This compound, overlooking the Hannam River in Hannam-dong, has a selection of large houses, villas and apartments available for rent. UN Village offers playground areas and limited traffic. Guards patrol the area and provide a sense of security. The German School is located near UN Village. Although there is no bus transport within UN Village, major bus routes are located just outside the complex, where there are also a number of Korean and ethnic (including Western) restaurants. UN Village is about a 10-minute drive from Itaewon and is located just off Hannam Bridge. The area is hilly, but provides good exercise for walkers.

Hannam-dong

Hannam-dong, neighboring Itaewon-dong to the west and stretching to UN Village to the east, is a traditional foreigner's neighborhood. Soonchun-hyang University Hospital is located in Hannam-dong. International restaurants, foreign embassies and residences are located here as well. The selection of housing is comprised of large houses and large, newly built villas. Traffic can be congested, especially near the Hannam Bridge. School Bus services are available to most of the foreign schools. A number of city buses, as well as express buses, travel along the main road leading off Hannam Bridge.

Dongbingo-dong & Sobinggo-dong

Many foreign embassies and ambassadors' residences are located in Dongbinggo-dong, a pleasant, convenient residential area that offers a nice variety of homes and villas. Sobinggo-dong offers predominantly high-rise apartments overlooking the Han River. Transportation and amenities are convenient. Most schools have buses to this area, which is next to Itaewon.

Itaewon

Located above a main shopping street and close to the Yongsan US Military Garrison, Itaewon is hilly and crowded with houses, apartments and villas. Transportation is convenient, and shopping is nearby. Many ambassadors have their residences in this area, and there are several embassies as well. The area is divided into the residential area close to the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where a short drive over the hill will bring you to the Seoul Hilton Hotel and Namdaemun Market, and the shopping area near the Hamilton Hotel. (When taking a taxi to Itaewon, let the driver know if you want to go near the Hyatt Hotel or the Hamilton Hotel. Itaewon is known as the foreigners' shopping area and consists of numerous shops, restaurants and nightspots.

School bus access is good, but buses will not travel on some of the narrower, steeper, back streets. There are several Christian schools in the area with bus services provided. There is one Montessori-style preschool in this area (refer to the "Education" chapter). School bus service to Seoul Foreign and Seoul International Schools takes about 45 minutes to an hour.

Yonhee-dong

Yonhee-dong is a residential area on the northwest side of Seoul. Supermarkets and a number of small stores make up convenient shopping area. Houses and villas are relatively large. There are some playground facilities and nearby hills for hiking. Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, the Chinese School, Seoul Foreign School and the Grand Hilton Hotel are nearby. The area is relatively close to downtown Seoul and is serviced primarily by bus routes.

Songbuk-dong

Songbuk-dong is a suburban area of large homes and villas located north of the downtown area of Seoul. Advantages of living in Songbuk-dong are the cleaner air and peaceful atmosphere. A number of embassy officials have their residences here. There are several supermarkets and other conveniences in the area as well as two major hospitals. Living in Songbuk-dong can have its disadvantages, as the nearest subway station is at least one mile from the main housing areas and there are no buses within the residential area. Taxis service is not convenient as it's almost impossible to flag one down and drivers find it difficult to locate a specific address. School bus transportation is provided at a number of central locations in this area, and it is about 40 minutes from Seoul Foreign School and 80 minutes from Seoul International School.

Pyongchang-dong

This area is located in the northern part of Seoul, close to Songbuk-dong. Nestled in the mountains, residents in this area also enjoy natural beauty and fresh air. It's a quiet and comfortable living area with mostly single houses and villas. Rental prices are generally not as high as Hannam-dong or Songbuk-dong. This area is not well serviced with regard to public transport; there is no subway connection and a car may be a necessity. It is convenient for children attending Seoul Foreign School.