Gyms in rural areas

Depends what you mean by 'rural'.

A 'myeon' is the smallest settlement (according to my CT), but myeons vary by size and development. Some myeons are the size of small cities and some are tiny villages. You'll just have to find out when you get here, your only option might be to get a home gym.

When I lived in a small city (IE 60,000 people) or a county (a gun), these were rural with lots of incorporated rural farmland and mountains.  The small city felt very much like a larger gun.  Was nothing there except small marts and Korean restaurants.  It did have a lotteria.  As for me and others, we all lived in the main built up part of the county or small rural city.  That was where the housing was though it was often older.  A good size deposit can get you an older apartment either in a high rise or a low rise "Mansion" as they call it.  (Who comes up with these names?)  In that rural area, there will be a gym but it may not have much.  On the other hand you would hear occasionally of an education office putting someone out in the boonies like a myeon or a ri which are very rural areas away from the built up area.  It might be an old house or there may be some kind of rooming house in the area.  Kind of a bad deal unless you are getting something in return. 

For the people placed in rural areas in Korea by EPIK. What was like for stuff you could do?

And more importantly is there at least one gym within the area or at least 1 hr away ??

the gyms in my area are SUPER expensive there's only one branch and its about 130,000 A MONTH!?!?! so i just work out at home now with a yoga mat the price was insane. i did pay 3 months for 350,000 I saved 40,000 but that price is still expensive! But they can do it  because they are the only gym branch in my area.

the gyms in my area are SUPER expensive there's only one branch and its about 130,000 A MONTH!?!?! so i just work out at home now with a yoga mat the price was insane. i did pay 3 months for 350,000 I saved 40,000 but that price is still expensive! But they can do it  because they are the only gym branch in my area.

Any six month discounts?  That is a crazy price.  I usually found 80k a month expensive but that was pre covid.  It's possible after covid and I go back next year, I may find these price hikes at mine too.  Could just be the crazy inflation we were all talking about on another thread.  Sometimes if you buy for a year or six months you get sale prices and discounts.  But you may have to wait for those to see.  Keep an eye out. 

Any six month discounts?  That is a crazy price.  I usually found 80k a month expensive but that was pre covid.  It's possible after covid and I go back next year, I may find these price hikes at mine too.  Could just be the crazy inflation we were all talking about on another thread.  Sometimes if you buy for a year or six months you get sale prices and discounts.  But you may have to wait for those to see.  Keep an eye out.

In my area, 80k per month was the 1 year at a time rate. I think it was down to 100k per month if you went 6 months, and was about 120k per month individually.
But, those prices were during a promotion the gym was running, and was last year or 2 years ago.

As a new teacher, it depends. With Epik, you'll finish orientation and arrive in your designated town a couple of days before your teaching contract starts. I've known a few people who went apartment seeking with their co-teacher that same day, and others who were told it wasn't possible. It depends on whether the school has signed/renewed the apartment lease already, and if the school has the time/willingness to find an alternate for you. If it's to be done, it would be as soon as you arrive because once the rental contract is signed then that's that for the year.

You didn't tell EPIK you wanted your apartment beforehand?

You didn't tell EPIK you wanted your apartment beforehand?

Not sure what you mean? EPIK won't even tell you what city you're in until the last day of orientation where you sign the contract. Anything to do with your apartment will be between you and your school once you arrive after orientation. EPIK themselves are glorified recruiters and everything after is done via your MOE/POE.

Anyway, my first apartment I was very happy with. Decent sized, clean, good location, well maintained. The owners lived in the building and would come fix any issues I had immediately, and always gave me food from their farm or chatted with me, and I'd help them out with carrying furniture etc if they needed it. When I  later changed cities I went to a budongsan and found my own apartment.

Not sure what you mean? EPIK won't even tell you what city you're in until the last day of orientation where you sign the contract. Anything to do with your apartment will be between you and your school once you arrive after orientation. EPIK themselves are glorified recruiters and everything after is done via your MOE/POE.

Anyway, my first apartment I was very happy with. Decent sized, clean, good location, well maintained. The owners lived in the building and would come fix any issues I had immediately, and always gave me food from their farm or chatted with me, and I'd help them out with carrying furniture etc if they needed it. When I  later changed cities I went to a budongsan and found my own apartment.

Thought there was an option on the application to choose your own place and take the money.  Sounds like they changed things from several years ago then from what I ehard at that time.  EPIK turning more and more into dicks.  I actually just used a recruiter years ago and went straight to the POE and the local ED office.  I rememebr telling them I wanted an air con before I agreed to accept their placement rather than with a hakwon in Seoul.  They said they would try to find me a place with one.  Then I arrive and the local ed office tried to go back on their word and not give me one.  In this summer's heat?  I really chewed them out when I got here and made them go get me one.  Either way, I told the recuiter I'd take the rural posting if they gave me an air con and I made them keep their word.  (They were afraid I would leave.)  Never dealt with EPIK even though I technically belong with them.  Never did their hour long phone interviews either. 

Anyways, if you are coming for the first time, take the EPIK apartment.  If you are transferring from another job and know Korea and can afford it, get your own place.  It can be hot and miss however.  Many places want to give you the cheapest places they can get.  Some will give you a decent place just to be nice.  Getting your own place lets you avoid some of the uncertainty. 

Thought there was an option on the application to choose your own place and take the money.  Sounds like they changed things from several years ago then from what I ehard at that time.

Oh, yeah it is an option still. However, because they prevent you having contact with your school until after orientation, it's unlikely a new starter will get that option. And on that first day you arrive, changing your apartment depends on A) If your school has already signed the rental lease and B) If your handler/coteacher etc have time or the will to help you seek a new place if you don't like it. I've known new arrivals that immediately went apartment shopping with their co, and others who were told it's impossible.

Renewals have a better shot at getting the housing allowance, though technically it is at the school's discretion (the admin team's discretion really) . They can deny the option if they want.

Really?  I haven't worked out at one for years, but I did pop into a couple in my old country town out of curiousity.  They didn't seem any different.  Cheap quality bike and an elipitcal.  Both awful to exercise on.  Some equipment which was minimal.  Only decent thing was the free weights, though even in many cities they have only one set of those and some Korean duide takes one and does every exercise under the sun hogging it which made even a city workout annoying cause you had to wait for this guy forever.  Like I'd take 6 and do some reps, then 8, then 10, then 12, then 14 or so.  Koreans workout differently it seems.  Then resting between sets they keep it there and won't let you borrow it for a set.  (Though I do insert myself myself sometimes cause otherwise I'd never get my workout done.) 

I like to do some free weights then hit the eqipment section and do some re enforcement exercises.  Some city gyms have good elipticals which are my favorite, though I did force myself to jog on the treadmill as well.  In less hot years (like a few years back), I use to bike a lot outdoors cause I liked it better than indoor artificial cardio.  Boy, those country gyms really left a lot to be desiered.  Now if you are in a rich rural area close to Seoul, it may be different.

Lol haven't worked out in years but not going back to the gym until covid is over and recently popped into a rural gym ? Bit inconsistent there