By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Alfonso L. Delgado from the Philippines
Photos = Alfonso L. Delgado

I had always heard of the satellite city of Bundang from my friends for years, but I didn't exactly know where it was. All I knew was that it's down south of Seoul and that it was a popular place to live. My friends Vanji, James and their respective families used to live there.

I later learned that Bundang is an area of Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province, and that it's where our friend Kristine and her family currently live. So on a free day, Kristine invited us to her neighborhood of Jeongja-dong in Bundang, which was right next to the Jeongja-dong Café Street, a street full of coffee shops, restaurants and small boutiques.

Since none of us had been there before, we figured it was the best way to discover Bundang: head down there and get a tour from Kristine around her neighborhood. The Bundang neighborhood of Jeongja-dong is less than 20 minutes from Gangnam Station. Kristine met us at exit No. 5 of Jeongja Station where we started our tour.

Just across from the subway station is the Tancheon Stream, a small waterway that flows northward all the way through Jamsil in Seoul and into the Hangang River. If I walked north from the Tancheon Stream in Bundang, I'd find myself in Daechi-dong in Gangnam-gu in Seoul where I usually play tennis at the sports fields there on the weekends.

This is what I love about Korea. The local governments develop streams and waterways for the locals to use for biking, running or simply strolling. Even in my neighborhood in Dongdaemun-gu, we have our own Jeongneung Stream with rubberized paths, complete with ducks and fish.

After a quick visit to the Tancheon Stream, we continued our tour around the streets and alleys of Jeongja-dong to look for a place for lunch. Along the way, we stopped by the National Institute for International Education whose front yard was full of interesting installation works of art.

We found the Granny Saloon, a restaurant and a creative space in an alley decorated with giant chess pieces and colorful works of art. Recommended by Kristine, it specializes in dishes that have meatballs. Having walked around Jeongja-dong for about an hour, my meatballs dish was perfect for my grumbling stomach.

Before we headed to coffee and dessert, however, Kristine brought us to Naver's headquarters. Naver is Korea's most-used search engine and website portal. Although it has a café, we visited its library that was "green," both literary and figuratively.



It's a huge library with bookshelves topped with plants, while its clear walls let natural light in to conserve energy. It has long tables, comfortable armchairs, and sofas for everyone to use. It even has tall lamps in case you want to light your own corner for reading. If only this library were next to my apartment, I'd be here almost every day.

After quietly roaming the library, we headed back to the main street in search of coffee and dessert. The Jeongja-dong neighborhood is a mix of office buildings and apartment complexes. It has a lot of schools, which I think make it attractive for families with children or adolescents.

This Bundang visit was long overdue and I was glad I made the trip with friends.

Its café street definitely provides a relaxing corner for the residents, as well as visitors, to hang out during weekends, while the Tancheon Stream provides another option for those who want to stretch their legs and exercise, as well as a space for parents and kids to run around.

As our final stop, we settled in a small coffee shop, not a franchise, at the café street that also served a range of delicious cakes. Here, we finally rested our legs, chatted some more, and ended our fun tour of Kristine's Jeongja-dong neighborhood. Thanks to Kristine, my friends and I have finally been to Bundang. Importantly, I now know why it's a popular place to live and an even more popular spot to hang out.



wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.