Badminton In Seoul

Discussion in 'Japan / Korea' started by Oldhand, Aug 19, 2007.

  1. Oldhand

    Oldhand Moderator

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    Is it the same place? :confused:
     
  2. event

    event Regular Member

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    No. According to the sign, that is Ahyun Elementary School, which is 5km away from Shinyeon Middle School, the site of the Shinyeon club, to which I attempted to give you directions. According to the only club listings presently available, Ahyun Elementary School is the site of the Sky Club. In hindsight, it would have been only 3 subway stops away from you, but I don't remember suggesting it. I honestly don't know how you could have ended up there unless a) your taxi driver/concierge was a badminton player and drove/directed you to a place he knew; or b) someone called the chair/treasurer who had since changed clubs. Or maybe the club just moved. Who knows?

    Either way, the two clubs I suggested to david14700 are on the east side of town, closer to where he is staying.
     
  3. Oldhand

    Oldhand Moderator

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    Well, I had a girl at the hotel's front office work all those leads that you provided me.
    Unfortunately, they were all either temporarily closed, permanently closed or too far away. :crying:

    Seeing how despondent I was, the girl called some of her (I presume) friends... she told me about this place (the school) and even arranged for a sheet of written instructions (of course, in taxi-driver-readable Korean). That's how I managed to find a place to play :p
     
  4. david14700

    david14700 Regular Member

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    Trip to Korea

    Hi guys

    Just got back from Seoul, I went to the Sky Club recommended by Event.

    They play in this huge stadium (with grandstands) with 10 courts with green Yonex mats like the pros and specialised lighting and they can play all day! The only limiting thing is that the club runs out of shuttles after 2-3 hours and then if you still want to play you need to use your own.

    I had a really great time and played nearly every day for 3 weeks, the timing of my shots is so beautiful now, but I'm afraid once I'm back to my usual once a week game, it will disappear again :crying:

    And I really should have had some coaching. They have a full time coach there every day and individual lessons cost £50 a month. That's the hourly rate in London! Oh well, maybe I'll go for a longer holiday next time.

    Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for all the advice.

    Cheers

    David
     
  5. adrei

    adrei Regular Member

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    hi everyone, I'll be going to korea (seoul) from jan 23-29 to visit my friends! will watch the korean open as well... didn't know that it's the exact time that i'll be there.. lucky me. anyway, anyone here who i can play with?? i really hope i can play in korea. oh btw, i'm a student here in taiwan, and badminton stuff here are really cheap.. especially the rackets (tw coded) and strings as well. Please let me know if you want some stuff, so i could bring it with me when i go to korea.

    will be waiting for your replies!

    Adrian
     
  6. Oldhand

    Oldhand Moderator

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    event, I'm visiting Seoul again... it's next week
    Would you know where (like the name of the junction or street) this school is? :confused:

    I only remember it as something-dong (and the good time I had) :)
    This place is somewhat close to the Hotel Seokyo at Seokyo-dong

    I'm massively confused :eek:
    The school hall (as can be seen in my pictures) I played in had wooden flooring. The lighting was just the usual stuff. Did I miss something or is the Sky Club elsewhere? :confused:
     
  7. event

    event Regular Member

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    Yes, there are Sky Clubs all over. If the place you played at was the Sky Club, that is consistent with the club listings I saw and with the name on the stage curtains in your photo. The place you are looking for is called Ahyun Elementary School (Ahyun Cho-deung Hakkyo). Telling a taxi driver that name should do it. or print out and show him/her the photo of that curtain with the school name. Or just take the subway 3 stops to Ahyun Station and walk. Sorry, I'm not at home and can't give more detailed directions but with the name of the school, you should be home free.
     
  8. Oldhand

    Oldhand Moderator

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    Thanks a ton :)
    Hope to drop in at that place next week.
     
  9. chrishin

    chrishin Regular Member

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    wow the stadium place that david went to sounds very tempting. my brother and i may be back in korea to visit our relatives july/ aug and would be nice to be able to go there. well we can go anywhere as long as there's subway and bus in seoul since we can read and speak korean like a korean x)
    more info on that place would be greatly apprecidated. price too good to be true.... well
     
  10. Oldhand

    Oldhand Moderator

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    event, thanks once again for the directions :)
    It was easier this time.
    I joined the group at the Ahyun school on Tue, Wed and Thur evening.

    Right now, it's freezing cold in Seoul... and even inside the hall, people were wearing light jackets.

    It's amazing that one doesn't sweat a bit even during a tough game.
    This is the first time I didn't have to change my T-shirt or wristband even after 3 hours of play :eek:

    The only problem is thawing your fingers before you play.
    You can literally hear them snap as you do finger-flexes :D
     
  11. tanzent

    tanzent Regular Member

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    I will pick up you by car arround Gangse-Gu or YangChen-Gu..
    YeoungDeungPo-Gu Office station(subway 2 line, 5 line) or OMogkyo station(5 line) or DangSan station(2 line)..it takes to go there just 5-10 minute by car.
    and will go to Magok gym this saturday afternoon..
     
  12. Oldhand

    Oldhand Moderator

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    Well.....

    Is this to me? :confused:

    Actually, I'm already back in Singapore :eek:

    Thanks for the offer though.
    I will take you up on it the next time I'm in Seoul :)
     
  13. event

    event Regular Member

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    Hi Tanzent. I've suggested the Magok gym on several occasions including this suggestion to Oldhand last year...
    ...but I've never actually played there. I just watched the nationals (최강) there a few years ago. Is my information on times and cost accurate? Are there many good players who play there? Does it tend to get crowded? I'm curious because it is the only dedicated badminton gym I know of in Seoul.
     
  14. tanzent

    tanzent Regular Member

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    thanks your reply and sorry for my late one.
    If I have a chance to go singapore, contact you... :)

    I have a game at Magok gym at this sunday...amarture tournament....
    take care~~

    p.s. I can speak chinese rather than English~~
     
  15. tanzent

    tanzent Regular Member

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    take care~~
    88~~
     
  16. Bobatea

    Bobatea Regular Member

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    Hello,

    Hope it's ok if I put my post in here since I'm asking about badminton in Seoul. I'm actually going to be in Korea for 3 months starting next week for work and will be living in the Bundang area. I was wondering if you knew of any badminton facilities in that area that have showers? Not sure how much time I'm going to have to be able to play, but would love to play when I have the time in order to get some exercise and "relax." Thanks!
     
  17. Oldhand

    Oldhand Moderator

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    Read the previous posts, please.
    You should find enough current information to look no further :)
     
  18. event

    event Regular Member

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    Of course. Post away!

    I don't know Bundang very well but there are a few clubs on this list, if you have a Korean colleague from whom you can solicit some help. A few of them are outdoor courts, though.

    The Olympic Club (#7 on the list at the above link) is possibly your best bet. They play in the Bundang Olympic Sports Centre near Seohyeon Stn. The same complex has a rink and a pool so they must have showers. The club site has a photo of the gym.
     
  19. event

    event Regular Member

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    Not likely. Bundang is a long way from where you and David were in Seoul. It's technically in the city of Sungnam, although it is on the subway line.
     
  20. event

    event Regular Member

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    Another couple of places, which may be a little too far depending on what part of Bundang you're in, might be the Sungnam Sports Complex (about 1km from Moran Station) or the Suji Fitness Park (about 2km from Jukjeon Stn on the other side of Tan Creek and the Gyeongbu Expressway). I think the latter might have a new facility, if the photo on the otherwise useless homepage of one of the clubs that plays there is any indication. Most of the new badminton gyms that are sprouting up all over the country have showers and cheap admission fees. Anyway, once you find out where you are, PM me and we can get you fixed up.
     

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