Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gyeonggi-do has several international schools that draw in students from the province and
Seoul proper, some with more expansive campuses than their counterparts in the big city
since land tends to be cheaper and more abundant. Seoul International School (SIS) and
Korea International School (KIS), both in Seongnam, and the Gyeonggi Suwon Interna-
tional School in Suwon are among the best known and best equipped. There's also an In-
ternational Christian School in Uijeongbu, and a branch of the California-based Chadwick
School has opened in the Songdo International Business District. All accept students from
prekindergarten through high school and are accredited by agencies such as the U.S.-based
Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Tuition rates at all these institutions are high, with a mix of local and U.S. currency fees
that typically adds up to over 20 million won per year for elementary school and rises as
students get older. U.S. citizens are sometimes permitted to send their children to schools
on U.S. military posts in Dongducheon and Uijeongbu if spaces are available.
Residents of Gyeonggi-do will have little trouble finding any of the necessities or common
consumer goods they could want on local shopping excursions, but more exotic imported
items might require a quick jaunt to Seoul. Major high-end department store chains, includ-
ing Hyundai and Lotte, have multiple branches in Suwon, Incheon, and Seongnam, as do
discount “hypermarkets” like E-mart and Home Plus, which sell clothing, appliances, and
a generally healthy range of Western groceries. The Lafesta and Western Dom shopping
and entertainment complexes, in Goyang's upmarket Ilsan district, are probably the most
diverse conglomerations of youth-oriented boutiques and restaurants in the province, with
multiple shops and eateries offering foreign delicacies, bars, and cinemas.
A more traditional—and economical—retail experience can be had at Gyeonggi-do's
traditional markets, a concession to the region's agricultural traditions, which generally run
every five days or so. These have excellent bargains on local grains, crafts, and produce,
but also some sights and smells that may put off the less adventurous visitor. Moran Market
in Seongnam and Osan Market in Osan, which has operated for nearly three centuries, are
the most active.
