Where you live in Seoul shapes your whole year: your commute, your social life and how much of your salary you keep. Many teachers end up living near their school because housing is provided, but if you have a choice — or are deciding between job offers — here is how the main areas compare.

Mapo: Hongdae, Hapjeong and Mangwon

The classic first home for new arrivals. Hongdae is young, loud and full of cafés, live music and late-night food; a few stops away, Mangwon and Hapjeong offer the same energy at a calmer pace, with a famous local market and easy access to the Han River parks.

Good for: a social life and meeting other foreigners quickly. Keep in mind: rent is higher close to Hongdae station, and it is busy on weekends.

Yongsan: Itaewon and Haebangchon

Seoul's most international area. Foreign groceries, international restaurants and English widely spoken make it an easy landing, and Haebangchon ("HBC") on the hill has a strong long-term expat community.

Good for: feeling at home quickly, international food. Keep in mind: hilly streets, and fewer hagwons nearby than in the big education districts.

Gangnam and Daechi

Daechi-dong is the best-known hagwon district in the country, and Gangnam has many of the highest-paying academies. Living here means a short commute and everything on your doorstep.

Good for: teachers who want a short commute to a big-district school. Keep in mind: it is one of the most expensive areas to rent, and evening schedules here can run late.

Mokdong (Yangcheon)

A large, family-friendly residential area in western Seoul with one of the city's biggest concentrations of academies. It is quieter than Mapo, with parks, apartment complexes and everything you need for daily life.

Good for: a calm, practical base with a short commute to work. Keep in mind: nightlife means a short subway ride to Hongdae or Yeouido.

Nowon (Junggye-dong)

Northern Seoul's major hagwon district. Rents are noticeably lower than in the south, and the area has mountains for hiking right on its doorstep.

Good for: saving money and getting outdoors. Keep in mind: it is a longer ride to central Seoul and the nightlife areas.

Guro and Sindorim

An underrated choice: Sindorim is a huge transport hub on Lines 1 and 2, with large shopping malls, and nearby rents are reasonable for how connected it is.

Good for: easy commutes in several directions on a sensible budget. Keep in mind: it is more practical than charming.

Just outside Seoul: Bundang and Ilsan

Many hagwons are in the satellite cities of Bundang (Seongnam) and Ilsan (Goyang). Apartments are often larger and newer, streets are greener, and Seoul is a subway or bus ride away.

Good for: more space, a quieter life and well-paid suburban academies. Keep in mind: late nights in Seoul mean a longer trip home.

How to choose

• Map your commute first. Under 30 minutes door to door makes a bigger difference to your quality of life than any café scene
• Visit at night as well as during the day
• Check how close the nearest subway line is, not just the bus
• If your school provides housing, ask exactly where it is before you sign — and look it up on Naver Map

Whichever area you pick, the Stayworks community is a good way to meet teachers who already live there and ask what it is really like.