Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shostahoosier]

I'm looking at living options for graduate school and since I wont be able to work for the first semester, I was considering a boardinghouse.

Are they bad? Are they expensive?

I have the options to stay in the dorm and to save a lot of money, but I'm not sure if I can share a room with another person at this stage in my life. A boardinghouse would allow me to have my own room right?

[spaceman82]

I think you're talking about a 하숙집 and not a 고시원, but let me know if I'm wrong about that. I've lived in both for extended periods of time, and didn't find the 하숙집 to be that bad. Of course, the different boarding houses can really vary a great deal, so you might want to look around a fair bit before deciding on one. No matter where you go, however, I'm pretty sure you will have the option to have your own room, though the bathroom is often shared.

With that said, I only think it's a good money-saving option if you're going to control your lifestyle very closely by eating the food at the 하숙집 twice a day. Otherwise, the boarding fees will probably be about the same as the rent for a small place in an area like Haebangchon (I'm just going to assume you're going to be in Seoul--sorry if I'm wrong about that), and the savings won't really justify the step down in lifestyle, in my opinion.

Hope that helps. I can go into more detail if you'd like, but don't want to put up some huge post. Just let me know if you have any questions or want me to elaborate on anything.

[shostahoosier]

[spaceman82]

Is that 1.5 million won per semester including meals? If so, that's not bad at all. Many of my classmates were staying in the dorms with roommates, and they seemed to fair pretty well, though there was some "idiosyncratic" behavior (on both sides, I'm sure). Just to give you a price range on 하숙집s, they're probably between 350,000 won (maybe cheaper if certain areas) and 600,000 won a month depending on location, quality, etc.

[shostahoosier]

[spaceman82]

About 4 months seems to be right. To be honest, I think the food is where the savings is going to come in--for either the dorm or 하숙집. I pay 500,000 won a month in rent right now and have two bedrooms, so 2 million is definitely doable. Haebangchon is good if you don't have much money for a deposit --and Craigslist also seems to have occasional advertisements for places that are inexpensive and don't require key money.

In terms of prices around campuses, it really depends on where you are. If you're looking near Seoul National University, for example, things are going to be cheaper; if you're looking near Yonsei, on the other hand, I would expect normal prices. With that said, the areas around universities will generally have a wider variety of inexpensive housing available (고시원, 하숙집, and 원룸-하숙집 hybrids).

[shostahoosier]

[spaceman82]

Happy to help. I'm sure you can find something reasonable in that area. Good luck whatever direction you decide to go in though.

[highstreet]

I've lived in a Hasuk. They will vary in price and quality. If you want your own bathroom, expect to pay at least 500+ a month. Do not pick the first place you choose and always haggle. Make sure to ask about whether they having heating or a/c.

[DanseurVertical]