Korean Job Discussion Forums

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

Pardon me if I come off as a primadonna, but I've just moved into what is the worst apartment I've seen anyone living in (in Seoul anyway).

The two biggest things: there is no shower. I don't mean the bathroom is small and the shower is above the toilet. I mean there's no shower. All I see is a bucket. I suppose I am to sponge bathe myself with said bucket?

Also concerning the bathroom..I cannot close the door. Why? Well, my washing machine (the hagwon was shocked when I said I required one) is just outside the bathroom and is hooked up to the sink for its water supply. Further, its drainage pipe is pointed at the bathroom floor, thus blocking the door from closing.

Those are the two biggies. The other is a nasty boiler "room" (separated by a curtain..which also separates the rest of the room from the only windows) with nice exposed pipes and bits of broken glass on the floor. Oh yeah, and loose, broken tiles to cover up the cement.

Oh yeah, and I refuse to take my shoes off because there are nice big grime streaks on the floor. Right after I spent hours cleaning my last apartment.

So anyway, I have signed a contract with them, just canceled visa with another job, haven't been on a visa run yet...I'm not tied to this company, am I? Could I just do my own japan run and job hunt again, staying in a (relatively) luxurious goshiwon??

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

Ummm. Yes.....tell them to piss off as nicely as possible.

willneverteachagain · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

id tell them to piss off as rude as possible. u dont want to stay there for a year. tell them that u dont have a visa with them and if u dont get a decent apartment, you are gone

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

You're lucky you haven't signed anything. Why the hell didn't you check it out before you decided to work there?

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Tell them the apt is too nice and you don't feel worthy of it... Very Happy

happeningthang · Joined: 26 Apr 2003

There's not many positions that make it possible to view the accommodation before agreeing to work for them.

I say walk away.

Living arrangements are the one area that I will make NO compromises on. If you're not comfortable in your apartment there's no relief from outside pressures. Your home is your oasis and without it you will be miserable. If that's the kind of consideration you're getting, then it's not boding well for a years worth of association with this employer. Get out now.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

Trafficking of English Teachers?
By Chris Brockie, Korea Times (March 17, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200603/kt2006031716054754060.htm

Foreigners Fight Bias
No Foreigners Allowed: Nationality Discrimination Legal in Korea
By Christopher Carpenter and Jane Han
Korea Times (December 12, 2006)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/special/200612/kt2006121219555767650.htm

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 5:48 am Post subject:

pcitures pictures pictures....c'mon...hook us up!

!shoosh,

Ryst

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:11 am Post subject: Re: Joke of an apartment.

Sounds a lot like the one place I was offered with my first hogwon in Seoul... dirt floor, squatter outhouse outside, no shower IN the apartment (okay, it was a shed), no drainage in the floor but the shower hose was connected to the kitchen sink, plastic for windows, no lock on the only door, and all of that in a lovely spacious 6-7 pyung. Told him to get bent. The next apartment he ed me was actually quite nice. So nice, I kept it even after I bankrupted the guy.

Ianinilsan · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: South Korea

Make sure you have everything, set up a better job ASAP, and LEAVE ASAP.

DON'T SIGN ANYTHING.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

I'd love to send you some pictures, but unfortunately i have no digicam.
my friend took some photos on her phone, don't have em yet. it's not as bad as young frankenstein's place, but i still feel pretty cheated.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

i signed the contract. they dont have my passport or transcript or diploma. or even copies. do i owe them anything? do they have any power whatsoever?

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

If they didn't pay your airfare over, and you were already here, then the wrap-up to finalize the working visa is after the visa run to Japan.

shifdog · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

They're taking the piss. You have no obligation to them. Get the hell out of dodge.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!