Korean Job Discussion Forums

[therooster]

So i'm coming over next week . Government/public school job .2.1 . 22 hours . Yongin. etc etc etc .... What can I expect from my "free" apartment ?

Heard some nightmare stories but it's human nature to bitch and moan . Should I expect to be "cooped up" in a little hobbit hole ? Or is it actually not all that dramatic ?

I come from South Africa , where anything less than 4 bedrooms is "quaint" . So I'm expecting this to probably be my biggest adjustment .

[Jizzo T. Clown]

If you were coming from a developed country I suspect you'd have more to worry about, as the apartments here are quite spacious compared to those in Uganda and the Sudan.

[Treekat]

You are comparing South Africa to Uganda. Very interesting.

I am also South African - work in Sinnaedong in Seoul. My apartment is somewhat small (the 'entrance hall' is also the kitchen) but one finds that its ok for when you live alone. I have an upstairs area which I don't use because it is only 1.2m high and I don't own a bed (been here 4 months and still sleeping on the sleeper couch downstairs.)

I don't entertain at my place so I see no worries about it being a little boxy.

I get the impression that apartments grow in size as you exit the main cities (as with most places).

[therooster]

I assume you taking the piss , or are just ignorant by comparing South Africa to Uguanda etc .

Even my poorer friends live in huge houses with huge gardens (by English standards...I can't speak for Canada and the rest) .We generally don't do "apartments" here unless we're like 19 years old and students . Buying/renting houses is cheap enough .

Apartment is one thing , but the thoughts of living in a little one room studio style apartment doesn't thrill me. I'll do it , but I'd just like to know what to expect .

[icicle]

It would be fairly safe to assume ... that it will be a studio apartment that you will be living in ... that is fairly routine in this part of the country ... and generally what is provided to single people who are employed ... But within that there is still a fair amount of differentiation .... and some people do manage to strike it lucky ... But you will be less disappointed if you assume that it will probably be less than what you would like to have ... but still will be as much as you need .... and not the thing that in the long run will have the biggest influence on whether your time in Korea is happy ... and all that you want it to be ...

Icicle

[caniff]

Expect a shoebox. Then, if it's bigger, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[icicle]

[therooster]

Even a studio would be fine ..although I hate the idea of socialising/eating etc in the same room as I'm sleeping in . As long as it's no jail cell/school room dormitory . Square feet what are we talking here ?

[therooster]

In Bangkok for example my apartment at least had 2 bedrooms , a kitchen , lounge and large balcony ...and cost nearly nothing (maybe 300$ a month. The building also a rooftop pool , restuarant , library , gym , sauna and games room etc . Anything like this common ?

[Guri Guy]

Bangkok sounds cool. Beats the heck out of my apartment.

If only the wages were higher. ㅠㅠ

[icicle]