Korean Job Discussion Forums

[btunnicliffe]

If you're getting single accommodation is it the norm that you get everything in one room - ie. the kitchen, washing machine, is the same room which you sleep?
thanks

[cruisemonkey]

No, your washing machine will probably be on your 'balcony' (8' x 3').

Seriously, it all depends on where you are and the going price of rent in that area. In the 'sticks' I had a two-bedroom (26 pyeong) 'aparta'. I'm now in a 'one room', but much happier with my job and surroundings. The extra space was nice but just tended to collect junk.

[Atavistic]

I've had three places in Seoul. Two were one room studio apartments (hogwons), the current one is an actual apartment, a little more than 14 pyeong.

[soju pizza]

It happens. It's normal, but some places have better set ups.

[Smee]

Depends. Out of the four places I've lived, one was an all in one. It was a new officetel in a new part of town, and though it was small, I prefered it to some of the other places I've been. The washing machine was a little front-loader in the kitchen area. It was small---but, most apartments in Korea are small---but it was modern, clean, and there are times I miss it, haha. The bathroom was really nice, too.

[cbclark4]

In every sense of the word you will be "camping" in respect to any accomodations you have had in the past.

I had a 28 foot travel trailer with better facilities than what I have now.

However my 'aparta' is a littel bit bigger.

[oneofthesarahs]

If you're really concerned about apartment size, live out in the boonies! I've lived in two apartments, and both have been bigger than I need. My first one was two bedrooms, nice big bathroom, a large kitchen/living area and a huge balcony.

The place I'm living in now is probably about the same area-wise, but is divided up into three bedrooms and a kitchen/dining area. Needless to say, I do not need three bedrooms.

[JongnoGuru]

[oneofthesarahs]

Look here, Mr. Ooh look at me I have a wine cellar Guru. I'm well aware of the existence of pyong, but I have no idea how big my apartment is because well....I have no reason to know, really. I couldn't even tell you how big the place is in square feet.

[Paji eh Wong]

[sojourner1]

It's common to get a 1 room studio apartment where you have a small space at the door for your shoes, one room, and a small bathroom with a washer where you can hose the entire bathroom down with the shower. You typically get a storage space above the bathroom to put luggage in, making the bathroom ceiling low. It's not bad, but the neighbors are way too close and you can hear them all. They will hear your late night phone calls in English as you might call anywhere from 12 midnight to 8AM if calling the states or Canada, but no one has totally outright objected to me living here or hearing my speaking English, despite most being retirees and unemployed young adults. It just feels too close and confining when you know no one around you nor can communicate with any of them or know what they are talking about and have friends locally. Needless to say, I was very spooked at first living in a place that never had a foreigner with no other foreigners locally present, but it seems OK.

Really, the only major problem is isolation, boredom, and lack of social life in such a place though you could have the same one room place in Seoul and live a very active lifestyle with many more options. I would go nuts without an internet computer set up in my one room place.

The apartment doesn't matter so much as does your job, your geographical location, and many other choices you make such as how you manage money. Some people might be couples who want to live together in a quieter place like Changwon and others are single people who like the options Seoul has to offer and others are singles looking to do nothing, but save money which makes everything else, but pay irrelevant.

What are your needs, wants, and desires? There is a whole lot more to consider than simply the apartment a job provides though adequate housing is a very important necessity.

[JongnoGuru]