Korean Job Discussion Forums

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

i got a bill in my apt. door with my monthy electricity charge (22 000W) and 관리비 (100 000W!!!)... what's the deal with THIS?! i've been asking around, trying to find out if this is covered by my contract, which reads:

"Utilities, Charges, Taxes associated with the apartments rented by the <company> are my responsibility and I agree to pay bills on time."

"Any and all fees, charges, costs, taxes, expenses, etc. incurred in using the housing shall be borne by Employee"

IMO, kwalibi is NOT "incurred in using the housing" because it is:
1. a flat rate, i.e. i can't reduce the cost
2. paid whether someone occupies the apartment or not

has anyone else tried to deal with this BS? or does everyone just take it and pay the 1.2 MILLION won per year? i want to at the very least find out where my money is going, and what services i can expect for this outlandish amount... is this a hopeless cause (like almost everything in this country)? i'm sorry but saying something is a "cultural" thing doesn't cut it when it's almost a month's pay...

since i'm technically a contractor, can i begin charging kwalibi? i spend about 40 000W per month on the subway that i'd rather not pay and i'm sure i could think of a few more things... are there any limits to kwalibi? is this mentioned in your contract?

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

100,000 for one month is way to high (unless you live at a ritzy villa) ask your neighborers what they pay per month. Many times schools or apt's try to rip foreigners off by overcharging for this? If you don't trust your neighbors to tell you the truth on this just ask a Korean friend to pretend to be a potential tenant and call the apt management and ask how much the fee is. 1.2 per year is WAY to much, IMHO...I pay 360,000 per year. Anyhow, it would be your responsibility to pay this.

Bramble · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Location: National treasures need homes

I think you're paying for services such as security, building maintenance, etc. It's very unusual for employers to cover those things, and I doubt you can get out of paying. The alternative is to live in a dump where there's no "management fee," or only a very low one.

Life is expensive.

Edit: I assume you're living in a decent place, such as an officetel. It's not unusual to pay that much in an officetel, if not more. If you're in an older building with no security guard or janitors, then maybe Spliff is right. Question

kermo · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:18 pm Post subject:

I pay about 80,000 won each month. I reckon it includes the "security," some maintenance and the lady who swabs the halls. I think it also includes electricity, as it fluctuates from month to month.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

If you live in an apartment or an officetel,etc everybody will have to pay a management fee(관리비)....
The newer and bigger the apartment the more it will be....plus it seems officetels pay quite a bit as well.

Your employer is under no obligation to pay it unless it is stipulated in your contract that they pay this fee....it is incurred in your housing.

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

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Pay 40K a month for ours. Some of the tenants in our villa, are probably first time away from mummy, and disgard rubbish/trash in any old fashion. When it gets to gross, hired people come and properly bag it and clean the stairs and elevator (Korean pavement pizza at times).

I expect it will also cover the elevator fees, which will not be cheap.

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

i've asked for a breakdown of the costs but to no avail (thus far)... i live on the second floor, so why do i have to pay for the elevator? if cleaning ladies, garbage men and security guys make this kind of money (which they DON'T, i know because they have second jobs), i'm in the wrong business!

15 floors X 10 Apts per floor X 100 000W
= 15 000 000W per month (holy crap!)

Bramble · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Location: National treasures need homes

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Sounds like an officetel, with 15 floors.
There will probably be insurance costs as well.

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

office tel
so if i'm paying insurance, does that mean that MY stuff is insured?

Bramble · Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Location: National treasures need homes

thebomb · Joined: 13 Nov 2006

Mine fluctuates between 90 and 160k. It does include many things, and I also would love to know what they do with all the money, like insurance, for the building not your personal items, cleaning, security, repairs, electricity, communal and personal, lighting, hot water, cold water, grounds keeping e.t.c

As previous posters have stated, the nicer the place the more you pay to maintain it.

But OP, to answer your question, if you are living in a reasonable nice apt or officetel then a monthly maintenence fee of 100k is normal, and it doesn't sound like you are being ripped off.

superdave · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: over there ----->

those fees can get expensive in officetels, the one i lived in a few years ago included:

1. security guards
2. cleaning lady
3. hall and auxiliary lighting
4. car lift (for the basement carpark) electricity
5. roof garden maintenance
6. bunch of other crap

it really adds up ... and there's not much you can do about it.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

as everyone else has already said it's normal to pay about 100k per month if you're in an officetel. my building has over 2000 units, and the larger your officetel/apartment, the larger your bill will be. If all units were rented, the management would be collecting at a minimum of $200,000/month, not including businesses who occupy the lower floors