Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PeteJB]

I'm currently looking for an apartment (one room) around the Mapo and Seodaemun areas. Well, if it's near the Line 2 Subway that's also good. But I don't really want to spend out on key money - I'm looking for just a monthly option. I'm a student, so I can't really afford to do that comfortably. If this even possible? I'm told that due to being a foreigner, it's very hard to get a place without key money. Does anyone know any good agents who offer such places? Right now I'm open to almost any location.

[the_beaver]

It's hard to get a cheap place that way.

A 하숙 or 고시원 would be cheaper and easier to find -- especially now that the students aren't in school.

[PeteJB]

It doesn't need to be that cheap, just not require a security deposit (just one month up front)

[PeteJB]

There seems to be lots of places in Gangnam around 400-600,000 per month range that only require one month payment in advance. And those are small yet fully furnished apartments. Size is not important to me, only privacy. I've always been told Gangnam is too expensive to live in, yet just about everywhere else in Seoul the area is either shabby, or the apartment has the nothing in it, or the security deposit is so crazy that you'd be better off in a hotel for a year. Seems to me Gangnam has a LOT to offer at a reasonable price. Sure, your not getting that much for your money, but it seems you'd be a lot better off than with other places in Seoul.

[GoldMember]

Haggle! Simple as that, negotiate the rent down and the key money down, simple as that.

[billybrobby]

I know a dude who got a place for 800,000 for one month in kangnam, no key money. It's hard to say, but I would estimate the real value of that place as 600,000 a month, maybe 7. He did it by calling up his magical korean girlfriend and having her call people up and negotiate. I know another guy who got a 2 bedroom in haebangchon with no key money for 900,000 a month. So it's possible, but they'll try to gouge you.

[PeteJB]

I found two decent sized places (fully furnished) in Gangnam for 700,000 per month. Pretty damn nice if you ask me, but still I will look a little more as that's a little out of the way for me and maybe a tad too high for a student like myself.

Also I have access to 300 Manwon Keymoney. But, I can't go over 30 Manwon monthly rent if I take that option.

[winterwawa]

Look in Sillam Dong (Line 2) There are places there you can get for 3mil key and less than 600,000 a month.

[Ginormousaurus]

[Young FRANKenstein]

I have a wolse-only setup in Seoul. I got the apartment through my old school and just never left the apartment when I quit. It was strictly through people I knew and not a realtor.

[Bibbitybop]