Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hellofaniceguy]

Well, I don't know what to think; so many different answers. But one thing I do know is this: housing is required by immigration law. If a business wants to sponsor a foreigner to work in korea, that business must sign a sponsor form in order to have the visa issued. This form states that the business, be it a hokwon, the 3D jobs, etc. must provide housing, return airfare and are responsible for all cost and maintenance as well as any fines that the foreigner might receive for violating korean law. Immigration always asks for the sponsor form from the business who is seeking a visa.

[Gord]

[kimcheeking]

I will have to agree with Gord, again (unbelievable twice in 2 days). Most people I associate with have thier own housing.

[Medic]

People with their own housing usually get an allowance from their sponser, or have enough money up front to paye for the key money. Key money is no small amount either. Anyone who comes over here for the first time and gets his own home without the help of the sponser sure got balls or rocks in his or her head.

[Ilsanman]

I have never met a teacher who lives in anything buy supplied housing. I would rather live in a free rathole than a paid better apartment. Most Korean apartments are bug infested rat holes.

sakamuras, who the hell are you? A troll who never has anything useful to say. How did so many ESL teachers do you wrong? Did some white guy steal your g/f or something? Geez man, lighten up.

[crazylemongirl]

I think I lucked out on my accomdation as I'm currently living in a school leased office tell. Coming back next year I would love to live in one of these again so would go for the housing allowance again.

CLG

[Joe Thanks]

[Bulsajo]

[sakamuras]

What a great attitude...If you have absolutely no desire to work hard and improve your standard of living, why do you complain in the first place?Geez...

[Gord]

[Mankind]

Ilsanman wrote:

[Sloth]

I've gone and rented my own place. I saved up my cash and paid the key money by myself without the help of my job. They give me a housing allowance and I am happy with the situation.

Why?

Freedom.

This way I don't ever have to worry about deadbeat roommates, bosses feeling like they can enter my apartment at their convenience, or everybody's favorite game of "musical apartments" (when the music stops gather your things and move into your new home).

I had to live with school housing for a few years but now, since I have my own pad, working in Korea is somewhat (and I use the word loosely) similar to working in Canada. I go to work and I go home. The two places are totally seperate.

There are advantages to both school housing and your own so I won't knock either of them.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

I am by no means a completely-seasoned veteran, having been here less than 4 years, and here's my first-hand experience:

My third year, I paid for my own place in Seoul, and moved to Bundang 6 months later, after I had saved enough to get a bigger place (and baby was on the way; the neighborhood we lived in at the time was horrible for raising a little one, though some might assert that Korea is horrible for raising a child. Whatever.).

Weol Sae, or paying a slightly lower key deposit and also monthly rent is what I did, and it wasn't astronomically expensive. The 13 pyeong we had in Seoul cost 5 million, and the two-bedroom villa we now live in (next to the mountain; did I mention that before?) cost 10, with 450,000 won, monthly. My wife tells me to clam up whenever I make the observation that perhaps someone was murdered in our home, and that's why it was such a good deal. But I believe anyone can find a good place with a reasonably low key deposit, as long as you look in the right neighborhood -- even in Kangnam.

AND, there are racist agents out there. I tried getting an apartment in Bundang first, and the agent we visited asked my wife if I was going to be living there, and when she told him that was the plan, he said they didn't rent to foreigners. My wife called him a shipbal nom and stormed out. I was set to clean his clock, but somehow managed to control my rage. Still to this day, I get angry thinking about it and wonder if I might get away with strolling over to his office (I still have the address) and bringing the hurt down (I'm not a big guy, but this dude looked like a starving chicken).

So, my advice is: if you have 5-10 million, do yourself a favor and get your own place. You'll probably find something a lot nicer than the sh*tbox your typical hagwon will provide.

Sparkles*_*

[Joe Thanks]

[some waygug-in]