Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BS.Dos.]

So here's the rub. My school have just had a new dormitory block built and my CT has just asked me if I'd consider moving in when I renew my contract on Sept 1st.

It's obviously new and pretty modern, but I'd only have one room with no kitchen factilities or private bathroom etc. Also, while there's a PC lab next door, there isn't either a phone line or internet access in the room, although I reckon I could probably push for one.

My exisiting apartment is spacious; 3-bedrooms one of which is en-suite, good sized living room, small but okay kitchen, a large balcony at the front and another, which doubles as my utility room, at the back. It's on the 5th floor, the neighbours are no problem and it's about a 5-minute walk to the school.

The school are offering me 400,000 extra per month, but taking into account the fact that I wont have any bills, I'll be better off by (roughly) an additional 150/200,000 per month when you scratch off apartment services (50,000), gas (roughly 75,000 per month) and internet (30,000). As I wont have my own kitchen, I'll also be saving money on food etc as I can eat the school slop 3-times a day, although not being able to cook is the single biggest draw back.

I've been thinking about it and thought that maybe I could endure it for the final 6-months of my contract so that I can save some serious coin before I leave.

What would you do?

[Young FRANKenstein]

I'd end up offing myself in the first week or two if I moved there.

[DRAMA OVERKILL]

If it were me, I wouldn't do it. Seriously, it doesn't sound too appealling.

[seoulteacher]

I'm not quite sure how the Won 400,000 plus the other amounts you've listed add up; please clarify.

Your ap't sounds very attractive, and I'd do what I could to keep it. What about a bit of brainstorming: eg. can you rent out the other 1 or 2 bedrooms? Wouldn't that more than make up for the savings you'd make if you downgraded to much more restricted living conditions on campus?

[BS.Dos.]

The 400,000 is, I presume, my kickback for saving them money that they'd (the school) otherwise be paying on rent, which I'm guessing is at least 800,000 per month.

I'm in a small town and the only 'lodgers' I could realistically consider would be locals and I don't really want to be sharing with strangers.

[seoulteacher]

Ah, your monthly savings would be Won 400k + 150-200k (= Won 550-600/mth)...so for 6 mths, total savings = Won 3.3 - 3.6 million?

I guess the question would then come down, for me, to "Does that amount of savings mean more to me than the lower quality of life in the dorm?" And I'd say that only you could answer that for yourself, based on your priorities.

Incidentally, you could probably quietly arrange to run a wire to your dorm room computer from one of the next door PCs - or hook up a wireless router - to give you internet access. (And will you stay for only 6 months after renewing, and moving in to the dorm, in early Sept?)

[BS.Dos.]

No, my plan was just to endure if for the final 6-months of my contract i.e. from sometime around NY 2009. It's a tough call. I could use the extra money and could really crack on with my own studies, but the loss of space and, to an extent, privacy, could be too much. I just wanted to guage others opinions really.

[Dome Vans]

[seoulteacher]

BS.Dos, it has just struck me why your choices interest me so much: I once had a very inexpensive apt in Seoul.

Lots to recommend it, including its main attraction of major savings on the rent. But those savings came with a major drawback: mold. And the full extent of the mold only became apparent after I had moved in. I have since wondered if the wheezing in my chest is due, at least partly, to that mold.

I have decided that good-enough accommodation will be an essential in future.

[KYC]

communal bathroom? No & way.

I was given the option of living in the school dormitory before I came. I chose to live in the next town. Couldn't be happier.

Found out the school dormitory is DIRTY and bug infested. The Korean teachers still have to pay for their own bills. Public transportation came by like 2x a day. There's not even a grocery store there. YUCK.

I might have saved more money if I lived there and could have snuck home when I didn't have classes and such but I dont think it would have been worth it.

[Rae]

Staying at a place like that your last 6-months is just asking to live those melodramatic prison scenes where youll be counting off the days with notches ...

[the ireland]

if you're only going to save an extra 200,000 a month is it really worth it? but if it's up around 600,000 like someone else mentioned then it depends how much you need the money.......or would you end up just spending extra money in restaurants because you have no kitchen??


i would stay in the apartment, my one bedroomed / roomed apartments gets a bit small at times, can't imagine what i would be like if i had to share a bathroom and showering facility all the time

[BS.Dos.]

It would be up around 550/600,000 per month. 400,000 from the school (kickback) + 150/200,000 savings per month (utilities). As you note though, the food bill could potentially go up as I'm sure I'd want to lavish it on w/e with foreign food etc. Eating Korean school food 3-times a day 6-days a week would be akin to living on Alcatraz.

The more I think of it, the less attractive it becomes, but the extra juice would be nice.

[theholyinnocent]

[Nomadder]

Tough call. 4 mil ain't bad for 6 mo of slight discomfort.
However, take into account the possible change in workplace dynamics.
I don't know how tolerable your situation has been so far with boss/co-workers, but sometimes things change when you move from a position of relative autonomy to what you might call a "shorter leash".
Living that close with that much percieved benefit, provided by your great and wonderful benefactors, might cause them to start tugging more at that leash. I've read other posts on here about similar things happening to other people so... Just another consideration.
If you know that wouldn't be a problem then why not if it's only 6 mo.