Korean Job Discussion Forums

holden_caulfield · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: NYC

Hi All,

I'm going to be working for GEPIK starting in September and wanted to know if any of you all had any experience with GEPIK granting key money for an apartment. My contract states that GEPIK will pay up to 300 KWON monthly for rent (but says nothing about key money) if they can't find me a place to stay but I'm already thinking about upgrading. I've read here that if I put down say $5K or $10K USD then I could get a really nice apartment compared to the standard GEPIK issued apartments. I'm going to ask my recruiter if she knows anything but with stuff like this she usually says that the school has complete control over it and that I'll have to wait and speak with the school.

I'll be working in Ilsan by the way. Somewhere between La Festa and Hwajeong.

Thanks,

HC

allarise · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Location: Texas

Hey HC, are you teaching secondary or elementary? My girlfriend and I are coming to Ilsan next month, too. But we're waiting for GEPIK to release elementary locations.

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

Just for reference.

My GEPIK school pays 420,000/month and 10M key money. That only gets a toooooooooooo small studio down in Bundang in my neighborhood. I moved up to a slightly bigger place that has more than one room when renewal came up by agreeing to pay an extra 150K/month myself.

holden_caulfield · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: NYC

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

So what is the definitive answer to this? Does GEPIK provide key money in addition to a housing allowance?

holden_caulfield · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: NYC

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

If they are specifically mentioning the 300,000 KRW per month, then it is likely they don't have intentions of finding a place for you. This is why it is worded this way in the contract. You should tell your recruiter you prefer to have the school find the place. Ilsan is a very popular place these days, and apartments, even offictels (sp) are very costly. You might better get on this right away so that you don't come here and get stuck paying out of pocket expenses. This should be taken care of and an explanation should have been given to you concerning this.

Good luck with your soon arrival. It will work itself out, but you must be proactive and don't just take everything you hear from the recruiter at face value. Make sure they are working for you. This is what you have entrusted them to do.