|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
justaguy
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Location: seoul
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:51 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| I traveled through the Jamsil area recently and was amazed at the amount of redevelopment there. That place has so many high rises now and doesn't look anything like it did 10 years ago. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
| bassexpander wrote: |
We live an hour away from her work now, and she takes a taxi the entire way both ways twice a day. |
all good if the company pays for that expense!
if not DAMN!!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 3:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| itaewonguy wrote: |
| bassexpander wrote: |
We live an hour away from her work now, and she takes a taxi the entire way both ways twice a day. |
all good if the company pays for that expense!
if not DAMN!!!! |
No it's just part-way on the taxi. Apparently, I misunderstood her. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tommy
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| justaguy wrote: |
| I traveled through the Jamsil area recently and was amazed at the amount of redevelopment there. That place has so many high rises now and doesn't look anything like it did 10 years ago. |
Haha.. that's funny. I live in the area and my girlfriend regularly reminds me, "20 years ago, all this was farmland - this was a poor neighbourhood".
The development in that area is insane. Like the article said, there's 2~3 big developments that just went up, and I do mean BIG. The Risentz development, next to Seongnae station, has got to have at least 100 apartment buildings.
If you get a chance, walk through there - it's just plain weird. If you walk down any of their streets, the horizon and most of the sky is blocked out. It was plain spooky this past spring when construction had finished but all the buildings were unoccupied.
You can do a full 360 and see nothing but concrete.. I don't understand who would want to live like that, and pay upwards of 1Billion Won at that. Guess being boxed-in in Jamsil is more prestigious than being boxed-in in some cheaper area.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Faunaki
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| And peeps attacked me, saying I was lying about the prices of buying,renting, jonsaying an apt. I live near Sadang, bought a house, so had to find a jonsay renter for our previous place, I swear to god we had 10 calls a day. And the house up for grabs - a total piece of sh - nothing anyone would want but apparently so. And I doubt the bubble will burst, I have a house here, if it bursts, I'm toast. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ruraljuror
Joined: 08 Dec 2007
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 3:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If you haven't checked it out before, you really should read Brendan's Korean Law Blog. He does some great analysis on the housing market, especially Seoul.
If you scroll to the bottom of the post, he has links to previous real estate posts he's written too.
The only way the site would be better would be if he changed his name to Bob. So it could be called "Bob Law Blog".
(Ignore the previous line if you are not fluent in Arrested Development).
http://www.korealawblog.com/entry/average_seoul_apartment_price_exceeds_w500_million/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Ruraljuror wrote: |
If you haven't checked it out before, you really should read Brendan's Korean Law Blog. He does some great analysis on the housing market, especially Seoul.
If you scroll to the bottom of the post, he has links to previous real estate posts he's written too.
The only way the site would be better would be if he changed his name to Bob. So it could be called "Bob Law Blog".
(Ignore the previous line if you are not fluent in Arrested Development).
http://www.korealawblog.com/entry/average_seoul_apartment_price_exceeds_w500_million/ |
An Arrested Development reference, a MST3k avatar and 30Rock name. I share your tv preferences to a "T". |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
We moved in on chunsae at just over 300 million. Freaking heart attack. And I had to keep a straight face when they tried to get us to actually buy a unit at about 3/4 a million USD (about a year ago).
Next contract, I think we're going to get some money back or they can choke on the place. Great neighborhood and newer apartment with all the buzzes and whistles, but christonafreakin crutch. This has got to stop some time! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 3:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| mises wrote: |
| Ruraljuror wrote: |
If you haven't checked it out before, you really should read Brendan's Korean Law Blog. He does some great analysis on the housing market, especially Seoul.
If you scroll to the bottom of the post, he has links to previous real estate posts he's written too.
The only way the site would be better would be if he changed his name to Bob. So it could be called "Bob Law Blog".
(Ignore the previous line if you are not fluent in Arrested Development).
http://www.korealawblog.com/entry/average_seoul_apartment_price_exceeds_w500_million/ |
An Arrested Development reference, a MST3k avatar and 30Rock name. I share your tv preferences to a "T". |
Stella for the win? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
justaguy
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Location: seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 4:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
The information you get from Brendon's Law Blog should be taken with a very big grain of salt. He is not a Korean lawyer.
He likes to write horror stories about how foreigners get ripped off by Koreans. He also likes to give foreigners the impression that Korea is an unintelligable place that requires his expensive "legal" advice. He writes that sort of thing because spreading fear of the unknown in foreign circles is what makes him money. I'd even go as far as to say that his writings have scared away a lot of investment from Korea.
Fact is, you can get ripped off by anyone anywhere. Korean is not unintelligable. You just have to do your homework. Your Korean friend probably can help you learn everything you need to know.
The real estate agent can make sure your rental/purchase agreement is legal. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
| bassexpander wrote: |
Yeah, she refuses to live anywhere outside of taxi distance from Yeoksam. That pretty much plops us in the middle of the most expensive areas of Seoul, and she absolutely refuses to live anywhere else. It's assinine.
Today hasn't been pretty. We looked at villas within taxi distance in the least expensive areas we could find, but we're still looking at 40,000,000 down plus 800,000 a month for a shitty little 3 bedroom (2 and a phone booth, really) with a living room that's more like a hallway. I hate Korean-style villas -- why can't they make a living room that's not shaped like a snake and the width of a hallway? SUCK! And I don't like the places. It's my fault for not liking the places -- yet she refuses to live somewhere cheaper, or anywhere that requires her to take the subway. That's just too much to ask. Then every place we looked had some half-retarded landlord that acted like a royal pain in the ass to live next to. NO THANKS.
I'm not even pushing her that the places we looked today are 40 minutes away from my workplace. She's upset with me because I don't like these pillbox-sized villas. I don't know why she expected us to find something in a day. We looked at 4 or 5 places today, and it's my fault that I'm not happy. I told her that the first 9 places they show us are probably going to be crap. That's been my experience in the past.
I suggested that we move into a nicer apartment and just spend the 1.2 million it's gonna cost to rent it, but suddenly she's angry I want to do that, and doesn't want to spend her money on it.
We aren't moving until January, and she's angry I didn't see something I liked today. Man, it's the wrong time of the month! |
It sounds like you are letting your wife get away with too much. If she absolutely refuses to take the subway, tell her about something called THE BUS. I hate taking the subway too...but hell, the last stint I did in Korea I just took the bus to and from work. It would take over an hour to get home, but at least I could sit and chill out.
I might suggest you look at some places around Yangjae...that isn't too far from Yeoksam, and if you want to change jobs and buy a car you can get to universities in Seongnam, Anyang, and Suwon quite easily. Of course, if you don't mind taking the subway, you could always do that and just get a place near where your wife works.
Having lived in the southern side of Seoul, I know housing prices are crazy and the sizes you get are nuts. Why would you ever think of paying 1.2mil a month in rent?
The problem with your wife's location is EVERYTHING is crazy expensive along the Chamshil to Sadang corridor. Kangnam-Gu and Seocho-Gu are over priced to death.
So you have some options, but since it seems your wife isn't as flexible as you are, you are going to have to suffer more...be it with a smaller place or having to take the subway an hour each way. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well, we're getting it worked out. We're going to try Gangbyeon and some areas around Yaksu/Oksu.
We'll be Ok. It's looking like things along the olive line are not so bad (Sanbon area) and if she can keep the subway ride around 20 mins or less, she might be OK with it. She isn't big on buses or driving, either. It'll have to be a taxi (or maybe a short subway run). She hates being squished into the subway car on the way to work every day. Can't say I blame her for that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
betchay
Joined: 23 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
the prices here (near Changsin station) aren't that insane! in fact, the price of our 15 year old (?) apartment doesn't seem to be moving at all  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Brendon Carr
Joined: 15 Nov 2007
Location: Seoul, Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Referrer logs told me the English teachers were taking my name in vain over here...
| Quote: |
| [Brendon Carr] likes to write horror stories about how foreigners get ripped off by Koreans. He also likes to give foreigners the impression that Korea is an unintelligable place that requires his expensive "legal" advice. He writes that sort of thing because spreading fear of the unknown in foreign circles is what makes him money. I'd even go as far as to say that his writings have scared away a lot of investment from Korea. |
This is only partly true -- there is one article (of almost 200) on the Korea Law Blog about how foreigners can get ripped off if they let themselves get led down the path of being an unsecured creditor to a shady local party. And there's one about how if you don't read Korean and are completely dependent on the "help" of someone to know what's going on, you might be surprised by the content of a translation.
And I do warn all would-be English teachers not to come to Korea to teach English, because contracts aren't honored.
So at least 1.5% of Korea Law Blog is devoted to horror stories. But the vast majority of the content falls into three categories: (i) legal market stuff; (ii) housing market and bubble warnings (don't buy an apartment in Korea, yet, kids!); and (iii) tidbits on corporate law and employment law, my primary practice areas. With respect to things useful to English teachers, especially, I certainly am not hustling for your business. I do not work for English teachers. And I explain why that is, too.
I don't know how it is that you reconcile my habit of giving away the answers for free with your premise that I'm into spreading fear in order to make money. But it is true that we prefer an educated consumer of legal services -- I guess that's your "fearmongering" in action.
As for the loss of foreign direct investment, if it makes you feel better that it's all my fault, go ahead and blame me.
| Quote: |
| Fact is, you can get ripped off by anyone anywhere. Korean is not unintelligable. You just have to do your homework. Your Korean friend probably can help you learn everything you need to know. |
Yes, you can get ripped off anywhere. Do your homework -- which includes reading up on potential traps for the unwary. If Korea Law Blog helps English-speakers -- even English teachers -- better understand some things about this society, then I've done my part.
And, please, kids -- be careful who your "friends" are. There is something to be said for the "friend" who's your friend because he's being paid to act in your interest, and is regulated by a professional society.
Last edited by Brendon Carr on Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:36 pm; edited 4 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bassexpander wrote: |
| She hates being squished into the subway car on the way to work every day. Can't say I blame her for that. |
Don't expect her to do it every day.
Some of us just NEVER want the crowds, the bad air, going underground, the zombie looks, the entire life of a subway as a daily habit of life. For some of us it's a definition of hell.
Seriously. For you it may be "okay". But it can be bloody depressing and awful for others.
I choose to live in cities small enough not to have subways in part for that reason (commuting time is another reason). If I get married and my spouse wants me to take the subway every day I've simply say "No thanks. It's not for me." Even if that means cab rides. So be it! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
