Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazy_arcade]

I'm looking at studying Korean at Sogang for two terms next year (march- August). Anyone have any experience with short-term housing in the Seoul area? I know a lot of people stay in goshiwons but they seem pretty expensive at 450 a month for what you get. If I was staying for a year I'd put down a years key money and rent an officetel but that's not an option. It seems that there are places to rent in Itaewon, but I feel that living in Itaewon defeats part of the purpose of studying Korean...since I'm planning to do immersion for my 6 months of studying.

Also, if you've studied full-time, what were your living expenses like for the basics?

[Css]

Live in shinchon...at a hasookjib.

[285285]

If you'll go to Sogang, why not just live in Shinchon and avoid the bus / subway? I've been in Shinchon for a year, 3 months in a hasukchip, 9 months in a goshiwon (or oneroom, or whatever it's called). I prefer the goshiwon, having an ajumma ask what I was doing every time I left the house was killing me. The house also smelled bad, the lightswitch in the communal bathroom / toilet gave me electric shocks once in a while, and the ajumma waged a constant battle with two vietnamese students living there (they pretended to be brother and sister, but were in fact boyfriend / girlfriend). Hmm. Hasukchip life, maybe I got unlucky, but I don't miss it.

If you like Korean food, possibly communal life (breakfast & dinner together) could be an opportunity to speak Korean. On the other hand, you might often end up giving free English conversation lessons. At first I spoke Korean with the ajumma a bit, but she just repeated the same questions (where had I been that day / where was I going, when would I marry my Korean girlfriend). That was about it, really, she repeated those questions daily. In the end I'd tiptoe down the stairs hoping to avoid talking to her.

My goshiwon life is far easier. Less than 450pm too, just shop around. The new guy (Mr Woo left to start his own business) on the 7th floor at Sogang (Korean school admissions office) speaks English quite well, in case you don't speak any Korean yet. He has an accomodation list, and he'll probably telephone a few places in advance for you if you ask nicely. Most of the goshiwon / hasuk ajummas will want you to take a Korean to translate, even if you do already know some Korean.

As for living costs, depends on how low you are willing to stoop! I know a couple of students who spend money like it's going out of style. I also know students who eat mandu twice a day or whatever. You need to figure that one our yourself.

Don't go to Itaewon. It's sort of convenient if you look outside of Shinchon (maybe 12 mins by subway from Daeheung station), but you are correct, there is no point living there, specially for Korean language study. Why would you even consider that hellhole?

[Css]

I thought the communal breakfasts and dinners at the hasook was great...My ajumma was great too..Got on really well with her and her daughter. Even went on holiday with her a couple of times, which was an experience all of itself ... She introduced me to most of the korean students in the place and it was really cool..

but i guess it all depends on the quality of the ajumma who runs the place..

one of my japanese friends stayed in a goshiwon/livingtel and her room was tiny...

[Css]

and yeah, forget itaewon...you wont get any korean practice there..

[optik404]

I'm at a hasuk-jip right now, its 500 a month but it comes with a bathroom in the room. although the bathroom is pretty gross. but apparently its one of the nicer hasukjips, at least thats what my korean friend tells me. you can find them for cheaper if you dont need ur own bathroom. its in sinchon.

[optik404]

oh and they have some really nice looking hasuk jips right near me, but they were all booked. cant tell you waht the rooms looked like but the building were new-er compared to the rest of the hasukjips. those were also 500 a month with ur own bathroom.