Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wanderingsalsero]

Is it possible that a local school administrator, in charge of finding an apartment for a new foreign teacher, could have a friend who owns an apartment building and strike a deal where, for example, the school officially pays 400,000KW for an apartment but the apartment is very small and only really representative of a 300,000 KW apartment because the contracting administrator from the school is getting the other 100,000 KW as a kickback?

I'm still speculating why my place is so small. I know two different people who live in Seoul, both in Haebangchon, who have larger places than mine. Much larger.....for only slightly more money.

I'm just looking for explinations of the small size of my place more reasonable than 'it's more expensive in the big city'. I just don't buy that arguement. In a downturned economy, it seems to me that larger places would be harder to lease/rent because people don't have as much extra money.

Furthermore when the economy gets suddenly bad like it apparently has, those builders on the tailend of the build-out cycle are usually stuck with property that's hard to lease out or sell. I know that's the way it happened in Houston twice during the time I was there. Premium office space was going really cheap for awhile.

Plus.......in big cities just the sheer magnitude of the supply side usually means that there's some property owners with good deals to be had.

Thanks,
Art

[Thewhiteyalbum]

yes.

[Xuanzang]

Of course it was most likely cronyism, where your administrator wants to help out a buddy at the cost of your personal living.

[sojourner1]

Yep, my principal knew the church pastor and they struck a deal on my place. It's the good ol' boys club.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I'm sure it happens all the time, especially with couples receiving two housing allowances and sharing one apartment.

[MrRogers]

yes...it is possible

and I was also thinking the same thing about the dump I was in...which the district supervisor refused to do anything about after I had asked many times...he also refused to deal with the clause in the contract regarding the fee and my using it elsewhere...

he refused and said "absolutely not"

I think he was pocketing the balance ...as the place was a real dive

[Kimchieluver]

[Hyeon Een]

It might just be they were lazy and took the first place a real estate agent showed them.

For the exact same budget one can find really nice places and really terrible dives wherever you are in Seoul or Korea. If one is ever house hunting for oneself I'd recommend visiting half a dozen estate agents and viewing as many apartments as possible. $500 can get you a nice clean brand new place of a decent size, or a horrible dingey basement.

But it is also possible someone's taking a kickback. It's impossible to tell though.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[RACETRAITOR]

What neighbourhood are you in? Prices might be cheaper in Haebangchon.

And this is not defending Korea by saying there's no corruption. It stretches from the humblest kindergartener all the way up to the president.

[crazy_arcade]

[RACETRAITOR]

[wylies99]

OP, I'd be surprised if there was NO corruption.
In Korea, just about every financial transaction involves some conflict of interest.