Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ekul]

Short story. Today minutes before lunch my whitey wrangler dropped the bombshell that the owners of our apartment want to move back in, and we have to move out. I live with my gf and we both teach locally. My question is do they have a right to just boot us out of where we have been living for 6 months?

I've looked through the contract and all I can spot is a paragraph that says they cannot change the type of housing, but I think it's refering to giving a rent subsidy or providing housing.

I've not been able to speak to my liaison, she fucked off to feed her homeroom and hasn't been seen since, I think she is embarrassed. I'm assuming they will help us find a replacement apartment, but this one was sweet, 3 bedrooms, ensuite and another separate bathroom. It was great for visiting friends and family.

Just as I was thinking to myself 'ahhh what is everyone's problem with Korea those bunch of whiners', I get a nice backhand of reality :/

Opinions and advice will be appreciated.

[edit] Not to mention we have internet, phone and tv bills all on years contract.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I've heard of it happening to a few public school teachers and there's not much you can do about it, sorry.

[cruisemonkey]

I'm with EPIK not GEPIK... but I was asked to move apartments after four months because the landlord (who is a v.p. at another school in the district) wanted it for his son. He had another apartment (marginally better) in another building a couple of doors away. After viewing it, I agreed on the following conditions:
1. They would move me (I didn't lift a finger to pack, move and unpack).
2. The landlord would pay all reconnection/hook-up fees (electricty, phone, internet, TV etc.)
3. I got the day off work on moving day to 'supervise'.

Even so, moving is a giant 'pain-in-the-ass' and it takes at least a month to get 'settled'... everything in the new place setup/arranged and working the way one wants. This was especially so in my case because I had just got several pieces of new furniture that were bought specifically to fit in the configuration of the old apartment.

[geldedgoat]

Hmmm, so they can force you to move... is the reverse true? Can you request to be moved? Or change to a monthly stipend?

[farrepatt]

When I renewed for my 2nd year with my school my school was originally going to move me because the landlord was interested in selling the place. Then at the last minute changed his mind. By that time I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay there so I was looking at other options.

In the process I found out that if I want to change my apartment myself part way through this contract I can, but I have to be the one to pay the finder's fee (or something like that). My co-worker told me it was about 100,000 won. I think basically it would go to an agency who would find suitable apartments for me. Anyways, my co-worker said I could do that if I wanted part way through this contract as long as I was willing to pay the fee.

[Countrygirl]

Have a Korean friend call the rental association. Sorry, I don't have the number but if you pm me tomorrow I can get it to you.

Just at the 6 month mark our landlord decided he was going to sell our apartment and we had the real estate lady always calling at the last minute saying that she had people who wanted to see the apartment. Real pain in the arse but we try to be nice. The real estate lady assured us that we wouldn't have to leave until our contract is up. When we were in Jeju she called again asking to see the place last minute. "Sorry, we're not there." "Oh, well let me have the code to your door lock."(those door locks are awesome) "Yeah, I don't think so."

While we are on the ferry coming home the landlord calls my husband and asks if we can leave our apartment early. He says that he doesn't think so because we have a one year contract. Landlord says he will pay 1/2 the moving fees and then indirectly threatens us (I can't remember how). My husband called the rental association and they say that the landlord can't make us move for one and a half years.

The landlord then manages to sell it (lucky guy) and on a Sunday, while we were in Seoul visiting mother-in-law, he calls and tells us to come home right away so that the new owner can see us and the apartment. Yeah right. We'll come home when we come home. My MIL is more important than an ex-landlord. Of course our new landlord was no longer there and has never seen our apartment or asked to see our apartment. Also our current landlord only wants to rent out the apartment and is happy if we stay.

My point is that the landlords will say anything, even if it is false, just to get their way. I am also surprised that most Koreans are gullible enough to believe what they hear without double checking to see if it is true.

I know that in Canada that if the landlord wants to move back into his apartment then you do have to move. Korea, I don't know. Fact is, you won't know unless you call the rental association. Plus, the landlord could be responsible for all the fees involved in the move. You won't know unless you call... (everyone...altogether)... the RENTAL ASSOCIATION.

Anyways, hope it all works out in the end and let me know if you need that number.

[sobriquet]

My school moved apartments on the second last day of my contract. I kid you not. Not exactly ideal but what can you do. No point in stamping your feet and getting all angry when they have your deposit, severance etc sitting there waiting for you.


If they move you somewhere crap, mind, don't take it.

[Draz]

[geldedgoat]

Is that up to your principal or GEPIK?

[English Matt]

Your school should have a contract with your landlord. Normally this is a one year contract....if this is the case, legally they cannot make you move. I had the same thing happen to me a few months ago....landlord wanted to sell and said that he would pay my moving costs.

I tried to be the good guy and go along with things but the apartments they showed me were crap. Despite pressure from the real estate guy in my building, and my school I stood firm and told them that they had not shown me any apartments that were as good as my current place. So the landlord and the school had to abide by the original agreement. See if you can find out the details of the current contract from your current school. I would not be surprised if actually they have a 1 year contract with the landlord and that, actually, you are perfectly within your rights to stay where you are.

I would add the caveat though that, if you go along with the move, it is possible (although not likely) that you may end up with a better place.

N.B. You can move things like your cable contract to the new adress.

[ekul]

Thanks for the responses.

I've gradually been able to find out more information, a bit like bleeding a stone though. First the story was the landlord just wanted to move back in and live there. Then it turns out the contract was up in February (confirmed by previous teachers) and the school wasn't able to renew it. The reason they couldn't renew it is the owner of the APT is in some legal/financial difficulty. From my understanding the APT is being repossessed or something similar. The schools have rented the APT for two sets of two year periods.

It's quite worrying how your schools can turn on you. They demanded to know if we were going to renew our contracts, because they didn't want to have to go through the hastle of a new place in 6 months if we don't. I told them that while we were thinking about it (enjoy our jobs/friends) that this ordeal has made us think twice, so we can't say right now. Then some rubbish came out about the Education office wanting each school to have their own place for teachers and not share one. Which is outrageous if they are talking about splitting us up. I had a word with the head of English and she assured us that it's just the education office being silly and it won't happen.

I think what the schools are worried about is that when we leave they will have trouble finding another couple to replace us, mainly because the lure of an excellent apartment is no longer there and the financial situation isn't the best. They don't seem to care that the couples they have had for the past 4 years have all been excellent and that they are at an advantage working like that.

It's a shame, and it is going to be an unwanted hassle no matter how smooth it goes. Looking on the bright side, the new APT is 10 mins closer and there are more restaurants/amenities.

[feckingreal]

I was told almost exactly 5 months into my new GEPIK contract that I had to move apartments...

I was kinda pissed cause it was a nice place and one of the reasons I took the job...

But I wasnt as lucky as you...my landlord was not moving back in, but was looking for a new tenant...so for the whole month before I move the realtors had my key and FULL access to my home almost 24/7...They came in while I was eating dinner with a friend one evening, and one afternoon during winter break when I was sleeping ....

Apart from that the move went well...the new place is bigger and better...but those damn realtors...no shame whatsoever...

[wylies99]

OP- I've been moved once. Make some demands NOW. Get the move handled by THEM and ask for things for your workplace NOW. They OWE you and you should take advantage of the situation. It's only fair.