Korean Job Discussion Forums

[zimmerman]

Hello,

I need to get to Seoul from Busan fast and find a job there. I'm aware of goshiwons as a place of temporary lodging. Can anyone tell me the best place to go in Seoul for job hunting and how to find a goshiwon there? Do I make a reservation? Do they speak English at all? And can someone please tell me what "key money" is? I'm wondering if I should just go to the location with my bags and walk around looking for a sign that reads: 고시원

I don't have a preference as far as where in Seoul it is because I don't know Seoul. But I'm looking for a place where there are a lot of schools. Thanks.

[dharma bum]

what kind of school are you looking for? there are a fair number of goshiwons and adult hagwons in the sinchon area... but for public schools, etc., it might not be the best place to look.

to address your other questions, key money is the money you put down as a large deposit when renting an apartment. you shouldn't have to pay that when renting a goshiwon room though. you may have to make a reservation for some places but others will just let you move in right away - and even though they might not speak english, they're usually fairly friendly (except for one place in sinchon that doesn't allow foreigner males "because there are korean girls living there"; of course, korean males are more than welcome to stay there... ).

anyways, hope that helps and check out this site for more information and contact info for a bunch of goshiwons throughout seoul:
http://wiki.galbijim.com/Goshiwon

[Forward Observer]

You might want to consider a temporary homestay with a Korean family, you'll save some cash that way - teach their kids a few hours a day while you look for a job.

[bassexpander]

Why not a cheap yogwan/hotel? You can find them for around 30,000 won or so. Nothing pretty about them, but good enough for a short time- er, um... stay (haha).

[zimmerman]

Thanks for the info. Do the goshiwons care about age? I'm a 34 year old male with a bit of gray in the beard. Considering they are study rooms and seemingly geared for the young, would most have a problem with me rollin' up with my bags and asking for a room?

[zimmerman]

[zimmerman]

[santafly]

You can stay at a yeogwan in the Dongdaemun area for 20,000 a night. You might be able to bargain a little for a longer stay - if you speak korean. There are lots of them - go to dongdaemun station on line 1, exit 3, head north into the little streets.

If your looking for hagwons (big corporate ones) their offices are generally in Kangnam - there is also a presence at Jonggak (3 stops down from Dongdaemun). Kangnam is an expensive area but is only 40 minutes from dongdaemun by subway (1,000 won). I don't think looking for ma and pa hagwons in person would work - maybe tell some recruiters from seoul that your here and can do in person interviews.

[zimmerman]

Does anybody know if there are goshiwons or decent but cheap motels in Yongsan-gu?

[jkelly80]

I saw a guesthouse in Myeongdong, just as you get out through Namsan 3 tunnel from Yongsan-gu (going north on that road). It's got a sign in Japanese and English--I think it's geared towards tourists and is very centrally located. It's not on the road, but a little back from the street, it's a blue sign. Don't know anything about prices tho.

[Kryten]

Don't know how useful this website will be as it's in Korean, but here ya go:

http://www.gosi1.net

Kind of a directory of goshiwons with reviews, pictures.. here's a sample page http://www.gosi1.net/view/gosiwonview.php3?&number=3685

[blackjack]

[buymybook]

[zimmerman]

[samd]