Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bananahammock]

I have just started talking to recruiters. I plan on asking for pictures of the apartments that the schools I am looking at will provide. I will be going over there in August or September and my fiance will join me after he graduates in December so I need a place that isn't too small with atleast a full sized bed. I also would love to live in a newer apartment with the built in storage compartments and whatnot. I was looking at youtube videos of different esl teacher's apartments and some were kind of nasty looking with weird colors in the kitchen and bathrooms. So I was wondering if anyone knows schools that put their teachers up in more modern and new apartments? I am really wanting to go with a public school, but If a hagwon offers a nicer place I would rather go with them. Also I was thinking that if I were in an area in the suburbs or more outside or Seoul I might be more likely to get a better place? What areas have the nicest apartments? Thanks in advance for your feedback and help.

[PRagic]

Almost pointless to ask as there are simply too many public schools and hakwons to count in Korea. There are also too many 'areas' to even think about comparing. You're doing the right thing in trying to get pics of potential housing in advance, but that's probably about the best you're going to be able to do. There are many cases where someone at a school or hakwon gets a good place and someone a dump.

Also, you should know in advance that unless you and your boyfriend (which would make you a female with the screen name of 'bananahammock? Won't go there.) are working for the same place, most employers aren't going to be thrilled about you shacking up on their dime; they surely won't go out of the way to provide you with a nicer, bigger, brighter place just because you and your boyfriend want one!

Forget new or newer apartments, especially in Seoul. Apartments in most cities in Korea, and in most burbs and outlier places as well, are too expensive for schools to be providing them to new teachers. You'll more than likely be housed in a single unit with just one big room, or one with one or maybe two bedrooms (figure around 900 sq. ft) in a smaller, multiple unit building. If you do get a two bedroom, odds are that one of the bedrooms will be the size of your standard US walk-in closet.

Don't get your hopes up about a house, either. As the old saying goes, 'Becareful what you wish for...' The utilities on a house here (or even the upper or lower unit in a house) are enough to severly eat into your paycheck.

In a nutshell, hope for clean housing that's 'big enough' and not too far away from where you work. Housing here is expensive, and proving new teachers with A+ housing is simply cost prohibitive. If housing is a dealbreaker, you're in a for a rough haul in Korea until you get some experience and enough money to be picky.

[Kimsmith]

Even teachers working at the same school can find that their accommodation varies. At my school, some teachers have two-room apartments while others have tiny one-rooms. All down to the luck of the draw living in Korea.

[PRagic]

From my previous post: "There are many cases where someone at a school or hakwon gets a good place and someone a dump."

Thanks for driving the point home, though. Always good when an opinion or experience is reinforced.

[bassexpander]

[JJJ]

Roll the dice. It all depends on the school secretary in charge. It's not the principal or co-teacher who finds your apartment (usually). If she cares or is connected you might get lucky. I've never been that lucky.

A couple years back in my officetel, one teacher got a full 1 bedroom apartment (2 rooms), one received a 1 bedroom, tiny den or study room and living room and I got the closet apartment. I room about 50 cm wider than my outstretched arms. We all were in the same school district. Sucked.

Your best bet would be to find your own apartment if you need room for 2 and a full size bed (oh how I wish, I fall out of my little single all the time). It's totally possible, not easy to do all alone but people here do it all the time. Goooooood luck.

[bananahammock]

yep I'm a girl and I just thought it was funny so I picked this name. Anyways I guess the only thing I can do is request photos of the apartments. I am trying to go directly thru the schools so I don't have to use a recruiter that might lie or stretch the truth about my placement or apartment, but I have only come across maybe 2 schools that advertised online without a recruiter. Also I'm wanting a public school and most of the schools I see that need a teachers are privates.

[br_owen]

bananahammock - you might have just got really lucky. I'm currently in the final term of my first year here in Korea. I have a 3 bedroom apartment - 2 bathrooms - laundry room - balconies, an oven (hardly anyone gets an oven) and i live about a 3 minute walk from my very nice public school. I have a Canadian friend here who is a recruiter who tells me it's the biggest foreigners place he's seen.
Anyways, i'm probably leaving. I'm only planning on staying in Korea until December (my contract runs out in August) and i don't want to leave my position here halfway through the term cuz it would screw them over.
I'm in Gwangju (the smaller Gwangju, Gyeonggi-Do) and i'm a 15-20 minute bus ride from Moran station, which is at the closer end to Seoul of the yellow Bundang line.
If you're interested then pm me. i would like to have someone to replace me because in all honesty this school has been great to me.

And cue the inevitable calls of bullshit...

[sinsanri]

the above offer is very good but let me offer you some advice. i would not ask for pictures because you may be sent ones from apartmenst that look nice and when you get here expecting a very nice place, you find out that the reality is different. (for what ever reason)

you will get upset, think ill of your employers and be on your way to a very bad year and go away thinking how bad koreans are. avoid the problems at the start.

the schools are paying the rent, some have limits placed upon them, public schools are up to 400,000 won a month i beleive and privates need to be thrifty so as not to break their operating funds and lose money. schools also have to pay key money and that plays a part in the decision

tell them your situation, ask them to be kind and leave it in their hands and when you get here be grateful for a place to live and use your time to learn the ins and outs of renting your own place so if you are planning on staying more than one year you can upgrade and get an rental stipend from the school but you probably will have to pay your own key money.

too many people try to be 'smart' yet they forget they are doing things the western way and do not realize korea does not operate inthe same manner.

so start off on the right foot and not set yourself up to be disappointed. please.

[br_owen]

worst.advice.ever.

demand pictures. Is the above poster insinuating that when someone blatantly lies to you about a situation, it is simply 'the Korean way'?

There are obviously certain cultural differences you will have to deal with when you get here. It's smelly in places, people spit on the floor (indoors and outdoors) and they don't let you off the subway before boarding themselves. However, honesty and integrity should not be one of them. Too many people end up bitching an moaning about their situation on this website, and attribute many of their problems to things being done the 'Korean way'. Forget that nonsense; you're an adult, so act like one. If you don't stand your ground and demand changes if someone lies to you, then they will do it again and again. Scamsters exist all over the world and will take advantage of people if they smell weakness.
My school asked me to work on Saturdays when i got here. I said 'no'. They asked me again. I repeated my answer. It was actually really easy. They were fine with it, and i have a great relationship with both my Principle and co-teacher. I have a feeling many people who post on this site, would have reluctantly agreed, and then cried to everyone on the forum that they were being made to work weekends when it wasn't agreed in their contract.
Demand photos. If they have lied to you, it's probably a sign of thigs to come. Demand change, or quit on the spot.

[sinsanri]

i will disagree with the above poster for numerous reasons which i won't go into. I have had no problems with my apartments once by letting the koreans handle things their way.

[bananahammock]

hey I can't pm you until I post like 20 more times on this forum. I am very interested in your offer so let me post some comments so I can pm you, but I just wanted to let you know.

[bananahammock]

One of my best friends I was roomates with in college is from Korea and she has a friend that is a recruiter. I'm hoping she can help me out if I don't come across an amazing offer first. She is in NYC now and is moving to Seoul in July so we'll see. I would still rather go directly with a school because I would probably get a better salary. I plan on getting her to send me pics of apartments and whatnot. She better not screw me over. haha.

[Otherside]

[bananahammock]