Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DrugstoreCowgirl]

Hi everyone! I just joined, I'm in the EPIK program and will more than likely be going to SK in August. I tried to do a search for this topic but the search function isn't working well this weekend so I figured I'd ask...

I've read that some places have A/C and some don't. Having it is VERY important to me. If I am in EPIK, is there any way I can say I need an apartment with air conditioning? I've seen on the Contract Review thread that you should specify in the contract you want AC before signing it, but since EPIK is a govt program, do you have that option to specify apartment features?

[Vox_Populi]

[ChinaBoy]

I've been in an apartment without air conditioning. Lots of people have.

You can buy one. It's like a window unit, but gets put on the wall. I admit, it's not a way you want to spend $300, but since this is something that is very important to you, you might want to pony up and do it.

Cheaper than a midnight run AND you still get your income.

[Davew125]

check your contract before you sign, if it doesnt say your apartment comes with air con then don't sign (and DON'T accept a verbal agreement to get one, make sure it's written in there).
That said it is pretty unusual to end up in place without air con , although i did in my first job, so it does happen.

[Draz]

[losing_touch]

I have one, but I have no idea if it works. I have never had a need to turn it on since August. It simply hasn't been hot enough to warrant it here. That being said, I also never turned it on when I was living in Bangkok!

[bassexpander]

If you want aircon, then you must ask for it and get it written into the contract, as stated. If you can also be sure that mentions the aircon will be there when you start work, then do that. If you're living in a typical small efficiency apartment, then a 4 to 5 pyong aircon will be just fine. Tell them you don't care if it's new or used, as long as it works. A used one will save them maybe 100,000 won.

Just make sure they install it before you come, if possible.

[superacidjax]

Just be sure that whatever you do, you do NOT leave the a/c or a fan on at night while you sleep.

Certain death will ensue.

Here's proof:

http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2009/01/fan-death-is-real.html

And MORE proof:

http://www.donga.com/fbin/output?n=200808010199 (in korean)

Seriously, you might want to reconsider having a/c in Korea. It could mean your life and that would be a tragedy. Untold hundreds of newly arrived English teachers perish each summer due to ignorance about the dangers of fan death.

[b-class rambler]

OP, have you been to Korea before? If not, what kind of temperatures are you expecting?

I'm originally from a more northerly latitude than most expats here and my idea of hot used to be anything over 20C. But particularly, having spent time in Japan, where summer nighttime temperatures were often not much under 30C, I find I can manage pretty comfortably without aircon in Korea as even when it's been a hot day here, it nearly always cools down significantly at night.

Obviously, you can get some places that are a bit of a badly ventilated heat trap. But I'd suggest anyone coming to Korea for the first time and unsure of whether they'll have a/c a home or not to not worry about it unless there's some exceptional reason for them to absolutely need it.

[Straphanger]

Speaking of A/C, it's time to clean out those filters or buy new ones, guys, unless you want a big face full of mold spores from an entire winter of having the house shut up.

[losing_touch]

[Straphanger]

[mysterious700]

Some provinces in EPIK gaurantee an air con and some don't. Tell your recruiter that you want an a/c. I got sent to a place without one but asked for it before I arrived. The coordinator in Korea said the local education office would try to find me an apartment with one. They usually come with the apartments here. Small towns will most likely not have them and big cities will. Depends on how nice or not nice the place is. Anyways, I was stuck in an old building my first year and didn't have one. Seeing as I was still suffereing from jetlag I frieked out and demanded one. Needless to say, I got it. But I was lucky as there weren't many foriegners at that time and they really wanted me. As a previous poster said, you might have to cough up the 300 to 400,000 for one yourself if it isn't included. That's what I would do now.

[mysterious700]

Some provinces in EPIK gaurantee an air con and some don't. Tell your recruiter that you want an a/c. I got sent to a place without one but asked for it before I arrived. The coordinator in Korea said the local education office would try to find me an apartment with one. They usually come with the apartments here. Small towns will most likely not have them and big cities will. Depends on how nice or not nice the place is. Anyways, I was stuck in an old building my first year and didn't have one. Seeing as I was still suffereing from jetlag I frieked out and demanded one. Needless to say, I got it. But I was luckly as there weren't many foriegners at that time and they really wanted me. As a previous poster said, you might have to cough up the 300 to 400,000 for one yourself if it isn't included. That's what I would do now.

[wylies99]

AC is a very big deal in Korea. OP, insist on AC or don't sign with that school.