Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Olivencia]

No housing(Pay 2 hundred thousand won/month for housing subsidies)


What exactly does that mean? Does one have to find their own place and furnishings? Man that can be tedious and expensive.

[polonius]

If you haven't lived in Korea, then don't take the a job that doesn't offer housing. It will be too difficult for you to set that up on your own, without any help. And 200,000 won is peanuts as a housing subsidy. Many places I know of charge a minimum of 5 mil key money, and then 400,000~500,000 won per month.

[Theo]

[Olivencia]

Am I still going to sign that contract? No way, not if it is how you described it. I saw the position for Sungkyul University. It was up today. I remember it was posted at the beginning of June as well. Maybe you are just saying all this to frighten others off because you really want the job??
How then would any person in their right mind sign on to that? What a mess!

[sulperman]

200,000 a month for housing is not gonna pay for anything. The only thing you could afford is a goshiwon, which is a bed in a room the size of the bed, with free ramyeon and rice. It wouldnt even come close to paying for a bedroom in a shared apartment.

That is an outrageous offer for housing.

[Theo]

You're absolutely correct, sulperman. 200,000 won housing supplement was all my hagwon provided -- and that only came in the final month, up until then there was zero allowance for housing. Yeah, 200,000 won isn't worth squat! Just as you assumed, as a result, I did INDEED live in a goshiwon in Seoul -- for seven moinths. Ar first, I tried to adapt, but later on, it actually caused serious health problems for me.

I suppose I was stupid enough to agree to these terms becuase I had lived and worked in China previously, and although my salary was MUCH lower than in Korea, I was able to afford a good apartment, that was fully furnished. I had no idea that I would expected to supply my own fridge, bed, everything, and I simply wasn't willing to make the investment (as I hated my job/emplyer and had no inetntion of staying beyond the end of the contract), and decided to try and stick it out in the goshiwon instead.

By the way, when I complained to my managers (who had both conducted the telephone interview with me while I was stateside), they never clarified the true meaning of unfurnished apartment. Who would assume it means "no refrigerator," or anything?

They claimed I should have understood that Korean concept on my own (unfurnished apts. in the USA still provide the minimum, basic appliances.)
Anyway, my response to them was that if I followed their/Korean logic then where the contract states I must provide my own electricty, then I should assume that I have to do my own electrical wiring as well. Insane and infuriating.

Thanks for your input, sulperman.

[iammac2002]

[blackjack]

[blackjack]

In England they can even take the carpet and curtains, in NZ unfurnished means empty, no fridge or oven (apartments may have an oven and washing machine, but so does my apartment in korea)

[Theo]

[seonsengnimble]

Personally, I would consider other factors than the size of the housing allowance. I don't know the specifics of your contract, so I can't give specific advice.

If the salary is high, you have some money to start with, and the school is reputable, I would take it. It is possible to find a place for 200,000 a month, but it depends on what your expectations are. It also depends on where the school is and what the housing costs are near that area.

The cheapest place I saw, when looking for an apartment was an apartment for 200,000/month plus 400,000 key money. It was a weird little rooftop apartment that I wouldn't want to live in at this point in my life, but it was spacious enough, had a private patio and a decent view. It also came equipped with a stove and a washer. The main reason I didn't move in had to do with the terrible layout. It was three separate structures on one roof. So, to go to the toilet, you had to walk outside, same with the kitchen. Also, the shower was in the kitchen for some reason.

There are lots of places that come with basic appliances and some with some furniture too.

Goshiwons/tels aren't that bad either. I lived in one for a month and a half and was pretty satisfied. I wouldn't want to live in one for a year, but it is an affordable option if you want to save up for a little while before you move into a real apartment.

Anyways, if it's a standard hagwon gig, then I'd pass, but if it's a decent college gig, I would weigh my options. Most colleges either give you crappy dormitory housing, a tiny housing allowance, or nothing.

edit: Also, like Polonious said, if this is your first time setting foot in Korea, I would probably go for a place that provides housing. If you speak no Korean and have no Korean friends, apartment hunting will be extremely difficult.