Korean Job Discussion Forums

sulperman · Joined: 14 Oct 2008

Whoa, 900,000? That makes it a pretty attractive option for anybody who has been here a year, who ought to have 5 million for a deposit.

It's a lot better than SMOE's 500,000 or most hagwons 3-400,000.

Take that money out of Gangnam proper and you are looking at a pretty sweet place.

I know where I'm working next year!

partymop · Joined: 24 Jun 2009

Im a new gangnam teacher

yeah, it looks great if you've been here forever. i just got back...literally less than a month ago. im not even close to having the means to pay key money. as well, i have no interest in living in ha-bang-chung and commuting an hour of work. this is indicative of a terrible way to go about handling contracts. the fact that not even a MONTH into the contract they think they can alter our contracts like this. this instantly makes it unaffordable for many of us to live in gangnam.

sulperman · Joined: 14 Oct 2008

Wait, this affects people who already work for the schools? How could that work? I assumed it was meant for new contracts starting in March or September 2010.

That doesn't make any sense. Surely they can't expect people who have been living in school sponsored housing to move partway through their contract and sign a year lease when their job ends well before that. Am I understanding correctly?

rooster_2006 · Joined: 14 Oct 2007

partymop · Joined: 24 Jun 2009

ya, thats what their saying. we have to be out of our places by december 31 when the new rule takes affect. so were still unsure on what is going to happen to those who are set to finish in at the end of the school year in feb/march. were going to see what we can work out in the next couple days and ill keep posting to the forum

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

Devil's Harvest · Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Location: House of Knives

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

I know of 2 different Goshiwons (I think that they are called, small prison like rooms that are cheap less than 50,000won a week) If a teacher can tough it out for a month or two and save the extra money on top of their paycheck then they can easily afford key deposit. However, most apartments can be found without key money if you pay a larger amount. With the extra money for rent, I am certain people can find something.

Yes, I will agree that it is a crappy thing to spring on people who already have a contract, but it could be worse.

Life in Korea for me has never been consistent. Putting up with daily last minute changes is quite frustrating, but sometimes I just have to laugh and go with the flow.

I do feel sympathy for anyone being forced to change, but at least they are offering more for monthly rent. They are trying to make some kind of compensation.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Here's an idea:

For those that think its a great deal, why don't you loan me the 10 million won for an apartment, and I'll GIVE you 200,000w a month.

rooster_2006 · Joined: 14 Oct 2007

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I think the bigger issue at hand is the fact that Gangnam is changing the contract drastically, MIDCONTRACT.

What if your own employer, midcontract, says, "Hey, we aren't giving you housing anymore so your apartment now, needs to be vacated. Oh yeah, its in this new amendment to the contract you have to sign. YOU MUST SIGN IT."

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Probably this is just for new contracts.

Snowflake · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Location: Seoul

yeremy · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: No more housing in Gangnam

Considering the numbers of teachers hired in the last few years, it makes sense. It's a little mind-boggling to think that it must be cheaper to give a 900,000 KRW housing allowance rather than to provide housing these days in Gangnam. I would expect that landlords (goshiwons and hasukjips) , who rent to foreigners, will raise their wolsae rents and/or deposits to take advantage of this. I would also expect that those foreign teachers who are affected by this might have to move out of Gangnam and they will look for cheaper places to live near convenient public transportation to their job sites.

I suggest to those affected that they band together and go to a place like Itaewon, for example, where I have heard rents are more flexible and rent your own 3 or 4 bedroom apartment like you might back home. That could be a lot more enjoyable than living in by yourself in tiny, school-provided housing.