Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Koreanbear]

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I finally got our contracts/NOA for Busan.

Does anyone know about housing in Busan? Is it advisable to look for ones own housing and receive the housing allowance, or is it better to just go with whatever accommodation that the school provides?

Are non-married couples "allowed" to live together if organized privately through a real estate advisor? We are tempted to "go it alone" and chose our own accommodation, but obviously have concerns over this approach.

Any advice?

[Rutherford]

I'm assuming you guys will be coming over to teach in a public school. Public school housing can be pretty hit or miss and if you find your own place you're guaranteed a decent place and can find a location convenient to both of your schools and transportation lines.

There are a few things to keep in mind though. If you're both through EPIK you should be getting 400,000 won each per month for housing. At that price you can find a GREAT apartment most places in Busan, but you will still need the large key money deposit, usually a minimum of 5,000,000 won. If you don't have at least a few million won in hand you'll be limited in where you can live. There are places that will lower the key money in exchange for higher monthly rent but you should still expect that you will need to bring enough cash to pay for the deposit, first month's rent, and real estate fees.

There are plenty of cheap motels you can live in while you're looking and the real estate process isn't bad at all IF you have a Korean friend or coworker who can come with you multiple times to view apartments and sign the paperwork.

So if you have money and someone to help you, go for it. If you're broke, new, and confused then it might be hard.

[mj roach]

<<www.koreabridge.net>>

[CPJ]

5,000,000Won for key money and about 1,000,000Won for furniture should do the trick.

800,000Won per month for housing allowance is a lot of money!

[conbon78]

If you really want to save money, what my friends did was just live together in a small apartment and pocket the other person's housing allowance.

[CPJ]

yeah but have you seen some of the apartments that are offered by the public schools? A couple of my friends live in something that I would consider too small for myself so could you imagine living together there?
If you have the 5,000,000Won then get your own apartment.

[Koreanbear]

Thanks everyone for your help - much appreciated.

[sharkey]

I lived in a POS apartment that my public school gave me. I saved up 5 million won last year and found my own house this year... Now I live in a skyscraper in a ballin' apartment... do as I did.