Korean Job Discussion Forums

amcnutt · Joined: 22 Mar 2010

I haven't gone over yet either, but from what I hear they are mostly studio-sized apartments. Pretty small, but many seem modern and relatively clean. If you look on youtube and enter "korean apartment" many ESL teachers are giving tours of their apartments. I really like the officetels, I hope I get one, especially with a loft.
Do a lot of people who have officetels have lofts? I think they are really cute. Anyway, to answer your question I would check out youtube for some visual examples Smile

Ruthdes · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul

Anything from hardly big enough for a single bed and a desk, to big enough for a double bed, a table, a desk, a wardrobe, and even a couch sometimes. It'll almost definitely be a studio. I've heard of people who live in lofts, but I don't know any personally. I don't think it's that common. Exactly how big your apartment is will depend on luck.

Gibberish · Joined: 29 Aug 2009

I always thought that most people lived in officetels. They're pretty swank, it's basically as the other posters say, a loft with the living areas down below. This is the one from Simon and Martina's eatyourkimchi.com blog (which rules), it seems pretty standard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g18sJiLN0v8

The only downside is their bathrooms are usually tiny and lack a proper shower, and a lot of times the view is... well, the side of another apartment building. If you're lucky you might get an apartment that overlooks an open area or an apartment that's on a high enough floor to look over the surrounding buildings. It seems that public school teachers get nicer accommodations, because most hagwon teachers are cheap swindlers who pack you into a room like the one Mikeinkorea has. This would drive me insane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-sVHkh01O4

Patrick Murtha · Joined: 23 Mar 2010

Patrick Murtha · Joined: 23 Mar 2010

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Lolimahro · Joined: 19 May 2009

Officetels themselves also vary. I have one coworker at my hagwon who has a loft-style apartment. One of the walls of the apt is entirely a window and she has a fantastic view of Mok-dong.

I also live in an 'officetel' but it certainly isn't a loft, and I wouldn't consider it 'swanky' by any means. We have a small couch and the living room is spacious only because we sleep on the floor and fold our beds up during the day. When there was a twin bed in my apt, there was hardly room to move. We have a "living room" blocked off by our kitchen counter/table, and it's about 400x400cm. The kitchen area is a little smaller than that.

If you decorate simply and don't have too many large pieces of furniture, you can make even a small officetel or studio a little more roomy.

Gibberish · Joined: 29 Aug 2009

In Korea, for teachers especially, learning to travel light is an art and a science. You haven't worn a shirt for 2 months? Hock it before you come over, as with all the other clothes you never wear. Don't bring books, they're a waste of space and you could get a Kindle or just read online anyways.

Essentially you need to examine each object and ask 1. Are you going to keep this for the rest of your life? and 2. Is this going to be practical no matter where I am? If you answer yes to both things, bring the object. If not, lose it.

Patrick Murtha · Joined: 23 Mar 2010

Captain Obvious · Joined: 23 Oct 2009

They can be any size, from shoebox to too big and expensive to heat in winter.

Patrick Murtha · Joined: 23 Mar 2010

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

LOL... all famous last words....

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

Unless someone else is paying the freight and you will have your own apartment; not a school supplied "one room" in some "villa" you are dreaming...

AND

If you think, "Well, I'll just rent an apartment then," you better look up things like "key money" or Chonsae and Wolsae.

How does a rental deposit of $10,000 and rent of $500+ for a simple studio apartment (300 sq ft) grab you? How about deposits of up to $250,000 or more for a one or two bedroom apartment?

A trip through the FAQs may be in your best interest too.

Maybe shipping is an issue too... there aren't any cheap ways to ship from the states to here. Air freight is EXPENSIVE for your extra wardrobe. Even extra bags or oversize/overweight on a trans-pacific flight can add up in a big hurry. Same with your books (and they are heavy).

DVDs - You can get (region free) replacements here for about $2 each.

Copy your CDs onto an MP3 player and leave the discs at home. A current mp3 player can hold about 1000 CDs and when you plug it in to your CD player sounds just the same (joys of digital recording).

Storage here is not just expensive (300k won per month or more for some) ... it may be IMPOSSIBLE to find

Moving from sea to shining sea is NOT the same as moving overseas.

Time for your reality check there newb.

Pare your life down to 2 suitcases of 50lbs each.

Leave the rest at home. Rental space there will cost you nothing compared to here.

This ain't Kansas Toto.

.

Patrick Murtha · Joined: 23 Mar 2010

Captain Obvious · Joined: 23 Oct 2009