Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TofuCookie]

Hi,
Started exchanging emails with recruiters and schools for Jan 2011 teaching position in Seoul, Korea. We noticed that you have to let school know your housing preference when you apply.
Most of positions offer only single housing (since only my husband will teach) and you have to committe a year. If you dont take free housing, school offers about $400/mo.
1. Is housing allowance enough for you to find your own plance in Seoul?
2. Is it possible for 2 people to live in a single housing that school offer? (the word "single housing" might answer my question but you never know).

Thanks!

[mm]

If you take the housing allowance are they going to give you key money?

[TofuCookie]

I dont think so...nobody mentioned about that.

[mm]

Most apartments in Seoul require a 10 million won deposit, some even up to 20 million won, depending on the area.

You can get lower key money places in Itaewon/Noksapyeong and the places tend to run pretty decent sized.

You can also get lower key money places around University areas but they are usually pretty small.

[TofuCookie]

We might be able to rent one bedroom place for about $300/mo from someone we know but it is about 1 hr commute from center of seoul (not sure where the job is going to be at this point but so far we have been dealing with central seoul).

[Oliver]

An hours commute really isnt too bad. I take it that's in Gyeonggi-do? Though be careful. At peak times the traffic into and, perhaps, out of Seoul, can be a nightmare. Getting a seat on the bus might be tricky too.

Actually, come to think of it why dont you just get a job nearer that apartment? If it's not in Seoul dont worry, Seoul isn't everything.

Single housing can accommodate the both of you but it's small. Most places are 'one rooms' which is basically a bedroom with a combined kitchen and a bathroom. When I say it can accommodate the both of you I mean if the apartment already has or is big enough for a double bed, ha! The bed alone, however, will likely take up a lot of space.

In a one room storage will be tight for two people.

You could get lucky though. The chances are the bigger one rooms will not be in Seoul. I know people in Gyeonngi-do and other provinces who actually have gotten something resembling an apartment. Though it's luck of the draw.

At the end of the day if you take the housing you will not know what to expect until you actually arrive and move in.

[TofuCookie]

Thanks. Yes the fact that we would not know until we get there seems too risky to committ for one year. We just did not want to be in a situation where we cannot find anything with $400 allowance and regret that we did not take free housing. $300 rent option is on the edge of seoul but yes closer to GURI (Gyunggi-do?). By the way, we are taking our cat too and not sure if it will be a problem for school housing...

[Oliver]

Taking your cat? The flight is a heck of a bad experience for an animal. Also, you would really need to check with your landlord to see if having a pet is ok.

Personally, I wouldn't want a dog or cat in school housing. One rooms can get quite noisy (thin walls) and you never know who is going to come in and out of your apartment when you are not there.

If you are set on being near Seoul and want to take that apartment then just look for jobs near there. It makes sense. Though is that apartment a one room? You should check the description- it likely is for that price.

Korea is mostly the same though. You can get by and have a good experience anywhere in Korea. Keep your options open. Though bringing a pet all this way may not be the best idea.

Also - the point about key money is important. Many places will want some kind of key money. Likely that the school WONT provide this.

[TofuCookie]

Thanks Olive. I agree with you on how bad it might be for an animal to be on airplane for so long and let me tell you, i can start a whole new topic on how to prepare pet travel from US to Korea =) I had to spent some time researching that issue. It seems like we really need to take 1 hr commute option. Guri will be nice but havent got a reply on GEPIK yet from recruiter. We would need to find a recruiter specialize in GEPIK.

[Oliver]

If you can, avoid the recruiters. Try and apply to SMOE, EPIK or GEPIK directly. I think it's too early though for the March Semester.

There are often sporadic openings throughout the year, for various reasons. Most are last minute. Some might be more concrete.

Importantly, the public school route requires flexibiliy with regards location.

I don't have any contact info though, sorry.

[TofuCookie]

Thanks. We will keep looking for public in GEPIK. We are workinging with a recruiter for EPIK...decided to go with one just in case they know some tricks that new comers dont konw about.
GMSC started recommending a bunch of GEPIK cities, but then stopped responding. Hard to find a reliable recruiter.

[Xylox]

Single housing is enough for two people to survive, but, will not be very comfortable. It kind of depends on the luck of the draw really. I'm currently in a room where two people could live without too much trouble, but some of my co workers are in places waaaaay smaller then mine.

Theres a few things you should expect from school housing:

1. It will be small, the school wants to keep as much money as possible, so they will get you the worst accomodations they can find thats within a reasonable commute to your place.

2. It will be nasty, dirty, mold filled and dingy. Some epic cleaning will fix this problem, but if you are bleach bombing your place every day it will suck for your cat / you if you have to stay in the apartment while the other person works.

[Hotpants]

Single housing will probably mean a small shoe box, with just one room and a bathroom. Long term, that could test any relationship! I know a few couples here who started small, but got a bigger place after a while.

I think it's especially risky putting down a lot of key money and signing a 1-year housing contract without having seen what school you are signing up for. What if you want to change schools after a few months? Then, you might just end up commuting an hour to your new school because you are tied to a housing contract near your first school.

Take up the school housing, but make sure that you can leave it at any time you want without a penalty so that you can find your own place later on.

For getting an idea of DIY rental costs, I highly recommend www.nearsubway.com This is a realtor based in Yeoido, but they liaise with realtors in all areas. All their info is current, accurate, and all prices explained in English. I've used them and thought they offered very friendly and transparent service.

[littlelisa]

Ask for pictures of the school housing, and ask how many pyeong it is. Ask a current teacher how they like their apartment, and ask questions (is it close to a bunch of stuff, what are the things you don't like, is it clean or is it old and moldy, etc). Why guess?