Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Stalin84]

I knew a couple people living in Goshiwons in the Anyang area. They were working an after school program that paid 3.0mil without any housing allowance so having a Goshiwon saved them each a lot of money per month. They stayed there for a year or too so it couldn't have been that bad (their rooms are tiny) but I guess it depends on your personality. Some people never spend time at home!

The dimensions of most Goshiwons are crazy small though. They're probably about the size of a regular sized bathroom. I'd actually prefer one with a leather couch to sleep on instead of a bed as with the bed and the shower room there is hardly even enough clearance to put a desk. I saw one where the door didn't even open all the way because it hit the bed and the only free space was about one foot between the side of the bed and the wall.

[eamo]

I know some people who lived in what Koreans call, "one-rooms".......these are Goshiwon style units but a bit bigger and better equipped. I think there might even be a tiny bathroom.

These cost from about 450,000 upwards.

[happiness]

oh, i had some fun in my ex-s goshiwon. it is doable...

i wouldnt live there, but...

[tek75]

Lived in one for a few months some years back. I second the advice about getting a room with a window; it gets claustrophic as it is. I didn't think it was so bad when I was living there, but now I don't think I could do it again.

The worst part was when it started getting cold in the winter. They wouldn't turn the heater on during the daytime because almost everyone went out (aside from me who worked nights), so I ended up freezing in my room.

The chong-mu (what they call the manager guy at the goshiwon) was really nice though and ended up lending me a little portable heater I could keep on. He'd ask for it back everytime an inspector came around (it was totally against the rules) and then he gave it back to me when the inspector was gone. I ended up giving him a ton of stuff (unopened shaving kit, cologne set, etc.) when I ended up moving out that I didn't want to take with me.

[chungbukdo]

Do these places usually have a no guest policy?

I might stay in one for a month this summer and it would be nice to have my partner over at least to relax. Staying in a love motel for 70,000 a few times in a month kinda destroys the money saving benefit of the goshiwon.

[Smee]

[crossmr]

[rickpidero]

[JAZZYJJJ]

For those staying/stayed in one, care to share some contact details of the places? I need one in March.

Cheers.

J.

[BoholDiver]

JUst like every rule in Korea, break it and when you get caught, just say sorry and continue what you're doing when the guy goes away.