Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Josey1]

I've just checked out the "apartment" that my school has arranged for me.
It's a tiny tiny room in an officetel building. I think I could fit a bed in there and that's it. The hallways smell of cigarette smoke (which I'm allergic to): there seemed to be no ventilation in the hallways and no air con. And as I was waiting for the elevator some guy got off and got on again with me - clearly just roaming around.

My question is: do I have to accept unhealthy and seemingly unsafe accommodation from my employer?

[Ramen]

[koreatimes]

[marsavalanche]

jesus, this is the third person this month that has reported being put in a goshiwon. are the conditions this bad? op, if you are in a goshiwon, demand politely a new place. most likely they will say no so you can a) get a fresh set of docs and pull a runner b) tough it out and god have mercy on your soul

[Josey1]

OH, What the hell!!!

Honestly, I can hack the size, but the cigarette smoke will kill me............literally.

[jrwhite82]

Well the good news is that if you are in a goshiwon (if you have a bathroom and kitchenette in your room, you just have a very small officetel, otherwise it is a goshiwon), the leases are usually done by the month, semester, or even week sometimes. So it shouldn't be hard for your boss to move you out.

Changing apartments really isn't that unreasonable, and most people I've spoken to have been successful in getting it done. The key is to be polite and explain to them that you really don't think that you can spend a year in this place with the smoke, lack of ventilation and cramped size. Tell them you understand they might have signed a contract (but if its a goshiwon you should be able to leave at the end of the month, which works great for you), but you're the one who has to live in it every day and it makes you really uncomfortable.

Be honest and polite about it.

[Ribena]

I've read some of these terms on the boards. Can someone tell me what type of apartments these terms refer to.

[marsavalanche]

[Ribena]

[marsavalanche]

[Bruce W Sims]

A quick thanks to the OP for raising this issue. Personally I have no problem with spending a year in tight quarters. Gawd knows I have lived in worse places. The reason for my thanks has more to do with matters other than size.

a.) I forgot that tobacco is still heavily used in Korea and I'm wondering what it would be like to take an apartment in the footsteps of a previous occupant who had been smoking the entire time they were cramming.

b.) The pictures I have seen of these digs are always immaculate, which I know is an illusion being more than a little familiar with the hygiene of college students and dorm rooms.

c.) What is the policy for changing-out the bedding?

d.) What is the policy for using these locations in the sense of painting or hanging pictures, playing instruments, listening to music...you know... "apartment stuff"?

Any comments on life in these places would be appeciated.

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[moleyy]

I have previously lived in a goshiwon for a whole year as a student in Korea and I thought it was great, it was very clean, I had my own bathroom (though very small) and had free food in the shared kitchen. There were also many other international and Korean people living there so it was fairly social and it was a steal at 350,000won a month. In the UK you would pay >800,000 a month for an en-suite student room no matter what the size is.

Most goshiwons have a landlord who cleans the kitchen and halls everyday, there should be a no smoking policy and doing general apartment stuff is fine as long as it isnt too late at night etc. Apart from the size goshiwons are OK, however if you are teacher with free accommodation I would be a bit bummed if I was put in a goshiwon.

[Bruce W Sims]

[goat]

[Ramen]