Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mike410]

Just wondering if paying a 600,000 won housing security deposit for private schools is normal?

I read on EFL-Law.com that this is under deceptive practices by hagwons.

Thanks

[ontheway]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Mike410]

Thanks for your replies. Has anyone experienced an employer not paying back the deposit even though the bills were paid, and studio kept in good order etc?

Are there Korean laws that protect tenants/employees from this potential problem?

[koreatimes]

[northway]

My school's solid and honest. We didn't have to pay housing deposits until one of the teachers peaced out of an apartment he'd furnished himself without moving any of his furniture out, at which point one of the Korean employees at the school had to go (by himself) and move all the furniture out during a school vacation.

[big_fella1]

I did when I was young and green but I wouldn't sign a contract with a housing deposit now for the following two reasons:

1. From the first day you work, the school owes you money in the form of salary, they are already holding your cash;
2. The gas and electricity company will come to your apartment and do a final reading when you leave, the cost for this service is about w4,000 per company.

Provided you agree to pay the w4,000 for the people to do the final reading there is no need to hold a deposit, unless your school pays you daily, or they pay you to payday.

[koreatimes]

The bills are low, but you could trash the place which would incur a greater cost.

Why not take it out of the salary then? That's just how Koreans do it in Korea. They have 3 million won security deposits and higher just to give the landlord.

In China, what they do is you pay for 3, but usually 6 months rent. Then, they want a 7th as a security deposit. At the end of the 6 months, they try to do whatever they can to not give you this security deposit (making up excuses that you need to pay for heat and such, which is regulated by the government.)

[big_fella1]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[northway]

Yeah, it's pretty easy to quietly trash a place, aside from the fact that it's unlikely anyone would call. A girl who worked at my school a few months before I got there and was fired with just cause proceeded to go outside, take trash off the street, and spread it around the apartment. She also overturned every piece of furniture in the place and generally went out of her way to destroy it.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[I-am-me]

I paid my own apt deposit for my own apartment. Contract is between me and apt owner. I would never do a deposit with a hagwon. They are too shady and might use any reason not to give you the deposit back. Gepik has 900,000 won deposit, but i trust them more. Take lots of pictures of your apt just in case they want to bill you for any damges.

[cincynate]

I would find another job. 600,000 is a little steep. Usually I see around 300,000. I wouldn't want to be tied to my school for that much money. However, it is common, and even GEPIK (Public school system) makes their teachers pay a housing deposit. Its a personal choice. If the contract is good, you've done your research and the hakwon seams respectable, then it shouldn't be a problem.

[ThingsComeAround]