Korean Job Discussion Forums

[FDNY]

If I built a houseboat could I do this? Anybody know of any laws prohibiting this? I have friends that do this in Canada. Looks great.

[atwood]

Laws? Have you ever seen any harbor police at work?

A few problems come to mind, though. The Han River freezes over in the winter--how would that affect your boat. Where would you tie up? Are there any docks where you can get hook-ups for water and electricity and purchase fuel? Where would you build it?

On the other hand, it would seem to fit right in with the Four Rivers plan and I have seen some recreational boats on display recently so once everybody gets on board the camping trend, boating could be next.

A house boat in Korea raises some unique problems. For example, where does the kimchi refrigerator go?

[dazzed]

Seems like you didn't hit on the main MAJOR prob. Flood during summer time. How are you going to get on and off the house boat during monsoon season?

[atwood]

[Troglodyte]

I've seen a lot of small houseboats in Chuncheon. Most of them are really just a small 1 or 2 room structure placed on top of a floating platform. I was told that no one lives on them permanently but some people do buy a houseboat and use it on weekends or for a week in the summer, mainly for fishing. Some are owned by companies that just rent them out for a day or weekend. I would imagine that some of the ones tied up at the docks have at least an electric hookup. On some docks, I've seen posts with electrical plugs on them. Not sure about water though. I've also seen larger restaurant boats that are used for parties. They are actual boats (as opposed to the shack-on-a-raft personal fishing houseboats). The restaurant boats are definitely connected to the city's power grid when they're docked.

I don't know what the situation is on the Han river but I'm sure that if you asked at a marina then you could find someone willing to let you connect to the electrical system for a price.

I think that the bigger problem might be getting permission to permanently live in the boat. Since Koreans don't (normally) do this, and since you're a foreigner, you'd probably attract attention. Maybe someone at a marina could give you more info on the legality and logistics of it.

It's an interesting idea though. I wouldn't mind doing it myself if it's a viable option.

[atwood]

[Troglodyte]

[candy bar]

Korea invented the first houseboat.

[matthagwon]

[sligo]

[Old Painless]

I don't know about a houseboat, but there's definitely some Korean guys living in vans down by the river.

[Chaparrastique]

[Zyzyfer]

[FDNY]

[atwood]