Korean Job Discussion Forums

ms7878 · Joined: 04 Jul 2012

hey there - having an issue with my apartment provided by my work and would appreciate any advice or insight. So the apartment they gave me is tiny - I mean, only room for a bed and shelf tiny. I wasn't expecting something huge, so fine, not expecting luxury here - can live with that. But not only that, it is disgusting. Roaches. And rats in the halls, because the neighbors leave their garbage by the door for days at a time. Also an awful persistent smell of sewage. Everything is broken, and it takes weeks to get something something necessary like a toilet fixed. As an added bonus, the landlady harasses me (Yells at me and even pushed me once to try and get into my apartment - according to my boss she is mad because she had to fix a light) and reports to my boss my comings and goings, which leads to invasive questions from him. I had to seriously think about it, and I know I am unwilling to live here for a year.
All my friends and co-workers who have been in Korea for a while are telling me to play hardball - threaten to leave if they don't place me elsewhere or give me housing allowance. The problem is, I talked to my boss and he says I can take the apt. of another teacher who is leaving in Dec. However, he is very vague on this and I hear that after he offered it to me, he offered it to an incoming employee. The clincher is that I've seen where all the other employees are placed, and they are beautiful apartments.
My boss says it is impossible to break my current housing contract, that he needs to find another tenant to take my place. I would even be willing to pay a fee to break it. But, he won't tell me what that entails and just says "don't worry".
Some suggestions I have gotten are to tell them that I am staying with a friend (true) who lives farther away so I will be leaving an hour early every day to get a ride. Or to just tell them I will leave unless they give me what I want. I am willing to wait a few months, but feel like he is stringing me along. I like the job and would prefer to stay but the apt. is not negotiable for me. I'm not a teacher, so feel like I might be a bit more expendable.
Thoughts? Advice?
TL,DR: Stuck in awful apartment. Boss giving me mixed info about a possible move. Should I make a stink?

radcon · Joined: 23 May 2011

Roaches are manageable-rats are a deal breaker.

ms7878 · Joined: 04 Jul 2012

Keeper · Joined: 11 Jun 2012

You spelled out in clear terms what you want in your post. Why are you asking this forum and not telling it to your boss?

BTW, if you are not a teacher what are you and why are you any more expendable? I'm just curious.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

It does seem a bit unfair if other staff have much better apartments, however, that can sometimes be the luck of the draw. I personally wouldn't want to be co-habiting with rats. I doubt that there was any specification about the apartment to be provided in your contract.

If you've got enough money to manage on without a job, and you are set that the accommodation is now a dealbreaker, then you have to tell your boss. Just keep it polite, but re-explain the reasons why the accommodation is unacceptable. If he continues to evade the issue, give him a deadline to move you otherwise you have to leave. Make sure you've got photographic evidence of the rats etc in case of any dispute.

If you don't have enough money to manage on without a job, then just pay for your own goshiwon or move in with a friend and suck up the extra expense until the contract is up. If you want to re-sign a contract, insist on getting a housing allowance. Afterall, you've said you are quite happy with the job itself, which can't always be said for everyone in Korea.

It sounds like your boss doesn't really care too much about your welfare, so you have to look after yourself. Make the changes happen.