Korean Job Discussion Forums

[expatjb]

Hi folks,

I just arrived in Seoul over 3 months ago after being in Japan for a few years teaching ESL, and I'm almost at my wit's end. The flat my company gave to me is three subway stops away from the school (which I was told was in a "downtown area"), which it's really not. Not complaining at all, I do enjoy working there, but the flat they provided me is absolute rubbish! Not sure if anyone else has had this issue, but it's a) not close to the school like they told me it would be, b) completely FILTHY and has cockroaches, and c) didn't even come with the furnishings they told me it would come with. It's in a dodgy area of town with hooker bars all down the street, and I'm just not comfortable living there. I have to ride the subway 30 minutes to work and transfer, and going anywhere to meet friends and socialize is a bit of a nightmare!

I apologize for the rant, I just wanted to paint the picture. I haven't even done the apartment justice. I mean, it is the worst I've seen. All of that to say: I've hinted to the director I'm not happy with my flat and tried to casually mention some of the issues. The only response I got is that it's a "contract." In Japan I put down the key money for my own flat, so I wonder if it's possible to do that in Korea, or if places will only sign with the employer since I'm a foreigner? I would be willing to do anything to fix this, but seemingly, my workplace is not keen on helping.

Has anyone else gotten out of a situation like this? Any advice for a poor chap like me? Or do you think it's best to just stick it out? I really appreciate it.

[IPayInCash]

You should have never left Japan.

Welcome to Korea. An absolutely dump compared to Japan including the way they treat their teachers (as you're getting a fresh taste of now). Demand a new place, and if they don't give you one just pull a runner and go back to Japan. Cockroaches? F that I'd be on the first plane out.

Luckily for me I have a sweet job and live in one of the most expensive areas of Korea. I'm the only Westerner in my building and you'll never see my apartment being advertised on craigslist. I worked hard to get where I am and if you're willing to tough it out and work your way up you too can get where I am.

[Daniel1981]

That sounds pretty bad OP..

I decided to get my own place. I put down 5 million deposit and pay a monthly rent. The school pays me a few hundred thousand extra per month in lieu of providing me housing. I end up having to pay a little more myself as, like the post above me, I am in the most expensive area in my city (Marine City, Busan).

I actually found that in my building, they didn't want to work with the school/employer.. They specifically required that I do the contract under my name. And I am on an E2 Visa. I did not deal with the landlord directly, but I dealt with the real-estate agent who had an office in the first floor of my building, as most office-tel buildings do. I speak Korean so I just went in there and got it done. The real-estate agent actually insisted that the deal could not be done under the school's name. It had to be in my name. I'm not sure if this is because many landlords have been burnt by schools not paying rent (unlikely since the landlord can keep the deposit), or if it was because I was living there it had to be under my name (again unlikely because 90% of schools are registering apartments for teachers who live in them).

Whatever the case may be, at my officetel, it had to be in my name and the school had nothing to do with it.

Give it a shot, if you can manage the Korean or find someone to go with you. Just find a building you like, and go into the real-estate agent on the first floor. The sign will read '부동산'

[yodanole]

So, do you want to trade flats?


expatjb said "It's in a dodgy area of town with hooker bars all down the street"

[nuthatch]

that's horrible, OP...

I can sympathize...I also had a similar experience with a public school district office and the supervisor refusing to change the apt...

...ended up terminating the contract at six months and obtained letter of release...

...one has to have a decent place to live, sleep, etc.!!

[Swampfox10mm]

Sounds like you got a bad deal, OP. I can see this happening. Just curiois where the closest subway station is to you?

Back in my single days, I insisted on seeing the apartments before working there. I was actually shown cockroach infested places once or twice. I didn't take the job. We try to eliminate all risks we can, but it is still a roll of the dice.

Would you classify the hookers as just old, old and ugly, or freaking nasty?

[Harpeau]

OP so sorry to hear. It's hard when you've been intentionally lied to about housing issues. You can either clearly tell your boss how disappointed you are and what changes you want to see take place. Giving an ultimatum?? That is up to you.
The other option is to hire a cleaning lady to clean the apartment, get some roach traps, get furniture and enjoy your life. In other words, you either Sh!t, or get off the pot.

I hope that you find your way through this challenge. Best of luck to you!

[Bollocks]

Leave.


Leave and tell them exactly why you're leaving.

By staying, you're giving your implicit consent that this is acceptable. You're telling them that it's ok to treat foreign teachers this way, and that they can get away with it.

If you can leave and choose not to do so, you're making life that much minutely worse for every young kid that comes after you, including ones who don't have an escape option.

Leave. Not for you, but for all of us.

[expatjb]

Thanks everyone for the replies and info about the 부동산 and housing allowances.

This is really good stuff. I really do aim to work my way up like a few of you said and get into a better flat and be off on my own. It seems like that's the way to go here.

And like some of you said, I AM tempted to just make a run for it. But I do enjoy my job like I said so my issue now is dealing with the school so that they allow me to move out on my own. I will put the money down, but I'm worried about the remaining lease on the place. I have mentioned it several times to them casually, but maybe it's time to take a stand like you guys say.

Will hopefully have an update soon! Cheers!

[YUA]

Sorry to hear that expatjb. Not a good way to start off in a new country.

I think there's been a lot of good recommendations so far, so I'll add in my advice.

I was in a similar situation to yours a few years back when I came to Korea. Basically, you want to move, but nobody's going out of there way to help you. Definitely try to get your work to help you to move. If that doesn't work and you want to stay at your job, you can work on handling the housing on your own.

I suggest you be proactive and figure out what it will take to live in an area that you want in the type of place you want. These are roughly the steps you can take to do this:

1. Take a look at your work contract and make sure you thoroughly understand it. Especially make sure you know the housing specifics, such as whether or not you can get a housing allowance and if your furniture is part of your current place or not.
2. Find the area of town and type of accommodation that suits you best. Get a rough idea of the total cost involved for the place you would want to live (key money deposit, monthly rent, utilities, moving, furniture, etc.).
3. Draft a letter telling your workplace that you need to move. Word it nicely, but firmly. Explain that you love Korea, but given your housing situation you're having a hard time having the experiences you want.
4. Have a talk with your workplace and let them know that you need to move. Be polite, but stick to your plan.
5. Tell your workplace that you're willing to find a tenant to replace you at your current apartment, and find a real estate agent who will help with this. Basically, you want to make sure your workplace knows you'll handle the transition and the lease obligation at your current place will be fulfilled.

The costs are going to vary greatly depending on your current situation and the one you want to be in, so make sure you do your due dilligence in finding out what the associated costs will be. Once your workplace signs off on it, you'll need to move fairly quickly once you find a place you want to live. This is a fairly simplified explanation, so let me know if you need further detail.

Don't worry, there is a way out if you're willing to do a bit of extra work.

Good luck!

[expatjb]

It's great to hear others have been through this too, and that some of you have worked your way up and have what sounds like amazing lives in Korea in nice flats in nice areas. If I were to stay in Korea long-term, that would obviously be my eventual goal.

But for now, I realise I need to get out of this situation. That requires either leaving or following all of your (excellent) advice.

YUA - I will do this. I think for me, living in either Gangnam or Jongno would be ideal. I would be able to commute everywhere. Gangnam would require a little more commuting to work, but a lot less of a commute to my social commitments and meetups, which I am active in frequently. This is excellent advice, and cheers for breaking it down so well for me! Can't tell you how much it helps. I have looked at the contract and can see that furniture has been provided by the school, but it says nothing about housing allowance. Maybe that's something I'll have to ask them? I agree with your suggestion of writing a letter. That may better be able to explain, as opposed to getting stopped when I try to bring it up in conversation.

Does anyone know if realtors get paid by % of total monthly rent here? I am trying to figure out how much this will cost me if I decide to venture out on my own (if it even is possible).

Thanks again!

[YUA]

[expatjb]

Wow, you've all been so helpful! Cheers to all.

YUA: Thanks so much for the free guide. It answered basically all my questions about how much it would cost me and showed how to get started in this process. I drafted up a letter like you recommended and got a meeting scheduled with the management tomorrow!

I'll keep you posted.

Btw, are you a real estate agent in Seoul? If so, maybe I could make use of your services! Hehe

[Weigookin74]

Many of us can sympathize. I've had a couple of lousy apartments in my old rural area. Public school too cheap to pay "Key Money" deposit which is usually required for a nicer place. So, you get syuck in older dumpier buildings in bad areas. Forutnately, these bad areas don't have crime like they do in the west. But, cockroaches, bad insulation, things not sealed and dirty. You can give it a good cleaning yourself. Go to the underground markets in Namdaemun in the basement of the orange BYC building. Buy some ajax or comet, buy some Pine Sol, buy some strong toilet and sink cleaner. I did this to an old place I lived out in the country a few years ago and it was pretty clean, once summer was over. Oct to May, not as many bugs out and around. Had to clean with strong cleaners every so often to keep them out.

Got moved to another bigger place by the local ed office. Newer but quickly built with lots of corners cut. Similiar issues, though cleaner.

Ed office wouldn't let me get my place either. So, I transferred to another place (bigger city) and got my own place. With summer winding down, the cochroach issue will die down. The hookers in the neighborhood won't harm you. You can clean it and it will be liveable during winter. Will your employer give you the rent subsidy after one year? In Seoul, he should offer you 500,000 to get your own place. (He should offer more, but take what you can get.) However, you will have to pay your own key money to get a decent and more modern place. (I did this when I moved.) Unlike Japan, it's not a gift to the owner. You get it back when you move out. No stupid fees like in Japan. You have to make sure the building or villa owner has no debts or very little.

Key money for a one room (studio) in a very new nice mdoern building should 10 Million in Seoul and 3 Million in the rest of the country. A two room (one bedroom apt) should be 5 million in the rest of the country. Would it be 15 Million or more in Seoul? Anyways, get a Korean to help you with searching and going to the Boo Dong San. Don't take the first place you see as they might try to pawn off unlivable properties first and stress you want something built within the last 5 years and that was properly isulated, soundproofed, etc.

Good luck.