Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Stan Rogers]

Anyone out there have knowledge about this?

[337heaven]

I'd say it's pot-luck really... get pictures sent to you and ask questions

[Smithington]

Could your question be any more general?

[Troglodyte]

[Emark]

My school provided me with a brand new 25 pyeong, 3 bedroom, 2 full bath apartment. It's loaded with state of the art gadgets and a larger kitchen than most new homes in Canada.
Isn't this the norm?

[Gnawbert]

[mayorhaggar]

You probably won't find out what the apartment is like until you get here and move in.

[ed4444]

I thought the best system I saw in Korea was a Hagwon that put teachers up in a motel for the first two weeks and then brought them around after work each day to look at apts until they found something they were satisfied with. If the teacher wanted something a bit bigger or more modern than a basic one room, the teacher then could top up the monthly rent from their pay.

This accommodated both the teachers who wanted the cheapest possible one room to save money and those who were willing to top up the rent to live somewhere nice.

I don't understand why all Hagwons don't do it this way. From my experience, housing is the cause of so many of the disputes between Hagwons and Employees (along with vague work expectations and pay disagreements).

[Dr. Lipschitz]

[ed4444]

The pyeong system is so misleading.

In Korea, the stated pyeong of an apt includes a divided share of all common areas. So, its so hard to compare apt sizes.

For example I lived in a 53 pyeong apt. but inside it was about 33 pyeong because it was a villa with an outside garden and that space was divided and added to the size of each apt.

[Stan Rogers]

[Emark]

[DaeguNL]

[caribmon]

Cambodian buddy who worked at the foreign store lived in the bush. How many py is that.. virtually unlimited

[furtakk]

The ones that offer housing allowance.

In Seoul, even the best positions--whether it be a hagwon, ps, or uni--will offer a loft-style or big one-room officetel at best. Outside of Seoul, it's not too much different, but since the rents are so much cheaper, you can get something a lot nicer if you choose to pass on the provided housing.

If you've been here a couple of years and plan on staying for a couple more, it's way more convenient to get housing on your own. You don't have to move at the end of every contract. If your work situation is crappy, you can quit without the fear of being homeless. You don't have to find storage for your stuff or sleep on a friend's couch between jobs.