Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bananaman]

Hi, everyone,

I will be a first time English-teacher when I come to Korea in a few months. I have read stories about 학원 owners who feel they have the right to walk into your apartment; and stories about previous tenants who give the code to ex-girlfriends or deliverymen.

I have a few questions about the tenancy agreements and the procedure to change door codes and hope someone with legal knowledge or experience can answer.

1. Is the typical arrangement for English teachers a tendant-landlord type situtation, or is it more similar to a boarder-home owner situation?

2. At what point in the employment contract do you receive your tenancy agreement? Is it commonplace to have the tenenacy agreement withheld until the employment contract is signed?

3. Who is typically the landlord? The 학원 owner? A third-party without interest? An associate of the 학원 owner?

4. Does Korean law deem the landlord's access to an apartment without due reason (an emergeny, 24 hours notice for repairs etc.) as tresspass?

4.1 In Western countries, a landlord's tresspass can justify the change of the door code without giving the new code to the landlord. Is this the case for Korea?

5. Can door codes be easily changed, or does it require a locksmith?

Many thanks,
Bananaman

[drcrazy]

[ttompatz]

[Andyc24_uk]

[Bongotruck]

OP,

I would say bosses entering your place unauthorized is the exception rather than the norm but it has happened.

A good principal to live by in Korea is 'better to ask for forgiveness than permission.' If the door has a key, you can get it changed at your own expense if that will help you sleep at night. If it is a keypad, find a way to change it and don't tell anyone. If your boss then shows up and asks why it was changed, you can turn around and ask why the hell he/she tried to go into your apartment without consulting you first.

[CentralCali]

[Troglodyte]

If the door has a key lock, you won't need a locksmith to change it. You'll need a screwdriver or two (depends on what type screws are used - maybe you can get away with using a kitchen knife). You just go to any place that sells hardware or... doors. You can get a cheap one that most thieves can pick in under a minute, or spring for a more expensive lock. What you'll actually change is the bolt (the part that received the key). Door locks are made so that the bolt can be changed. BUT you'll need to take the old bolt with you to make sure that the new one is the same size. So, you'll probably need someone to sit in your apartment while you're out.

The electronic keypad locks can be changed very easily. BUT.... some of them also have a master code or some way to be opened with a "key" or other device. Some of them use an electronic key (with a radio chip in it) so you won't be able to change those easily.

If you change the lock and the landlord needs to enter for some legit reason (e.g. the pipes have burst or some other emergency) and the lock has changed, then they landlord will use force to enter (or at the very least drill out the lock) or hire a locksmith to open the door. Then you'll be charged for whatever costs are involved. It won't matter if you claim ignorance. I wouldn't worry about it but it's something to be aware of. If you have a electronic keypad lock, the landlord will probably call you to ask for the code so you should be ok in that situation.

[Alias77]

You know what I thought about getting for my apartment in my first year - after I found evidence that someone had been inside my apartment....


Go buy one of those battery powered motion sensors with 120 dB alarms on it. Set it right in front of the door, inside the apartment. If it ever goes off, they'll probably never touch your door again.