Korean Job Discussion Forums

BDups · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Location: Jisan, Daegu

Hey folks,

I'm just wondering what the apartments are like in Korea? I am going to assume they are not as spacious as our 2 and three bedroom palaces here in North America, but are there many complexes that are relatively new and without mold or an excess of buggy visitors?

Obviously there are new ones and there are older ones, but for the most part, what would a new teacher be living in once in Country?

Any pictures of good and bad apartments would be ideal as well...as a picture is worth a thousand words.

Thanks!

howie2424 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

Don't have any pictures I'm afraid, but expect what we would call in the west a 'studio' apartment. One room, usually a small one with a seperate bathroom.

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Luck of the draw, BDups.

Mine's a single studio thing with seperate bathroom but it's surprisingly spacious - over twice the size of what I expected - and nice-looking too.

Do you know who you're working for? Are you in a Hagwon or are you going to be working somewhere decent?

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

I work in a small town so I have a 2 bedroom apt. My boss put new flooring in and rewallpapered the entire apt before I arrived. I cant say the colors really go together but is nice and new looking. I have a decent sized bedroom that serves as a living room as well, but if I shared this apt there is enough room in the entracne/kitchen area to make a living room there. My apt is much bigger than the 1-2 bedroom flats back home so Im quite happy.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:13 am Post subject:

As has been said, much is the "luck of the draw". I have a large, two-bedroom, just renovated with all brand new counters, cupboards etc. and appliances; plus a new computer - way more than specified in the contract. However, I don't work at a hogwan, but for a school district (and am and not in a big city). My bathroom has a big tub and I managed to score a shower curtain and rod on a trip into Seoul. I installed the shower head holder (usually hand-held) high up in its 'normal' place and can now take a 'Western' shower - luxury! Very Happy

One thing I REALLY miss is not having an oven... but I'll buy one.

Here's a link to some pictures from a recruiting agency (not mine). I'm not sure if they are truely representative... perhaps others can say how their apts. compare. http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/content.php?cat=339

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

You got real lucky there, Cruisemonkey...as did I really. I was expecting my apt to be pretty awful but it's far from that. It exceeded my expectations totally. I went through Footprints too actually.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

Zyzyfer · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 12:58 am Post subject:

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

This probably will be what you get if you are foreign teacher.
click on the link: http://www.edenrealty.co.kr/index.asp?q=2&idx=177
or this one
http://www.edenrealty.co.kr/index.asp?q=2&idx=188&page=8&startpage=1

Click on the area for Virtual Reality
http://www.nicerent.com/
Korea Real Estate - Korea Real Estate, Serviced Apartments & Hotels
NiceRent.com

http://bbs.memberstel.com/data/file/sud_gallery/120de108_29.jpg

��ÿ� (Goshiwon)
http://www.gosi1.net/index.html

http://gosiwoninfo.com/homepage/shervillgosi/img/7.jpg
http://shervillgosi.wo.to/
http://gosiwoninfo.com/homepage/shervillgosi/img/13.jpg

http://www.gosi1.net/view/gosiwonview.php3?&number=3292

Unihomes
http://www.unihomes.com/

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

One thing the OP might like to know is that storage space is almost always a problem. You will live most of your life staring at everything you own. Also, closets are not little rooms in the wall. They are wooden boxes that sit in your room and take up floor space. Drawers are an endangered species. Sets of plastic ones can be bought.

o_time · Joined: 29 Jul 2005

I just got here and live in a mold infested basement apartment with no windows.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I got a funky modern loft with a/c. Most apartments don't have bath tubs or ovens. I haven't heard many people on this board complain about their accommodations. Real Reality's links are little more than mental masturbation.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject:

Mr. Pink,

I installed a shower curtain because my bathroom is about the size of the entire apt. shown in Real Reality's post... and the curtain actually cuts down on mildew - much less water laying around that has to evaporate. Call me lazy, but I don't like a wet floor, wet toilet, wet electrical outlets, wet mirror, wet razor, or having to remember to take the toilet paper off its dispenser every morning before I shower.

If one's bathroom is the size of a 'Western' shower stall, it would not make sense to install a curtain... much depends on individual circumstances. Smile

BDups · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Location: Jisan, Daegu

Ok,
After looking at some of the probable apartments, I'm honestly getting a bit discouraged. There were some apartments on that Eden Realty site that look extremely appealing.

My question to youy folks is, do you think I would be better off heading over without a contract and looking for a place to live that would be more like the better looking places on that Realty site?

And if I do decided to take a contract before I leave..is it acceptable to ask for pictures of the apartment they will set me up in? And if they show me pictures of the place..are they required to set me up with that same spot...?

I don't want to sound too picky when dealing with a (hogwan) director but I don't really want to end up in a dumb either..i can make due..but if i can avoid it..that would be ideal

As far as where I will be working..I am assuming a Hogwan..i mean as far as I know it's either that or a public school with 40 students...i honestly don't know which would be better though..Ideally I'd like to teach adults..kids my age (23ish) but from what I understand I'd need a bit more than just a BA.

peppermint · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 10:35 pm Post subject:

I've had 6 different apartments in Korea, and while two were pretty bad, both times I talked my employer into getting me a better apartment within a month.

Small, with little storage space is normal but remember, you're only allowed to bring two suitcases anyway. I've never seen an apartment as small as the ones real reality posted btw.

You can generally ask your employer for a housing allowance to go and find a place that you like, if you don't like the ones provided for you. That might be easier said than done outside of Seoul though, because of the language barrier.

As for teaching adults, there are hagwons out there that cater to uni students and businessmen. You can get them with just a B.A, but the hours can be tough, and the pay tends to be slightly lower.