Korean Job Discussion Forums

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

It bugs me slightly that of all the places I've stayed in in Korea - houses or apartments, old or new - none have had a light switch by the front door. So either I have to leave the light on all day or else take off my shoes in the dark and then blunder across to the far side of the room to turn on the light when I get home.

It's a small thing. But it would be a small thing to put right as well.

So anyway I was just wondering if it's the same with everyone else. And if so, why is it like that? Perhaps a family member is presumed to be at home at all times??

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

peppermint · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:04 am Post subject:

I've got the motion dectector light in the entrance too. The lights for the main room/kitchen are on the other side of the room though.

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

*deleted*

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

I have a hall light too, but I want to get inside, out of people's view, and out of the cold. I don't want to have to leave the door open just so I can see.

Wait...your hall is where you take off your shoes? Must be inside then, so you don't have the problem I do.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

It was directed at you but it applies to peppermint too.

I'm not sure I understand your situation. Do you mean there's a motion detector outside or inside the door to your apartment?

Shooter McGavin · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Location: ROK

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

peppermint · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:37 am Post subject:

I don't have any sort of a hallway, but I've got a light just inside the door to my place, where I take off my shoes.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

Ekuboko · Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Location: ex-Gyeonggi

I'm the same as Peppermint, but the light switch which is timed, so I step in the door, hit the switch then have time to unlace and take off my shoes before walking the 4 steps to the light switch for the main rooms (yes, that is plural. I have rooms.)

Unfortunately when I leave for the work in the morning and I've already turned off the main lights, the timed light usually switches off before I've done my shoelaces up... Confused

Privateer, a suggestion: I think in the Daiso 1000won stores you might find a small rounded light that is battery powered and you can stick it to a wall, and you push it to turn on and off. (Seen them in 100 yen stores in Japan and seeing as Daiso is Japanese, you should find them here in SK)

Actually, they also come in handy of you want to use them as 'buzzers' for quiz show-type games....

neandergirl · Joined: 23 Jun 2005

There's a motion sensing light in the hallway outside the apartment and a second one in the front porch. The outside one can be extended by hitting the switch (but then has to be turned off). The inside one has a timer (you can set it from 0 to 10 minutes). The first actual lightswitch is in the kitchen which is about hald a step out of the porch area.

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

Ekuboko: that sounds cool. You wouldn't happen to know where there's a Daiso store in Seoul, would you?

laogaiguk: I'm in a 4 storey apartment building so there's a building door, stairs inside, and a short 'hallway' to my apartment door. There's a light that comes on automatically in that bit, but once I step through my apartment door into the little space for taking off your shoes there's no light switch within reach. If I leave the door open it lets in a little light from the stairs/hallway but not a lot and then I give people a free look into my living room/kitchen plus it's cold.

Every place I've ever been outside Korea you just reach to one side of the door and there's a light switch. And every place I've lived in in Korea there are light switches by all the doors except the entrance.

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

I have a motion sensing light in my entry way. I wish there was a switch to turn it on or off because I am miffed when it shuts off as I'm tying shoes, and I'm also annoyed when it comes on at night when I'm walking to/from the bathroom. At those times I wish I could control it but I can't.