Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PRagic]

Glad that worked out for you, but I'd bet that you could find something bigger for a cheaper price than you are paying now. Maybe they just have 'off the street' deals that are superior to the ones on their site. Didn't see anything worth the money they are asking. Cheers, though, and enjoy.

[OneWayTraffic]

It helps greatly to get a Korean to walk around with you. Easier to negoiate the prices etc. A lot of Koreans wouldn't mind doing so as it's almost a free English lesson for them. See if you can find someone at your uni to help. Offer them dinner afterwards and don't let them pay.

The longer you stay the better places you can get. My wife and I are staying in a 5th floor villa which is about 15pyong (real size, it's 5m by 10m internal space.) The sizes tend to be inflated here as they include the elevator and stair space in the ad.

Our place was out of reach of the average Korean newbie though, 65,000,000 deposit and 430,000 a month. Need it for the kids.

Offictels offer good value for singles. Size is no problem, good opportunity for privates if you're so inclined, and usually come furnished so you don't have the headache of supplying/desposing of whiteware.

www.oneroomclub.com has lots of officetels. Check it out if you can read the hangul.

[PRagic]

Perspective is 9/10 of the game, I guess. My wife and I couldn't live in 15 pyung, I hate villas, and I would never pay that much for that size.

IMHO, offitels are the biggest waste of money out there, particularly for newbies. They are overpriced, small, and you get stuck paying a service fee every month. Get into a neighborhood. Hunt around for a max 6-8 minute walk from a subway station. Aim for small buildings with multiple units (tasaedaechutaek), or even a floor of a house (tandokchutaek).

When we moved into our current place, we hit up around 30+ realtors before we were happy. Why? At the same price range, we saw places that were disgusting and small; insulting, really. We ended up with a beautiful property in a killer neighborhood, and were able to pay full chunsae as well (which more than halves your effective monthly rent).

It is totally a renter/buyer beware market out there. Ownerns tend to rent based on the size rather than the condition of their units, and a lot of the measurements are liberal to say the least.

[OneWayTraffic]

Well I'd say that our place is bigger than 90% that I've seen; I just went and measured it with a tape measure (yes I'm bored) 5.5m*11.5m so it's 19 pyong then according to my calculator.

We're in Jamsil so it's expensive; we are a stones throw away from Seokchon lake though.

Anyway in answer to the OP, just get a place that's close to where you work. Don't worry about size or anything yet, if you're new in the country I'd concentrate on the benefits like transportation and free whiteware.

Save up money of your own and you'll be able to move up market later.