Korean Job Discussion Forums

optik404 · Joined: 24 Jun 2008

Hide yo kids, hide yo macbook, they stealing everything out here.

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

andrewchon · Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 5:23 pm Post subject:

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

You're right, it's the second time. It was just my gut reaction to your post. I don't intend to start any kind of internet beef with you though so I'll bite my tongue next time.

As far as the OP's situation, we both agree there is no situation. Just lock your door and windows and make sure you get bars on the window if you're on ground level. Chances are there already will be.

What we disagree on is how much the OP should value her* property and to what length she should go to prepare for moving to a foreign country (presumably for the first time).

*I don't like writing he/she so I picked female

fermentation · Joined: 22 Jun 2009

Who gives a damn if the OP is worried about his Macs. Different people value different things.

byrddogs · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Location: Shanghai

The first villa that I lived in in Apkujung back in 2006 had 3 apt. break-ins within a couple of months. Mine wasn't one of them, thankfully. The building owner installed an entry security system on the front door and all apt. doors and better bars on ground level after the 3rd one. There were no more occurences afterwards in the next 2 years that I lived there.

Nester Noodlemon · Joined: 16 Jan 2009

Lots of break-ins. The cops once came knocking on my door years ago when I was living in a villa. They wanted to know if I had seen or heard anything suspicious across the hallway of where I lived. The cops said some intruders had come in and stolen some things from my neighbors apartment. It was on the third floor but apparently they climbed a drain pipe that passed next to the window of the apartment. Too, this side of the villa was about 2 meters from another building which helped obscure the view. The officers told me to make sure to always lock my windows that weren't in view of steady traffic. They said these intruders usually worked in teams that would have a couple of their accomplices watching out for them as they interred an already open window, typically young guys hanging out looking for an opportunity.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Koreans are wary of break-ins. Bars on lower floor windows, elaborate locks. It happens. But not that commonly, I'd surmise. Theres an obvious absence of strung-out druggies on the prowl.

I've experienced one incident in 14 years. They busted open a securely locked steel door & went through everything. Oddly, they didnt take anything. Granted, my electronics are bulky junk, but they also ignored visible cash. Go figure.

Nowadays I live in a ground floor jutaek right downtown in my small city. If I'm going out for just an hour or two I typically leave my windows open & my door unlocked. Probably foolish but its gone unpunished for years now.

Died By Bear · Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:35 am Post subject:

Does this mean Ann Margret's not coming?

tcatsninfank · Joined: 03 Apr 2013

EZE · Joined: 05 May 2012

In 2006, a co-worker in Gangdong-gu told me he had millions of won worth of electronics stolen from his apartment while he was teaching classes at work. They also stole all of his clothing, which I thought was strange because he was such a heavy-set guy and his clothes were obviously used. I can understand stealing electronics, but stealing used XXXL Punisher t-shirts and the like? The boss moved him into a different apartment and I moved into his when I began my contract in June of 2006, which was when he told me about the burglary. My boss moved me into a different and much nicer building after a month or so.

He said they drilled his lock, so it's probably a good idea to have multiple locks. I have only the one on the door knob, but all I have ever brought is a laptop. My current one is one I bought in the USA in 2011 for $285. My big supply of 4,000 won boxes of tea and my baggie of Maxim instant coffee are probably worth more than my geriatric laptop at this point.

A few years ago, when my girlfriend brought me to her parents' apartment in Apgujeong when they were golfing in Japan, there were a half dozen or more locks on the door. This was one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Korea, where all of the nicest imported automobile and handbag shops are located, so it must be targeted pretty badly.

Since you're coming to Korea to teach English, rest assured your boss will steal more from you than apartment burglars.