Korean Job Discussion Forums

dpl · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Location: Ilsan

I'm coming to Ilsan on Monday. I won't get my first cheque till January. Do you guys think 1 million won will be enough for me to bring and last till then? The only large expenditure I see having would be a gym membership.

Please let me know your opinions and advice.

Thanks!

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

Honestly, I'd say to hold off on the gym membership till you have some more cash. If you're smart, a million won will be fine for a month (assuming you're only eating, buying groceries, occasionally going out). Many places of employment also allow you to get an advance on your paycheck, so I would find out about that when you can.

Ideally, you'd be bringing more, though.

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

It's enough to live on. I wouldn't be going out shopping for clothes or electronic goods though! Gym membership? Hold off till you get your first paycheck, never know what could happen. Can't you just do pushups and situps at home? Run around the block a few times?

dpl · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Location: Ilsan

So if I bring like 1.25 million with the intention of buying a gym membership I should be fine? I need a gym. I definitely won't be buying any clothes or electronics. Only food and entertainment.

4 months left · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Gym memberships are typically a little more expensive than NA but it should cost you 50,000 - 70,000 a month so it shouldn't be a huge problem.

stevie rotten · Joined: 31 Jan 2003

hope you like listening to blaring k-pop as you train.

Dome Vans · Guest

I came to Korea with 200 000 won and received my settlement allowance as soon as I got here, that was another 400 000 won. I easily lived off that till my first pay cheque.

Gym membership is usually about 50 000 for one month, so if you're absolutely desperate then you could stretch to that. Lay off going out for the first month, which could be tricky with christmas coming up.

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

You should also be prepared that your furnished apartment won't be furnished outside of a mattress and a chair. Some hogwans furnish apartments well, some don't give a good damn. So, be sure you have accesss to more money than you think you'll need. You never know. Better to be safe than sorry if you can bring about 1.5, you should absolutely have no problem.

(That being said, my husband and I live on less than 1mil a month including eating out about once a week and goin to the bar once a week.)

articulate_ink · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:37 pm Post subject:

Yeah, don't underestimate the costs of buying basics for your apartment. You'll probably have a bed, a desk, a chair, and a few kitchen utensils, but unless you're bringing things with you, you'll need decent bed linens (expect something garish), towels, cookware, laundry detergent, maybe an iron and ironing board (although dry cleaning's cheap here), a clothes drying rack, and food. If you don't cook you can get by on less at first, but the point is, all those individual things like knives and coffee cups that don't cost much add up fast. There are a lot of threads on here about what to bring with you.

As for the gym, I'd say go on and join if you can find a good one near your home. Exercise is a good way to deal with some of the initial culture shock. Consider it an investment in your health, both physical and mental.

Dome Vans · Guest