Korean Job Discussion Forums

aweasel81 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008

Hi all.

I am preparing to move to South Korea in June.

I have a quick question...is it feasible to pay your own rent? The company I will be working for has offered two different contracts, one with monthly pay in which they cover rent, or one with hourly pay, in which I will be responsible for my own rent. With the hourly contract, they do provide $5000 US for key money. I was leaning toward the hourly contract, as even my contact at the institution I will be working for said that would be the most beneficial. The more I read regarding housing in Korea, the more frightened I become that it is completely unaffordable.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, help, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

Zaria32 · Joined: 04 Dec 2007

$5000 isn't much key money...in Seoul or another large city, it doesn't even begin to approach what you need...

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

If you want to live in an officetel then you should expect to pay about 10,000,000 won as a deposit.

valkerie · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Busan

Well my place may not be swish but it is ok for me and key money was ZERO. (Usually 10 million, nothing for foreigners! Go figure...I like Korean logic sometimes Smile

)

Rent is 300 a month and 30.000 maintenance fee. So even with the paltry 300.000 my company give as a housing alowance I am better off, as maintenance was 50.000 in the place they provided.

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

With 5k down you can probably find a place paying 400-650 a month rent for 1-2 bedroom place within the green/no. 2 line in Seoul. This'd be for a 'house' not in an apartment. I live in a place like this and its great. It's not a house in the western sense, it's an apartment on one floor of a 3 storey building.

Khenan · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

I'm going to take a not-so-wild guess and say you're signing with CDI. At any rate, 5000 is not much key money, but it will provide you with a few options. I would say that realistically, counting for mainanance/utilities fees, you should be looking at $700-$1000/mo, depending on where you are. You might be able to find cheaper, but unless you're lucky, you'll be sacrificing. To a lot of people, this seems like a lot of money. I don't know where you're from, but in any city of a reasonable size-slash-economic status in the States, this is very comparable. I'm from Seattle, and found the pricing to be slightly lower than I would expect to pay there for a reasonably nice studio.

aweasel81 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008

First, thank you for all the comments.

Second, yes, I am working with CDI. I've read good and bad things about this company...any additional comments would be appreciated as well.

Third, so putting all the comments together, it sounds feasible, although maybe not the easiest situation to find. My contact at CDI says the director will find housing for me or help me find housing. Any ideas/experience with how willing they are to take into account the need for an AFFORDABLE place?

loose_ends · Joined: 23 Jul 2007

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

I work for CDI..

My key money was 2million won...and my monthly rent is 600,000.. For that, I have my own 3 bedroom (2 smaller bedrooms), huge living room, bathroom w/tub, kitchen, oven, private roof...

Of course, it's in Haebongcheon...which to me, is a bit of an added bonus. Smile

RobbJK9 · Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Location: Seoul, KR

aweasel81 · Joined: 09 Mar 2008

How do you like CDI?

So you would obviously say the monthly terms are the way to go...I'm still debating.

I just found out I will be in Daegu...know anything about it?

How much $$ would you recommend someone to come over with?? Any suggestions?

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

Rents vary WILDLY.

Being in Daegu should help you out.

Insist on being close to school - and by that I mean able to walk to school in no more than 15 minutes (aim for 10).

No one quotes true door to door time in this country. It is always like "I'm just 15 minutes away". But when you actually calculate how long it takes from leaving your apt. to sitting down at your work desk (incl. bustimes, waiting for late buses, subway transfers, etc...) even the closest commutes as the crow flies can take 45+ minutes. .

When you walk, you control your commute. There are no variables. Walking to work is your friend. I would make that the focus of your apt. search even if you have to pay a little more or get a little less. Just say no to the bus.

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

know where abouts in daegu your going to be??

Daegu is cheaper than seoul, a two bedroom apartment you can easily score for around 300-350 a month, i think thats what i pay...its quite large but is in one of the older apartments so isnt as flash.

I like Daegu although its not as happening a place as seoul....