Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Himself]

My wife and I just found a 3-bedroom apartment in HBC with very old wallpaper. I think a smoker must have lived there before because you can see where picture frames were hung up. Well, the landlady said that we can choose our own wallpaper if we pay for it. We stopped by at a place where everything was 50,000 won per 106 cm x 15 m. I have never looked for wallpaper in America, but is it standard that all wallpaper be the same price? Kind of strange to me...

Any helpful information would be appreciated.

[kimbabworld]

We had a two bedroom (24 pyong) apartment entirely wallpapered for about 300,000-350,000 won last year. The price depended on the styles we wanted.

[Socks]

I was quoted 200,000won for my (20 pyong) officetel.

Besides - I thought it was the landlords responsibilty to pay for the new wallpaper when someone is signing a new contract with them.

I have been living in the same officetel apt for the last 5 years - and when a new landlord purchased the officetel apt - she wanted to put new wallpaper - just because she said thats her responsibilty (even though I wasn't moving out).

(I declined - because I have seen Korean wallpaper people doing their job before - and they are messy, dirty and the place stinks for about a week afterwards - because of the bond they use).

[bassexpander]

She should pay for new wallpaper. If you want something better than white, then you will probably have to pay. Try to work out a deal where they pay some and you pay some.

There are wallpaper stores all over, but either Jungno or Euljiro (can't remember which) has streets full of them. There used to be a lady a right turn 50m up the mountain from the Hausbrandt? (name?) coffee shop on main street in Itaewon. If you're standing at KFC in Itaewon, walk down the street toward Yongsan maybe 100m and take a right at Hausbrant coffee. Then up 50m on your left.

[kimbabworld]

The landlords are resposible for wallpapering our apartments in my complex too but they don't give a crap what it looks like. We complained that ours had children's finger painting on it and the landlord came and put a patch of random wallpaper over it. We decided to wallpaper it ourselves because we knew we would be there for a couple of years.

This also happened to my brother in law here too. His wall paper was old and falling off and ripped and they brought over three sheets of pink flowery paper (one roll a shade off) and slopped it his wall. He's not pleased.

If you want your apartment to look pleasant, I think you'll have to pay.