Korean Job Discussion Forums

djmarcus · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I was wondering if anyone has ever had to move before their one year contract with their place was over (one room, not office-tel). And if so, did you end up having to pay for the realtor fee yourself?

I've asked numerous people, and even some korean realtors and I'm not getting any kind of concrete information. So just wondered if anyone else had any more information about this.

Thanks.

victorology · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

CeleryMan · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Location: Seoul

Might as well put the shiniest red-colored lipstick you can find and lay it on hard cause you're about to get f....

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

if YOU find a replacement person for your lease, and they are not signing a lease, but picking up where you left off, then you don't pay a real estate feel.

If you went to a budongsan, asked them to find you someone to take your room and they DO find someone, then you have to pay the real estate fee.

So, if you don't want to pay the fee, go find someone yourself.

cazzy3 · Joined: 07 May 2008 Location: kangwon-do

you'll have to find someone else to either sublet the place until your lease is finished or find someone to begin another 1/2 year lease depending on how long it is.

if you find someone, usually the landlord, you, and new tenent will all meet and any key money that is needed will be given to you from the new new tenent....landlord usuallyd doesn't want to withdraw his invested money.

going to a real estate agent is less of a hassle but will end up costing more money in the end.

good luck!!

mheartley · Joined: 18 Oct 2008

I just went through it, it dragged out for quite a while but I've finally sorted the whole mess out. The landlord basically tried to be as difficult as she possibly could and even when I asked Koreans to help out, she was yelling at them down the phone telling them it was not their business etc. It was only after endless pestering that she finally gave in. I don't mean to scare you though OP, this one was an extreme case, from everything I've been told.

In the end I'm definitely paying more than I'm happy with but because it's dragged on so long and my departure date is just around the corner I no longer have time to pursue any avenues of recourse or whatever, I just have to take it on the chin. I'm not letting her get away that easy though, I leave early morning so I'll take a couple of things, or stuff some things not easily visible up, like the circuitry in the TV or something.

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

This thread makes me that much more happy that I took a bunch of money home over the summer instead of laying it down as a deposit for my own housing.

djmarcus · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Thanks for the info guys. Damn, I didn't know about having to pay until the new tenant actually moves in.

Here's some information that others may not know. Maybe my misfortune may help others at least.

So my contract date was written as March 3. But I always paid my rent on the 10th cause that's what me and the land lady agreed upon.

Well it turns out that when it comes time to move, your monthly payment date has nothing to do with anything. They only go by what's written on the contract. So I ended up losing a couple hundred bucks cause of that. So next time some of you decide to move, remember that date on your contract and make sure that the person moving in moves in ON that date or before the date. If they come in after that date, it will come out of your pocket.

And don't take the new tentants word for it either. The new tenant could say yes I will come in on so and so date, and then later change their mind for some reason. This is exactly what happened to me. So whatever you do, get it in writing or in some other manner that will make them keep their promise.