Korean Job Discussion Forums

HappyPineapple · Joined: 23 Nov 2008

My boyfriend and I work for the same school- He is in the middle school and I am in the high school. We didn't ask for this, but we did ask to live together, so this is what worked out. We are happy enough with the school and the housing. Everything has worked out well for the most part...

BUT we are sharing an apartment in a building that many SMOE teachers live in by themselves. We have seen their apartments and they are exactly the same as ours. We are sharing an apartment deemed appropriate for one person.

It's not the apartment that is a problem... It's the money. Somehow it seems unfair that our school saves somewhere near 500,000 won monthly in this deal and we don't see any of it.

Advice? Would it be absurd to complain or do we have some right to the money they are saving by putting two teachers in very inexpensive housing meant for one?

juicyfresh · Joined: 22 Apr 2007

you both should get an apartment or they should be paying one of you a housing allowance of at least 300,000.

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

It would not be unreasonable to state your case and see what happens as far as possibly getting a housing allowance for one of you. I wouldn't necessarily complain, just be tactful.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

This issue has come up many times with my school district's English camp. The single teachers and the couples all get the same apartments (very large and fairly nice, though getting a bit old) in a rural boarding school's teachers' residence that has lots of vacancies. One couple raised a stink about it and it didn't get them anywhere; it just set them on a very bad course with their boss. If you've got a nice enough place don't complain. Next time if you really want more, apply seperately for single housing. Plus, you're lucky that you were able to land a HS gig with SMOE. You're also only paying one set of utility bills and a combined grocery bill. I'd recommend leaving it alone.

SOOHWA101 · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:57 pm Post subject:

What does your contract say? If each contract states single housing, then you have something to bargain with.

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

Just ask to live separately and when they get you the place sublease it out to someone. That's the Korean way! Razz

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

I don't know how long you've been living there, but you should've complained at the start of the contract to better your chances of receving housing allowance for one of you.

However, it's always never late to raise the issue with your school. You have two schools to discuss this situation with so I recommend that you choose the school that you think is more reasonable in terms of accepting and giving one of you the housing allowance (probably the school that's not paying the rent at the moment).

If they try to deny your request, make sure you have the contract handy.

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

Assuming you're a little ways into your contract, it's probably too late to complain about this. Just finish out your year and if you both re-sign then make a different request then.

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

theres nothing to lose by asking about it tactfully, rather than getting into an argument, politely mention it......Its not going to put you in the bad books, and would make your life alot more comfortable....just say that its very hard on you blah blah blah....

don't ask, don't get.....they are prob stoaked to be making abit off the situation...remember if your working hard your an asset, they should be looking after you both...

Jeff's Cigarettes · Joined: 27 Mar 2007

If you both have separate jobs and they are only providing 1 apt and no housing allowance for one of you...you are being robbed, period! You should have never mentioned that you are a couple and would be living together to begin with. One person should have requested accommodation and the other should have requested housing allowance. Where and who you live is none of your schools bizzness. I bet you thought u were gonna get a BIG apt cause you're "married" housing...guess what, you're not married...

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

Tell them you've broken up

Seon-bee · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: ROK

the ireland · Joined: 11 May 2008 Location: korea

my girlfriend and I lived in a studio apartment meant for one teacher. when we were coming over we were told we could have two of them (they called it a one bedroomed apartment so we, being Irish assumed it was a typical western one bedroom, not one single room with a bed like korean apatments have).
when we got there we seen the apartments and noticed they were a bit small and the school even offered us two seperate apartments in the same builfing but we just decided to stick with the one apartment between us.
it never corssed our minds to ask for money for only taking one apartment because we got offered two and asked for one, you asked for one apartment, what more do you want??? do you want a bigger apartment or do you want some of the teachers to get smaller ones?? or do you just want more money??

the school really looked favourably on us not making silly requests for household items (one of the teachers got them to refund her 6000won for a chopping board Shocked

) when i went to get my mri done the school paid me a 500,000won bonus in my wages to cover it and to have some money for myself because we were easy going and never complained!! the principal always organised our vacations through her korean travel agent and sorted out our flights home and time off so we could go to my brothers weddng half way through the year.
anyway, long story short, leave it, you are happy enough withwhat you have so why cause ill feeling??