Korean Job Discussion Forums

themagicbean · Joined: 04 Feb 2009

Hi

A co-teacher at my Hagwon's apartment is roach-infested. The rest of our apartments are okay. He has complained to the director, but she has simply said "it's a one-year lease." His wife is pregnant and they will have a baby within the year. Obviously the housing situation is not cool.

Does Korea have any "warranty of habitability" like law he can use as leverage? Do employers need to provide sanitary housing? I can't imagine they could put you up in a box with no water, so what about this?

Does anybody have any suggestions (absent quitting the job and/or just renting a place on his own)?

Thanks

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Kikomom · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject:

I just posted this in Giraffe's ant thread, but it works for roaches too:

Boric acid 붕소 산

Looks rather pricey though...
http://www.gmarket.co.kr/challenge_eng/neo_search/search_total.asp?selecturl=total&SearchClassFormWord=goodsSearch&keyword=boric+acid
A pharmacy may sell it in smaller quantitites?

How to use:
http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/boricdirections.html

Dazed and Confused · Joined: 10 Jan 2003

Were the roaches there before your co-worker moved in? If not then they or a neighbor may have brought them in. Extermination and making food unavailable seems the next step. Keep in mind that Koreans keep the food garbage and other recyclables around for days. This is the perfect environment for six legged "friends".
He could consult the labour board or a lawyer about contracts and housing.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

How big is your apartment building?

I lived in a school-provided villa for a few years. We developed a roach problem. There were three floors to the place, with one apartment on each floor. I purchased 1 to 2 roach bombs for each apartment (8,000 each, I think), and a tube of that roach-killing gel stuff that lasted enough for 3 apartments (3,000 won). I asked my neighbors to join me in "bombing" the place at the same time of day on a weekend. We then left dabs of that gel all around in our apartments. We also took proactive measures to keep our homes more clean.

Roach problem solved.

Total cost was about 35,000 won out of my pocket, but it was worth it. Your neighbors might even reimburse you for the roach bomb. Few people like roaches. You may not have any luck with your neighbors, but you can try, I suppose. Unless they handle their problem, yours will never go away.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Ya let your friends raise hell about housing! I would be counting down the days before they come back with 10 different excuses and 10 reasons to get rid of your friend.

Honestly here in Korea what you get is what you get. Unless your friend is willing to spend thousand to get a lawyer he is likely stuck in his situation.

Ask for some due diligence from the school. Have them help in contact exterminators and that! You might get it. Asking is easier then demanding.

Good Luck