Korean Job Discussion Forums

df1983 · Joined: 15 Aug 2009 Location: Pyongtaek, Korea

I am supposed to start in Korea Oct 1st. I signed a contract for a non-shared apartment. I got an email today asking me if I minded sharing an apartment with a Korean coworker for the first two months. After two months I would be moving into my own place. Is this normal? This is my first job in Korea and I really don't want to move into an apartment with someone I have never met before. How would the people who have more experience with private schools deal with this situation? I don't want to get off on the wrong foot but at the same time I don't want to live with someone I don't know... Especially if they are co-workers. If I absolutely HAD to do it... I would, but I really don't want to.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

2 becomes 3, becomes 4 etc. The co-worker moves out, a random person moves in. You get the picture.

If they can't be organised enough to have your accommodation sorted out, it will merely be a sign of things to come.

kaosjin · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

Say no and request your own flat like your contract states.

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

Yes, I mind. It is unacceptable. If you can't find a single, unshared apartment, like you agreed to in our contract, then I will not be working for you. I hope you can resolve this before Oct. Please send me the address and photos of the apartment that you have rented for me, otherwise I will not be getting on the plane to go to Korea.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

These guys are getting awefully brave...

Like today. I get a call for a job and they want me to come for an interview NOW. Christ almighty. I said that tomorrow is good and they say that they can't. Haven't slept all night and now I'm going for an interview. Oh boy!

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject:

OP,

'Listen' and repeat...
"No."
"No."
"No."

Once you have it 'down pat', this skill will serve you well in K-land.

tenchu77491 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Read the thread by UCLAgirl. Then say no as many times as necessary.

Clockout · Joined: 23 Feb 2009

Could be a cool experience

spanglish · Joined: 03 Jun 2009

Sounds like you should hold them to their word. BUT, coming from someone teaching in Latin America who's never been to Asia - where I am a contract that included shared housing would highly coveted. Typical contracts in Latin America are just enough money to eat and save up for you plane trip back home. So just a reminder to teachers in Korea - be grateful!

tenchu77491 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

First ask for some necessary info on your new potential roommate.

Things like age, height, weight and marital status etc...; you know the essentials. Then ask for further proof with a picture and video call over the internet.

or you could just say No.

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Don't do it.

For everybody: I don't have time these days to read the forum everyday or extensively, but as I've been hunting for jobs, it seems to me institutes are shifting their contracts to meet the reality of the high demand for jobs.

I seem to see more specific job items - like females wanted or gyopos or Americans or Canadians-only, and so on.

Salaries seem to have dropped some.

And in the last couple of days I've noticed hakwons with 6-days a week classes. No housing (and not being an adult, Seoul hakwon). And now a note on shared housing...

...It sounds to me like the industry might be trying to shift back to what was normal in the late 1990s to 2001 or so...

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!