Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shakenbake021]

Hi, I'm hoping to teach with SMOE next year and was wondering if I should opt for the housing allowance. I'm leaning towards it, but I'm concerned that this will limit the schools and districts I can be assigned to. (I'd like to be in one of the more urban/commercial areas.) This is because I will only be able to teach at a school that's unable to provide its own housing. Is it likely that a school not being able to provide housing is a red flag?

Also, are there any SMOE teachers out there that went with the housing allowance? Do you have any regrets? I know that you don't get to find out your school assignment until the last day of orientation, so how did you go about finding a place near your school in time for your move-in?

THANKS!

[emsmith]

I can't attest to opting out of the housing, but can say that SMOE doesn't tell you your school assignment until late Friday night/early Saturday morning of orientation. I don't know how you'd go about finding housing on such short notice if you didn't already live here.

[lovebug]

OP, it sounds as if you're arriving for the first time and not here already. there are a few things to consider.

i'm not sure who told you that people who opt out of housing get schools who CAN'T GET housing. many schools are happy to not have to deal with renting and key money. if this is from a legit source, like jon pak, etc, then it's something to keep in mind. but i've never heard about this stipulation before.

also, in many cases, the school will be paying more for the housing allowance than the monthly rental of a room. i'm not sure where you got the idea that a school that 'can't' provide housing would be a red flag. the 500k is either going to a landlord or to you (and then to a landlord). it has nothing to do with a school not being able to afford it. schools don't get a NSET unless they've budgeted enough for them.

people who want the housing allowance should have an area in mind when they apply to SMOE. there is a part for your current seoul address on the app, or perhaps you put it under additional comments or whatever. the most ideal situation is procure your housing by then. SMOE's policy in this case is to place you as close as they can to your address (of course this doesn't always happen).

SMOE doesn't provide key money, the hefty deposit that you'll need for a place. it runs between 5 and 10 mil krw. there are some places without key money, but the monthly rent is usually higher. SMOE does NOT cover this. some hagwons do.

taking the housing allowance is an option more for those already living in seoul who have the resources and availability to find their own place. if you REALLY REALLY want to find your own space, then you can always stay at a hostel or short term housing (hosukjip?) til you find a place.

what are your reasons for being uncomfortable with provided housing? some of it's not so great, but many of us are quite happy if not overall content. if there's something very wrong or damaged, etc with your place, you can make enough noise to hopefully get things changed. i know more than one teacher who was able move midyear because of a specific issue.

[shakenbake021]

Thank you so much for all the helpful info! My reason for wanting to find my own housing is that I don't want to take a chance and potentially end up having to stay in a horrendous, run-down apartment without any say. (I read that old thread on Dave's about the Dongdaemun co-op building, and it really scared me!) I'm willing to pay the key money and supplement my monthly housing allowance if it'll mean that I don't have to stress about my living situation while teaching.

Ideally, I would love to live AND teach in central Seoul. Do many SMOE NSETs get placed in this area? It seems like a large number of them get assigned to Nowon-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Gangdong-gu, and Dongjak-gu (according to my SMOE facebook group research). Is it unlikely that I can get matched with a school near Gwanghwamun (Jongno-gu) or Hongik Univ./Sinchon (Seodaemun-gu)? I would like to teach at the elementary level.

THANKS for any feedback!!

[pjmancktelow]

without already being here. its unlikely in my opinion. without a knowledge of the city and proof you have somewhere they can still stick you up to an hour commute away. so its a lottery. you could come out before and sort it out. but then you are taking a huge risk. a lot of people get those areas you mentioned as they are taking on new NSETs for the 1st time and thus more jobs being created. the 'good' areas like you listed will probaly already have teachers in place, who may very well like to stay on and continue working there. i work near seoul station and 10mins from itaewon, 10 mins from hongik. i'm staying but i was very very lucky to get this. the previous NSET got pregnant and thats why she left. also, i was in country and could provide an address of a place in itaewon where i would be living.

taking the allowance out of the country is a huge gamble. you could end up with something bad. if you stayed in a hostel for the first month. then when you did find a place. it'll be a year contract. which then would be longer than the job contract. so if you only did 1 year. then you would lose money at the end too.

[shakenbake021]

wow, pjmancktelow. you really scored there! do you know of any other SMOE teachers around you that aren't re-signing? man, i would love to take one of their spots!

i don't mind losing money in the end. i just can't take the risk of being one of the unlucky players in the housing lottery.

is an NSET being placed in one of the more popular/central districts of Seoul that uncommon? *sigh*

[pjmancktelow]

[lovebug]