Korean Job Discussion Forums

liquidhotmagma · Joined: 27 Jun 2009

My school recently had a couple of teachers leave who completely trashed their school apartments before they left. It wasn't as bad as I have seen, but the school is acting dramatically about the whole incident.

Last week they set up a meeting and told the foreign staff that they would have an apartment inspection to see if anyone else has trashed their apartments while living there. They want to take an inventory of the school's furniture to make sure every bowl and glass are accounted for. I brought up that this would be unnecessary, but, unfortunately not one of the other teachers seems to have a problem with it.

I can see "regular" inspections coming in the future as they also want to inspect the new teachers apartments as well.

I offered to give them a list of the school's property in my place, but they are insisting on seeing my apartment. I have nothing to hide, and am very neat, but this seems like a huge invasion of privacy.

Am I being difficult about this? I feel that if I comply then this will open the doors for regular inspections.

Also, every one of the other teachers has absolutely no problem with the inspections.

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

They should give you 24 hours notice. Other than that, I don't see why they wouldn't have the right to inspect your place. After all, it's leased/rented/key money provided by them.

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:15 am Post subject:

It's easy.

Put IN WRITING that you are giving permission this one time (at some mutually agreed to time) and that therefore you wish your privacy to be respected and the next time you will give permission will be the very last day you work there.

That is the only way I'd tolerate such a demand. (Inspections every month to see if the foreigner is keeping the place neat and orderly? *beep* that. TRUST or better to part ways.) Once and only once, and in writing. If you don't draw a line then you deserve what you get.

The key is to use language that is polite and tactful but firm and clear, speaking of what you need.

Assert your rights or get walked all over. You decide where you want to draw the line, and make sure others know it, otherwise there will be pointless shock and disappointment on your side (if you capitulate) or their part (if you keep your word but didn't communicate your seriousness and intent).

(I did the same regarding their possession of my passport. I asked for exactly when I would get it back then indicated when I must have it back in my hand. It is in an important value where I come from. I need to have it that way. I cannot go to work without it being that way. Their consideration of my position on this important matter was appreciated.)

Good luck whatever.

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

The Goalie · Joined: 17 Nov 2009 Location: Chungcheongnamdo

I would love it if my school inspected my apartment (if I didn't have such a good relationship with them - it does show a lack of trust). Like you, I am very neat and I would thoroughly enjoy standing with folded arms and a smirk on my face going "nya nya nya nya nya nya" (to myself).

My apartment was inspected (as procedure) when I finished the JET program and it was fun to watch...

I'm no Picasso · Joined: 28 Oct 2008

It sounds like "all the other teachers" are fresh out of college dorms, where room inspections were the norm. I'd definitely rail against this. Maybe that's not down, or whatever. But I would.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

They didn't provide me with anything. it's the officetel that mvovd in the major appliances and this place has integrated shelving. Housewares and everything else is out of my wallet. This isnt the military or college. I think I speak for everyone when I say to hell with that.

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

Sounds entirely fair after 2 "teachers" trashed theirs. However, it must be with the proviso that you are there, have 1 day notice, and that their mind will be at ease thereafter.

Give it a good scrub and they ought to be fine with it, one would hope.

Otherwise, if there are going to be random checks then you're entitled to fit another lock on it. "For added security".

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

When they arrive to inspect make sure you are there! Then present them with a list of complaints, including the wallpaper, absence of bath tub, inaccessibility of adult viewing channel...

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

At my old hogwan, the school janitor regularly walked into our apartments unannounced for no apparent reason. He never did it to me, but he would often walk in on other people while they were sleeping.

One time I was there when he did it to the girl across the hall and she was yelling and screaming at him to get out of her apartment. When I went out in the hallway she had a blanket around her (she had been in bed) and there were three old men (one of them our wrinkly old janitor) just walking around her apartment inspecting the walls. Even though she was screaming at them they were acting as if she was invisible. They just didn't care. It was the rudest thing I've ever seen in Korea. Still, the school did nothing about it when we all complained and it happened time and time again.

I definitely felt like I had no privacy when I worked there. I knew he was going into my apartment when I wasn't there and was not happy about it at all, but what do you do when the school doesn't do anything about it? The janitor was the owner's uncle and was older than him so he could do no wrong.

jpotter78 · Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

There is def a different view of privacy here, and I guess it comes from living do much closer, but still strangers shouldn't be walking in unounced or springing visits on you....just make it clear you would like notice, that's reasonable.

In all three of my hagwons they leave stuff like this to the last min...eg the fixer will be there in ten mins are you home?...it cracks me up...

The problem I have ATM is delivery guys just walking in, even when I ask when placing orders that I want them to knock

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Change the lock or PIN immediately? Isn't that a given?

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

Atm-at the moment ...my iPhone auto corrects and sometimes I miss the corrections

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

I absolutely think that it is unreasonable that they want to inspect your apartment in the middle of the contract. If you were ending your employment at the school and they wanted to inspect 2 weeks before you left to check for damages before you got your last paycheck then that would make sense, but a random inspection is an invasion of your privacy.

I don't care that they own/rent/lease the apartment. They take the risk in providing housing without asking for a deposit. 95% of all teachers who live here DON'T trash their apartment so it's BS to say that just because one 'foreigner' did something that there must be a risk that the other foreigners will do it as well.

My guess is that some of the other teachers do have a problem with it but don't want to deal with the fight or the hassle. Fair enough, there are many times in Korea that it's much easier to grin and bear it than to fight something that isn't THAT big of a deal.

I can tell you that if I were in your position this would be something that I would fight.