Korean Job Discussion Forums

[GTG09]

Im heading to SK in a few weeks. I was just wondering what is a good amount of money to have to get you through until the first payday, which will be about 5 weeks. I'm asking about the basics, food and supplies for the apt. Not really bar money, just looking for the basics.

Thanks

[balzor]

[Rocktek]

[Radius]

500 -750 USD will be fine. i brought 300 and burned through it fairly quickly.

[thegadfly]

If you can afford to bring $1,000 USD, I would suggest that much -- personally, I would rather have money left over than be scrimping for the last week.

Toiletries, cleaners, a broom/mop/whatever can eat into your starting money if the previous teacher cleaned your place out. If you come into a well-stocked apartment, obviously you won't need that stuff... but getting a rice cooker and a big bag of rice early on is a pleasant convenience if you are going native-ish, and those two items will run 80-100 right there.

You should be able to survive easily on $500, but $1k would be settling-in money.

[caribmon]

$2000 is minimum. You need enough for a plane ticket out of there when they don't pay you and the first 6 weeks of living expenses.

[thegadfly]

Actually, I concur with caribmon -- make sure you have the cash to get out of dodge if need be -- the whole "hakwon slave" scenario is usually the result of poor planning on the teacher's part, so don't be that guy....

[Senior]

If you can't spare $1500, then you've got to ask yourself what you are doing travelling half way across the world. I wouldn't recommend boarding a plane without access to at least $2000.

[hagwonnewbie]

You'll be fine with 500$

I'd recommend having a credit card though.

[crossmr]

[hagwonnewbie]

Most big grocery stores have Daiso / 1,000 won sections. I bought a lot of kitchen and bathroom stuff in those shops.

[blackjack]

I would say at least a million won. With a clear credit card in case of emergencies