Korean Job Discussion Forums

[meowzaX3]

So I'm in the process of finding a teaching position in Korea and I have family in Seoul and Busan. My mom is convinced that the schools give you the money for the apartments, and by living with family in either city, I can end up saving more money. I can't help but think that's not possible...
So my question is, do the schools give you the money for living, therefore making the above financial plan possible? Or do they pay for the aparments directly, with none of that money going through me?

Thanks guys!

[jonpurdy]

With public schools, if you tell them in advance you can opt-out of an apartment and get money instead. EPIK pays 400,000/month if you do this.

[sulperman]

It depends on the school. Public schools definitely yes. SMOE pays 500,000.
Private academies can be pretty cheap with the housing allowance, often just like 300,000. But then again, it it is a hagwon and they already have a place paid for with jeonse, or are stuck in a lease, they won't give you money, so it really depends on the school. Gotta ask!

[DeLaRed]

well housing is never "free"....or people would be getting paid 2.7m instead 2.2m (average hagwon salary roughly(?) for example) a month......you will get a housing allowance instead if you don't stay in the PS/hagwon's accommodation. As already mentioned typically 300-500k a month depending where you live.

[ThingsComeAround]

also factor in where your family is and where your job will be.

Since you qualify for an F4 (Korean bloodline) visa why not come over first and then look for a job? It would take the strain of travel uncertainties.

[Hyeon Een]

Do you WANT to live with your family?
You might make friends you want to bring home, or you might want to stay out late at night. Your family will not approve of this..

[Senior]

Don't bother telling your potential employer, specifically, what your plans are. Just make it known that you will find your own accom. and want the allowance. If you mention staying with family, then they are likely to use it against you, to try and get out of paying it to you.

[furtakk]

[meowzaX3]

Yeah, I'm not 100% sure about how I feel about living with my family. It'd just be my cousin though in Busan in a 3 bedroom. He's in his late 20s I think and I'm 23 so I can't imagine it'd be too awkward.

I just graduated from college though, and I have a lot of debt to pay off so the extra money might be preferable to having the freedom to parade friends in and out of my place.

I haven't made any concrete decisions yet, so I might end up just taking the room they provide.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[PatrickGHBusan]

While pocketing a housing allowance while living with your family for free is ethically questionable I am sure many people do it.

[air76]

[cdninkorea]

[jvalmer]

First, do you really want to live with your relatives? Also depends if you're male or female.

I'd advise you to take the place, and don't live with your relatives. It's easy hanging with your relatives and mooch food off of them without living with them. If you have cousins in the the same age range you can get them to introduce you to other people.

[southernman]

[aphase]

as someone who also has family in korea, I would advise NOT living with family. Your cousin could be ok, I lived with one of my cousins for a year when he was a student at KOrea University, but it's still not entirely comfortable. Also, if you take a girl home, the girl might not feel completely comfortable with the idea of staying over at your place where your other family members also live.


Oh yeah, to whoever said it was ethically questionable pocketing the money, it's not. "Free-Housing" and "Housing-Allowance" are not free. Your working for that.