Korean Job Discussion Forums

Leon · Joined: 31 May 2010

One of the jobs that I am being offered in Busan has the apartment attached to the school on the top floor. The job looks good, and the apartment is a private two bedroom one which looks nice, but the fact that it is attached to the school is making me feel a bit uneasy about it. Does anybody have a living situation like this, and how is it? I'm not sure how I feel about being so close to work all the time.

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

When the kids ask you where you live, all you have to do is point and say "Right there."

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

Having lived on the campus of a university, I initially felt like a dog in a kennel. However, the 75 meter walk to work was damn convenient.

kingasiatic88 · Joined: 02 Aug 2009

just say no

nomad-ish · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:23 pm Post subject:

you should check with the school about your schedule. you could possibly be allowed to go home during lunch/break/spares. it also means you don't have to go outside to get to work during the winter/rainy season. the only bad things i can think of is being close enough to your boss that they can come check up on you whenever they like, taking any sick days would be difficult, students would find out where you live, coming home late after a night out might be seen on the school's cctv...

on second thought, i'd just say no, unless it was some kind of amazing job.

sulperman · Joined: 14 Oct 2008

If you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, or if you just bring somebody home that could be pretty weird. And there probably isn't a separate entrance, meaning you'd have to walk by the school and whoever happened to be there every time you leave the house.

Then again,I wouldn't go and write it off completely without looking into it more. I'd still ask the person who lives there now about the situation and the pros and cons. A 2 bedroom place is good, and Busan jobs are somewhat tough to come by, aren't they? And I used to live a few buildings down from my school. It was actually pretty cool. Very convenient, and nobody ever came by my place.

travelnguy · Joined: 27 Sep 2007

I guess I'll post something positive about this. During my first stint in Korea, I lived directly upstairs of the school where I worked. Man, I loved it.

It was an easy commute.
When I wasn't teaching, there were no students. Thus, I had total Peace and Quiet (hard to come by in Korea).
My apartment was quite large for just me.
Being the only person to live in the school, I could play my music or watch TV as loud as I wanted.
There was no one to complain about me having a BBQ on the roof.
I didn't pay an electric bill.
I didn't pay a cable bill.

Well, there you have it.

Illysook · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

You may have the rooftop to yourself. One guy that I knew had this set up in Gwanju City and had nice parties up there. His boss even provided the food sometimes.

Zulethe · Joined: 04 Jul 2008

tanklor1 · Joined: 13 Jun 2006

I'd love to have a rooftop apartment. It wouldn't bother me if my apartment was in the same building as the school.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

My father lived in one apartment/shared with 2 other teachers. It was easy getting to work! Smile

I also lived at a place where the housing was on the fifth floor and the school was on the third. I had little trouble because I was lucky the school had installed a gate between the fourth and fifth floor. All I had to do is lock that gate and the kids could not bother me.

But the only hassles is the student KNOW where you live! That can come with hassles like door knocking and students wanting to see your apartment. Plus snooping can get easier for the school! Who lets see who is coming down the stairs tonight!

But it was good as on big breaks I could go home for a rest and a tv watch. Or I forgot something I could go home in a minute!

Check the apartment and its layout! Also check out the bills you do not want to find out that you are also paying schools electricity bill because the to places are linked!

Italy37612 · Joined: 25 Jan 2010 Location: Somewhere

I live in an apartment that is on the campus of my school (it isn't attached to the school but it is only about a 2 minute walk away). As do most of the foreign teachers that work here. There are some pros and cons to the situation:

Pros:
1. The 2 minute walk to work is great. No dealing with driving, subways, etc...
2. I can go home during lunch and breaks to take a rest.
3. If I ever forget something I can just run back home and get it.
4. The apartment is much larger that you would normally get.

Cons:
1. You always have to watch what you do and who you bring over to "stay the night," as I constantly have to walk by students and coworkers to get to my apartment.
2. The students know where you live so sometimes you get random visits.
3. Your boss knows where you live so sometimes you get random visits.

All in all, I would say this setup isn't bad though. If I had a choice I would prefer to live off campus. However, living on campus is certainly not a reason to turn down a good job.

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

Also there could be the issue of your director checking out your apartment. if it's the same buildng and your boss either owns it or is renting it, dollars to donuts he has the key.

if you do it, change the locks. Sleep at her place if possible.

PigeonFart · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

I can see how you're a bit hesitant with this one, but if your boss is not mentally unstable then you should be fine. As another poster mentioned, having no commuting time is excellent. You'll save hours each week!!! Very convenient indeed. I knew a teacher who was in that situation and never had a problem. I'd quite like it actually.

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

I wouldn't risk it. If you get shafted by your boss, you may find yourself without a place to live. One of the posters today had this very problem.