Korean Job Discussion Forums

[curlygirl]

Bear with me on what may seem like a foolish question.

In Korea is monthly rent paid in advance like it is in the West?

Example: You move into an apartment on March 1st. You pay your first month's rent on the same day. At the end of the month you pay again for the next month's rent and so on.

I'm not looking for opinions please, I'm after the cold hard facts.

For the curious among you, I moved into my apartment 3 years ago and my lease expired today. I contracted with my landlady to stay on a few extra days and have already paid in advance for those days. However, I forgot to stop autopayments of rent with my bank so another month's rent was automatically deducted (ouch!). I need to ascertain whether I'm actually paying 30 days in arrears or 30 days in advance (the Western method). Assistance sought please.

[curlygirl]

Update. I spoke to a Korean who tells me that Koreans NEVER pay rent in advance. They pay the deposit up front (like I did) then pay rent in arrears from then on in. This means they pay the last month's rent on the day they move out.

Anybody care to confirm or refute this?

[Hootsmon]

Yep, your Korean friend is right. I've rented two places and the rent always comes out later. For example, I moved in to my current place last year on the 14th of February, paid the deposit that day, and then paid my first month's rent on 14th of March. It was the same in the last place I rented.

Can you not remember when you paid rent the first time?

[curlygirl]

Nope because it was 3 years ago. I'm going to head into the bank later this week and get back statements. That should clear it up once and for all. Thanks for your reply.

[UknowsI]

I pay my rent in advance, so unless there is some kind of scheme to trick us, there do exist pay in advance contracts. My contract is typical 1-2 room for students who often only stay for one semester, so that might be why.

PS: Thumbs up for UO avatar.

[highstreet]

I pay in advance for my current officetel and my last place.

[orosee]

I also pay in advance. It actually says so on the contract, maybe there's a statement in yours as well?

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

I don't know, because I took over the apartment from my previous school. Damn.

[schwa]

I've experienced both.

[12ax7]

[ren546]

I just signed a lease today, and it says that my rent is due in advance. I just asked two other friends with leases in their name (one of whom is Korean), and they both pay in advance.