Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

I just got back from an extend visa run/vacation prior to my next contract. I will be paying for my accomodation this time and one thing concerns me about the billing. While I was away my recruiter put money down on the apartment to "hold" it for me, when I returned I thought that this would be part of the key money... but "no" that is not the case... the recruiter's girlfriend was the realtor so she stands to make a comission from me as it is yet somehow I think they squeezed me for an extra 200,000 won and I feel not so happy about it.



Is this a legitimate fee?

[Mashimaro]

I found my own place dependently of boss/recruiter, I had to to pay a holding fee of 50,000 won from memory. In my case it was a new building and the 50,000 was I assume to cover them if I'd changed my mind and decided not to move in . Your situation may be different, but 200,000 does sound excessive at face value

[John Henry]

Don't know about "holding money". But rental agents do get a fee for their service (duh). Half is paid by you, half by the owner of the apartment. I paid 150,000.

[Hotpants]

I paid 50,000 for holding a room at a goshiwon. Holding fees can sometimes be charged if a place is really popular, but unless you are living in an officetel in Trump Towers, 200,000 is a much higher amount than I've ever heard anyone being asked to pay. Sounds suspect.

[SuperHero]

it's generally a percentage of the total rental contract.

[kprrok]

I remember when I had my own apartment down in Jeju, I had to give them 50,000 to hold the apartment until I signed the contract, and then it was just considered part of the deposit. But, I didn't go through any recruiter or agent to get it. I just found it myself and called around.

KPRROK

[kat2]

agents always get a fee. 200 is what we paid two months ago.

[Cheonmunka]

When we chonsei we pay a 200.000 won fee. I guess that's the same for a long term wolsei.

[xCustomx]

I just came back from the realtor, where I was ready to sign a contract for my own officetel. I backed out once she told me I had to pay a percentage of the cheonseh fee, so it came out to about 430,000. I was thinking 'oh helllll no.' From what I've read, I was expecting about 200,000 tops. They also wanted 1,000,000 to hold the officetel.

Needless to say I think I'm gonna shop around for a new realtor.

[hellofaniceguy]

Just don't pay it! Why pay someone to look for a place to live? That's the house owners problem.

[SuperHero]