Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OculisOrbis]

Basically, I was all set to have my large dog shipped over here to keep me company. I did all the research into vaccinations and paperwork and I was planning on doing this discreetly within the next 30 days or so and dealing with the fallout after, but somehow my school has become aware of my plans and told me that it was illegal to have a dog in my apartment. In addition to that, I was informed that if I did keep a dog and other tenants complained that my dog could be taken from me. I personally feel that this is total BS and the school just doesn't want any friction with the landlord. Back home it was actually against the law for landlords to not allow pets - just curious what the laws are here or if a pissed off landlord can actually do more than blow hot air if there is no noise/damage problems from keeping a full-size dog. I am pretty sure there are already at least a few apartments in my complex harbouring some of those little rat-type dogs .

[i_teach_esl]

if you love your dog, dont make it take that awful plane ride over here, and then risk it being taken away from you. korea is not your home. i dont think it's right to try and force everyone into conforming to your likes/preferences... my own humble opinion, ignore me if you please.

you dont seem at all concerned about your job/employer. uhm, but, they are you employer. you do have to abide by their rules.

maybe, can you find a new apartment? you could move, front the rent yourself, then you can do whatever you want. pleny of pets right here in korea that need homes. http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=68453&highlight=

[OculisOrbis]

Ok, but before I ignore you I need to clarify a few things. The "enduring the awful plane ride and risking it being taken away" is the root cause of my request for info so that I may avoid just that. As for Korea not being my home, my home is wherever I chose to live and bestow the title of home. I may not have been born here or will ever be fully accepted here, but I now consider it 'home'. What makes you think that my employer has any say in the things I do outside of my job. I show up on time, do whatever they ask of me, kiss their asses during working hours and do not dishonor their business with exploits - drunken or otherwise - outside of work, but that's where it should end. My time and my space is exactly that - mine.

[uberscheisse]

[OculisOrbis]

That's one vote for BS.

The my school provided apartment is more than adequate for a pet so I have no need to feel any guilt about future living conditions for my dog . It's definitely much a nicer place than the one I had prior to coming to Korea. Newer, but a little smaller. Currently, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, laundry room (alas no dryer), and closet/deck rooms with glass sliding doors in every bedroom and living room. Brand new building and furniture and appliances. I'm also directly adjacent to a trail that is a 10 min walk to park or the network of trails is easily sufficient to occupy a couple hours of walking.

All of the arrangements and working situations with my employer have been what I believe to far above the average and I am grateful for everything up to this point.

[Col.Brandon]

Korea is no place for dogs, especially large ones. It is illegal to have dogs in apartments, unfortunately many ignorant morons ignore this law and make life a living hell for both the dogs and their poor neighbors.

If you care about your dog then don't bring it to Korea.

[Captain Corea]

Many apartments have rules concerning dogs, and if reported to the police, they can be removed (I've been thinking of reporting the yappy pup down the hall).

[JongnoGuru]

[markhan]

Everything is BS if you dont agree?
People who have responded have lived in Korea so they know more than you do. Korea is not indeed your "home" "Home" as in the place of familiarity where you know ins and outs of everything that is going on.

I don't know where you are from but most of the apartments i have lived in NY strictly disallowed dogs.
And as the school you are supposed to work for provides apartment, they have every right to say regarding dog.

[Qinella]

It seems your question has been appropriately answered, but what I'm curious about is how your school found out. Let me guess, the government decided to call your school and talk to them instead of having someone just speak directly to you?

[red dog]

[karenb]

I think that it is technically "illegal" (or against the rules) to have a dog in the apartment, but like many other laws/rules in Korea the no-pet policy doesn't always get enforced. Many Koreans I talk to say they want to have a pet but they can't because they live in an apartment. That being said, my apartment complex has a dozen or so pet owners. My miniature schnauzer -a whopping 7 kilos- is the biggest of the bunch.

Since your employer is already telling you not to do it, and s/he has the most power to cause problems for you, I would say don't bring your dog over here unless you find your own place to live, have it in writing that your new landlord allows dogs, and have confidence that your dog will be a good, quiet apartment dweller. Possibly be prepared to pay an extra deposit. Like other people have already mentioned, you won't have many rights if another tenant decides to complain.

Alternatively, you might want to sit down with your employer and talk frankly to him/her in detail about your dog and why she won't cause problems. How she's a housetrained member of the family, not a barker, doesn't dig at the floors, well, any and all the reasons you can think of. Maybe your employer will change his/her mind.

Good luck!

[uberscheisse]

i worry about what would happen to your beloved pooch in a korean pound. attitudes towards jettisoned/unwanted pets here are notoriously auschwitz-like. leave him home.

[jmbran11]

I realize this advice is not helpful now, but as a warning to other newcomers: if you want to bring a pet here, you should be up front from the beginning and find an employer who will knowingly agree, preferrably in writing. That was the first question I asked in my phone interview, and I've never had any problems.

If you doubt the landlord's ability to make you give up your pet, search the many threads here of people who have tried to give away/sell their dogs after arrival because of opposition from the school. The question to ask yourself is this: If your employer drops the hammer, are you willing to find alternative housing or will you abandon your pet? If you are not willing to give up the apartment when push comes to shove, don't bring your pet without express permission.

[JongnoGuru]