Korean Job Discussion Forums

[VirginIslander]

Its been a relatively good year at my school: reasonable pay, paid on time, good hours, good staff, great location; but one thing in particular bothers me.

I understand apartment contracts but my school, not my company, continues to place new teachers in the most unwanted apartment room in all of Busan. Its in a good area but the apartment is tiny.

We have a large franchise and our other schools place their teaches in nice apartments in my particular area--right down the road actually.

Then, our school is baffled when us teachers request or demand a new apartment or do a runner, usually after vsiting one of our franchise coworker's apartments.


During the past year, six teachers have inhabited the same apartment room at one point or another.

First person left the apartment after his year contract in September (he was a trooper); another stayed for two months then requested a room change; then another in November and she requested a room change after a month; then another in January and he did a runner after a week because of the living condition; then another in February and she demanded a room change; and now they just put a Korean-American in the room, and he probably wont complain.

Six teachers in one year. And the Canadian recruiter who recruited most us has the audacity to advertise on this website that his company checks out the living accommodations to make sure we have a good living environment.

Are we being picky or does our school need a shot of common sense with their next shot of soju?

[Crowzone]

On a related note:

It blew my Directors mind when I told him that the living conditions at our academy were the number 1 reason why I would recommend this particular establishment to my friends or other people.

We have VERY nice apartments, incredibly spacious and well equipped and it definitely offsets any deficiencies at the school (Which aren't many mind you).

I honestly feel he was incredibly surprised to find out that we liked living in a nice apartment and that the reason he has had no runners in the past two years (since he got these new apartments) is probably because he moved everyone out of one room boxes.

[goodgood]

Let's have a picture of the apartment- then we can judge how bad it really is.

If it's just a normal one room, then everybody at your school should stop being silly. That is what most foregn teachers in Korea live in. If it really is some tiny little shoebox, the there may be a problem.

Have you ever seen a one room in Seoul? Those are generally pretty small....

[VirginIslander]

A comparison between a Seoul and Busan apartment is like comparing apples and oranges; especially in the less urban area of Busan. Plus, I would have to present photos of not only my apartment but the average apartment in this area.

I have been to one other apartment building in this area like mine--next to mine, and I know their school pays W175,000 a month with 10 million down. I am assuming that rent is really inexpesive because most schools offer a minimum of 300,000 for a living allowance. And there school, with a staff of six, has had two runners in the past six months--and one was specifically related to the housing. Another one of their teachers requested a room change about a month ago.