There are some things you should know about living off campus. If you’re not able to get into the SK Global, International House or not keen on living in a dorm, you’ve got pretty much 2 other options.
***Please note! these are only for the case of Sinchon, prices will vary depending on which suburb you’re living in.
1. Renting a studio apartment, what they usually call ‘one-room’, which could be in a pretty old building and pretty shocking. Newer ones are called office-tells. In order to rent a one-room, landlords ask for a deposit and monthly rent. The amount of the deposit could range from AUS$4000 to $50,000 depending on the type of place you live in. If it’s nice and new, you’re probably looking at the latter deposit amount. Although I did have a pretty swedish friend who managed to get a place with only 100,000won deposit.. it wasn’t new though. Monthly rent can range from 300,000-500,000won, although i’m sure it could go up any time!
2. Living in a HaSookJip. Some may call this a home stay but it’s not really living with a family. It’s usually just a building with lots of rooms and there’s a land lady who lives upstairs or downstairs who cleans shared areas and provides three meals a day. You probably won’t have much time to talk to her and.. she probably doesn’t really want to talk to you anyway. HaSookJip are quite risky based on what I heard from other students. Some have been terrible, with terrible food and conditions and others are really good. There are also some that only takes girls or only students of a certain nationality. So start looking early if you’re interested in staying in HaSook! the cost from what I’ve heard is generally around 500,000won a month, give or take 100,000won.
I’m sure you know already, but please do a lot of research and preferably visit a place before you decide to move in or pay any money. Ask to see contracts or some kind of legal documentation too! There are students who have been cheated of their deposit!
Alice in The Land of Morning Calm 