A lot of schools seem to offer free housing as part of the contract. What are the housing conditions generally like?

Free housing is typically included in employment contracts for English teachers. Generally, a school will provide a furnished studio or one bedroom apartment—which includes a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and sometimes living room— located within a 10-15 minute walking distance to the school.

What kind of furniture is included? Do I have to buy my own?

The amount of furniture included in the apartment varies with the school. Usually, a twin-size bed, bedding, television, table and chairs, refrigerator, gas stove, and basic cookware—such as a pot, pan, dishes, and utensils— are provided. Also, many apartments include air conditioning installations and have central heating systems.

Do you share a room or apartment with other teachers?

No, you do not share a room or apartment with others. While it is common to live in the same apartment complex as other teachers, you will generally have your own, unshared apartment unless otherwise specified by the school.

Is the apartment modern and Westernized?

The housing provided is typically quite modern. The biggest difference between apartments in Western countries and those in Korea may be the bathroom, which generally does not have a partitioned bathing area. While the apartment you’re provided will have a Western style toilet, it is not unusual to find the bathroom lacks a bathtub and has instead a detachable shower head mounted to the wall.

Will my apartment include a washer and dryer?

Usually, no—you will not have a personal washer and dryer, but the apartment complex will have at least one washer per floor that is shared by the tenants. Because dryers are still viewed as a domestic luxury in Korea, these are quite hard to find. People hang their clothes to dry on laundry racks or sometimes lay them out on the floor to dry by taking advantage of the central heating system (which circulates heat beneath the floor).