You’re Welcome: The cost of living (Part 2/2)

This is the second part of my answer to CW’s question about the cost of living in Geoje.

Food/Drink

Generally, it is a little cheaper living here in South Korea than in the US.  A meal out at a modest Korean restaurant around Geoje can coast as low as 5-8,000 (more if order alcohol).

Drinking is cheap if you are drinking soju.  Soju, Koreans native and ubiquitous alcoholic beverage (its not strong enough to be called liquor).  Costs about 1,500 for a small bottle.  Beyond two bottle of soju and you are on your way to intoxication.  Hence, the streets being littered with drunk men too incapacitated to talk home without falling.

Beer or western liquors are quite expensive.  A .75 bottle of Jim Beam whiskey goes for about 25,000 to 30,000--when you can find it.  A 1.75 liter plastic bottle of Korean beer goes for about 5,000.

Western food is more expensive.  I have an ad Domino’s taped to all the doors in my hall and the large pizza’s range from 19,000 for pepperoni to 32,000 for a “Double Crust Steak” pizza.  Pizza prices are reduced 20% if you pick up at the store rather than have delivery.  However, that discount goes away if you eat the pizza in the restaurant.

Western staples like bread, butter, peanut butter, and cheese are also more expensive since they aren't part of a Korean's normal diet.  A half-loaf of so-so white bread goes for about 1,500.  Cheese is at least 2-3 times the cost in America with a smaller selection.

Utilities

Electricity is much cheaper.  I was amazed--about a third of what I paid for my studio apartment in the states.  For July, when I ran the air conditioner almost constantly, my bill was a little over 80,000.  However, with no air conditioner, its usually half that.   The gas, which is used to heat water and the room is more expensive--those bills can run between 25,000 in the summer when I just use it for cooking and heating water, to 80,000 or so when its also heating the floor in the winter months.

Internet/Cable runs about 45,000 a month.  And the internet is blazing fast.  That’s nice.  The prices are similar to broadband prices in the US, but the speed is much faster for what you pay.  My phone bill is about 15,000 a month (and that's without a rate plan!).

Transportation

A city bus costs 1,000 won.  A ferry to Busan costs 22,000.  A bus to Seoul costs 31,000.  The taxi rate in Geoje starts at 1,800 during normal hours (morning-11pm).  I can get from Gohyeon to Okpo for just about 9,000.  That being said, I usually take the bus.

Overall, without any careful budgeting, I've been able to send about half of my paycheck home most months.  The past few months, I've been budgeting much tighter and have been able to send about 1,300,000 home.  That's still not living too tightly.  Spending about 15,000 a day to buy groceries or eat out and using the rest for utilities.

If you are budgeting to send money home for savings or paying off debt, you have to keep the exchange rate in mind.  Its not good right now in the slightest.  the first year I was here, it was pretty steady at about 1,000 won to $1.15-1.20.  As of today its at 1,000 to $0.71!  So, keep that in mind when doing mental calculations.  The previous rule of thumb of 1,000 to $1 doesn't work any more when you are thinking about sending money home.

You’re welcome.

You’re Welcome: The cost of living (Part 1/2)

Today, I received this e-mail from a future Geojite (or is that Geojean?):

American in Korea,
I am set to come to Korea in January to teach English in Geoje.  I found your blog by performing a Google search and I wanted to ask you a question.
Can you give me an idea of the cost of living in Geoje?
I'm sure that you are busy, but if you find time, it would be great if you could help me out.
Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

CW

Well, CW that’s a good question.  And of course you’re welcome before you even thank me.  I want to answer your question in two parts.  Today, I want to look a a general snapshot of Korean money compared to US money.
I don’t know your situation but if you are paying off any loans or debt or have the goal of saving up dollars—or any other currency for that manner—Korea is going to be mighty expensive.
I previous wrote about the sinking Korean won a few weeks ago.  Then, I took the hit and exchanged my money and sent it to America.  I’m glad I did then, because its gotten much worse.  The won is now at a 7 1/2 year low against the US dollar!  The only time its been worse in recent history is when it was forced into an IMF loan in 1998.
Here’s today’s chart from Google Finance:

Its down about 33% the past year, and down about 10% the past three weeks.  I re-did my end of term budget to plan in my final payments from Korea (last paycheck, severance pay, and pension disbursement) and was shocked at the results.  I lost $600 compared to what I would have received if September had been my last month!  That’s what a 10% drop in a currency means for ex-pats sending money back overseas.
Teachers with prior experience or a teacher’s degree usually get a 2.2 million won a month contract.  When I first came, this was worth about $2,400 a month.  Add in the benefits—health, the severance pay at the end, and the paid housing and the deal was good.  Now the same 2.2 million won month contract is worth about $1,600 a month!  That’s $800 less than the beginning of term!  Because of the sinking won, many teachers have taken a de facto pay cut of $800 a month!

	Korean Won	US Dollars
October 2007	2.2 million	$2,400
October 2008	2.2 million	$1,600

Those wanted to save money or send money home are at a serious disadvantage.  However, if you are looking to travel around Asia during breaks, around Korea on the weekend, and be immersed in a foreign culture, Korea would still be a great choice.  It just might be a good idea to keep the money you earn here until the won goes up a bit before sending any of it home.
Also, while the weak won hurts the exchange rate, it hasn’t caused a huge inflation.  I’m speaking as a consumer here not an economist.  So your won aren’t as worthy overseas, but here in Korea, they are just right.  Tomorrow, I’ll talk more about.
You’re welcome.

You’re Welcome: Going to the Movies [Updated 10/3/08]

Updated

Dear American in Geoje:
I’m living in Geoje, without a car, and there’s nothing to do.  I do like to watch movies.  I’m sure there're Korean sites that say the show times, but I can’t read Koran !  I don’t know how to find what are playing until I show up.  Is there a way I can use the interwebs to get my answer?

Thanks in advanced,

Illiterate North American

Well, Illiterate American, don’t be ashamed of your illiteracy.  Plenty of English teachers living in Korea can’t read their host country’s language.  So, I have some suggestions to help you get the answers you need.
First, learn how to read!  The Korean alphabet is designed to be so easy, even women can learn how to read it!  And before you get on to me for being sexist, it was Korean’s themselves who nicknamed their alphabet “women’s script.”  Here’s an introductory video:

But, if you’re thinking of bailing on your contract, and don’t want to take the time to learn a new alphabet, then here’s the easy way.


1.  Visit either CGV's or Lotte's websites for the latest showtimes

A.  Go to the original version of the Lotte Cinema website
This link is specific for Geoje.  Once you are at the site, select and copy the name of the movie.  Then, go to naver.com.  There, paste the name of the movie into the search engine and press enter. 

It should show a movie poster and trailer for the movie.  That way you an see what movies are showing.  See the example below for Hancock. 

B. Visit CGV's website (your welcome for the video I made)

The CGV website is entirely in flash, which means cutting and pasting the names of the movies in Naver isn't possible.  However, CGV does have links to the film trailers if you click on the titles.


3.  Go to the theater
Here’s a map.  This is in Gohyeon of course.  Note the Homeplus building in the left of the map.  Then, the bus terminal in the right of the map.  Parking is on the street (where you can find it), or in the garages at the theaters.  Make sure to get your parking ticket stamped at the box office or you'll have to pay for parking.  Click the map for a larger view.

4.  Buy your ticket
Make sure to grab a number from the machine.  CGV's lobby is on the sixth floor all the way in the back now, ignore the old, empty box office in front.  At Lotte, their lobby is on the third floor.  When your number’s called, say the name of the movie in English.  If they don’t understand (some movie titles in Korean are different), then point to the movie poster.

Then, they’ll want to know how many people (fingers work nice for this if they don’t speak Korean.)  Then, they will want to know where you want to sit.  Chose a seat area from the monitor.  At Lotte, my preferred theater, my favorite seat is D8.

5.  You’re Welcome



Special Note:  Movies are NOT dubbed over for the most part.  If they are, then next to the title it will say “더빙”.  The exception to this rule are cartoons.  Cartoons are usually dubbed, but sometimes come in both dubbed and subtitled flavors (playing on separate screens).  Its usually the bigger budget American ones like Kung Fu Panda, Ratatouille, and Wall-E that will come in both versions.
This means dubbed:더빙 (dubbing)
This means subtitled:  자막 (jah-mahk)
If you are unsure, then ask with those above words.  It would be silly to spend your money and not understand a word of the movie.

Oh and you’re welcome.

You’re Welcome: What kind of water do you drink?

I know that when people come to another country, often the first question they ask is, “Can I drink the water?”  I remember asking the question when I first got here.  One reader posed it to me in a comment on my post about Icis water.

helloefrebody wrote:

Lotte Icis water is actually fine...what do you usually drink, you pompous American twat?!

Wow.  I don’t know that I’ve ever been called a twat before.  I don’t really know what that is, but thank you I guess.

You have a good question.  Actually, the only brand of water that I’ve tried in Korea that I didn’t like is Lotte Icis.  The first ten or so times I had it it had a bit of a dirty taste to it—its hard to describe.

My favorite Korean brand is “Sam Da Soo.”  Its in one of those squared bottle and comes from Jeju.  As I noted in my first post, either my tastes have adjusted, or Icis’s taste has changed.  I actually bought a second bottle of Icis this week.  I wouldn’t say that I prefer it, but its really not so bad anymore.

And as for the question of tap water safety, the water is safe to drink, at least in Geoje.  The water here is treated, fluorinated, and okay for human consumption.  However, most Koreans still opt to buy bottled water, or they boil the water into tea.

helloefrebody also wrote:

A few mutual friends were at dinner with you recently and mentioned that they had never been to dinner with a foreigner that was as arrogant and rude to the Koreans who owned the place as you!

Jesus!

I think you’re mistaken.  First, you’ve obviously confused the people you’ve talked to as friends of mine.  I’m generally not rude, and friends of mine would have called me out if I was being rude.  Also, they wouldn’t have talked about me behind my back.  I try to be nice to wait staff to keep them from spitting my my food.

I generally think that I have a good relationship with the people who run the restaurants.  Why, just yesterday, a friend and I were greeted by name and open arms at my favorite 닭갈비 dakgalbi (chicken ribs) restaurant.

Second, I think you might have me confused with someone else.  I don’t think I’ve ever been called arrogant before.  I’d consider myself to be the humblest person I know.

So, now that we’ve got the cleared up, keep the questions coming!

You’re welcome.

You're Welcome: How's the Weather?

Dear American in Geoje,

I have no idea what the weather is going to be like day to day.  I ask the Korean women I work with, "Should I bring an umbrella tomorrow?"  They always say,"Yes."  They say this even if its a nice day!  I'm so confused.  The English sites I've found only have information for the big cities.  Where do I go for weather information for Korea?

Thanks in advance,

Always Dry

I've been there.  About the umbrella thing: Korean women often use umbrellas to keep the sun off their faces.  This keeps them looking as white as possible.

As for the weather information, go to Naver.  If you go to http://weather.local.naver.com you'll be greeted with a map.  This will give you an overview for each province.  Click on the province to go to the city level.  On the next page there will be a list entirely in Korean of cities within that province, select yours.

If you can't read Korean, then learn to read Korean!  If that's not an option, then get a Korean to help you, or match up the name of your city from your Certificate of Alien Registration card with the name from the list.

  
For those living in Geoje, here's your ready-made link.

Then, when you find your city, look at the dates for each city.  One forecast day might say: 7월10일.  The "7월" means "7th month" (AKA July).  Then "10일" means "10th day."  So, the forecast is for July 10th.

For those Americans out there, who can't read Celsius, here's a little trick:  go to the Google search bar in your browser (in the upper right corner), or to the Google homepage.  Type in **C in F.  For example, to convert 24 Celsius into Fahrenheit, type in "24C in F".  Then Google spits out the answer:  75.2 degrees Fahrenheit

You're welcome

You’re Welcome: “A Silly Question”

I have decided to start an occasional series of advice columns for western ex-pats living or potentially moving to South Korea.

The title of this series comes from me saying, “Your Welcome” in advance of you saying “thank you” in advance of me giving advice in advance of you asking for it.  Let me put it this way:  I’m so confident that you’ll thank me for the advice, that I’m going to say you’re welcome right now.

The first question comes from “Wet and Bothered.”

Dear An American in Geoje,

I was frantically searching for information about my Tromm washer when I came across your blog. I've been in South Korea for about 3 weeks and haven't had one load of laundry that wasn't completely wet at the end of my wash cycle! We have the same exact washer! (Thanks for putting a picture of it up!) Would you help me out and give me an idea of which buttons do what? The Korean teachers at my school haven't been any help and I'm anxious to experience the excitement of baking my clothes dry!

Thanks in advance,

Wet and Bothered

Well, Wet and Bothered, wet clothes certainly are a problem.  I’m glad that you enjoyed my post on the Tromm DD Inverter.  The red button inserts the heating option into the washing cycle.  Push it until it adds the appropriate amount of time to dry your clothes.

The number options on the left are for the size of the load if I remember correctly.

Then, I usually left everything else the same.  Although, I’d occasionally use the temperature button (the one with the 95, 60, 40 degree options).  I’d sometimes wash my whites on hot if they were getting a little dingy (think pit sweat in the summer).  The last words on the temperature setting mean “cold,” which is where I usually left it.

Remember, when drying, I’d stay away from anything that wrinkles, and anything with synthetic fibers—I affectionately called the machine a clothes oven.  I hope that helps.

As for the rest, I can’t really remember---its been almost a year since I’ve used it.

 

Your Welcome,

An American in Geoje