| Practical Information > Lodging > Long-term |
| Types of Lodging | Finding a Place | Amenities |
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Amenities
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Gas/Oil |
Electricity |
Water |
Maintenance Fees |
Other Fees |
Telephone |
Mobile Phone |
Waste Management
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Unless an arrangement is specifically made with the owner (very rare), rental agreements do not include utilities. (Hasukjip residents do not pay for utilities.) Some bills for utilities lag a month or more behind actual usage. The previous resident or owner is responsible for paying any utilities used during their rental period. Verify the dates on bills received when you first move in and give any to the owner (or real estate agent) that apply to a time period before you moved in. For bills that overlap (for example, you lived in the residence during the last 2 weeks of the billing period), the owner should pro-rate the amount. (Note that when you move out, the owner will expect some money to cover the final utility bills of your contract period.)
In the case of an owner renting out parts of the house, most utility bills include usage for the entire house, so the owner will divide the amount among all the tenants. Make sure that the terms of the division are clearly spelled out in the housing contract.
Utility bills can be paid at most banks or post offices. (However, certain bills, especially maintenance fees for apartment complexes, may have restrictions on which banks can be used.) Failure to pay by the due date results in a late fee (usually 2%) that must also be paid with the bill. The cashier at the bank or post office will stamp your bills as paid and give you a receipt. It is a good idea to save the receipts as proof that the bill was paid. Many bills can be setup to be automatically paid from your bank account each month, saving a trip to the bank to pay in person. After setting up the automatic payment, verify well before the due date that the bill was actually paid correctly. |
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Gas/Oil
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Newer buildings use dosi gas (Gas; natural gas- also called 'city gas' or 'urban gas') delivered through a main gas pipe. Older buildings not directly connected use canisters of liquid propane gas (LPG) that are delivered when the old canister is exhausted. The gas is used for cooking and heating water for the boiler and floor heating. Older buildings that have not been upgraded use oil boilers. Oil is much more expensive than gas, so most owners have already renovated their buildings. Direct gas users are billed monthly for usage. LPG and oil users pay on delivery.
When moving into a new residence, contact the local dosi gas or LPG company to hook up the stove and any other appliances that use gas. The installer will turn on the main gas line and check all the connections for leaks. When moving out, you must also call the company to have them disconnect individual appliances, turn off the main gas line, and check for leaks. The connection and disconnection each cost a small fee. Most Korean residences use floor heating (called ondol). The main temperature controls are usually located in the main bedroom or the living room. Depending on the design, individual rooms can be controlled through valves located in each room or in a central location near the boiler. Some older apartment buildings have central heating for the entire building or complex, with little control in each apartment. |
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Electricity
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Most buildings use 220 volts, although some older houses may have both 220 and 110. Korean 220 plugs have 2 round prongs, and 110 plugs have 2 flat prongs (no 3rd prong for ground). Transformers for converting power between 220 and 110 can be found at most electronics stores. Most rooms have very few power outlets (1 or 2 sets of 2 outlets in newer buildings, some older ones with only 1 outlet per room). The circuit breaker is normally located near the front door.
Billed monthly, the electricity bill also includes a monthly TV fee (of 2,500 won).
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Water
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| Usually billed every 2 months, general water usage is charged according to the type of user (residential or commercial). Although certified as safe for drinking by the government, many people still prefer to boil water before drinking it. Residents can also buy bottled drinking or mineral water at the local store or supermarket or have it delivered. The city water company hotline phone number is 121. |
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Maintenance Fees
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| Residents in apartments or villas with a management office will receive a monthly bill for maintenance fees. (Some apartments include some utilities in the main bill while others separate them.) These fees include the salaries (guards and maintenance workers), shared utilities (electricity for elevators and lighting), and maintenance and repair fees. |
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Other Fees
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Bansanghoe - Bansanghoe is the name of a meeting to improve the neighborhood by promoting good relations among neighbors. It comes from Korea's tradition of caring about ones neighbors and surrounding area. Meetings are unofficial, although all residents are encouraged to participate. Some meeting organizers will charge a small fee (a few thousand won) to buy snacks and drinks for attendees.
In some apartment complexes, the residents in each apartment block may collect a few thousand won from each tenant to buy a small present for the guards to show their appreciation. This usually occurs around major holidays (such as the Lunar New Year (Seolnal) and Chuseok. |
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Waste Management
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To preserve a clean and natural environment, waste management is very important. The government has been pushing hard for recycling and separating different garbage types. Residences and business are also charged according to the amount of waste they produce. Thoroughly separate different types of waste and place in the appropriate containers.
Garbage must be placed in special garbage bags that must be purchased from neighborhood stores and supermarkets. These bags can only be used in Gangnam-gu and bags purchased outside Gangnam-gu cannot be used. For residences, the bags are white and come in 5-, 10-, 20-, 30-, and 50-litre sizes. (Commercial bags are orange and come in 20-, 50-, 75- and 100-litre sizes.) 
Bags should be left in designated areas for scheduled collection leave between 20:00 - 7:00 before the scheduled pickup. (Apartment buildings and villas generally have dumpsters.) Recyclable materials are separated into 5 groups: paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Apartment buildings usually have separate containers for each type. Other areas may have specifically marked containers or bags. Items should be cleaned of foreign materials and compressed as much as possible before placing in the containers.
Food-related refuge must be placed in specially marked containers after removing as much moisture as possible. Make sure that the lids are tightly secured after placing refuge in the containers.
Large items (refrigerators, furniture, electronics) being disposed require special handling. Before disposal, contact the sanitation division of your local dong office (Dong Samuso) for a special form. Pay the required fee at a bank or post office, and then attach the form to the article. Items without paid forms will not be accepted for disposal. Rubbish from house construction or remodeling must be crushed and placed in special construction rubbish bags. For amounts exceeding 5 tons, special arrangements will have to be made. |
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