My Apartment in Gwangju, Korea

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
  • Video about my living arrangements in Gwangju, South Korea.

ความคิดเห็น • 143

  • @deanfaust
    @deanfaust 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is great stuff. Im watching every video start to finish.

  • @CapitainThunder
    @CapitainThunder 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    For all the Korean apartaments for english teachers I saw yours is by FAR the nices and the biggest one out there!!

  • @leecixxi9226
    @leecixxi9226 10 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    You are so lucky. I have been on TH-cam for hours looking at apartments and you have the best one.

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Wow that's cool. It's history now, but that was a surreal year and a half living in that apt. for free.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Gwangju is a fantastic city. Of course there are things hard to find in gwangju and in Korea, but the foreigners in Gwangju are really tight. Facebook groups are setup and people post questions and get answers all the time.

  • @saltyfrog75
    @saltyfrog75 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Definitely interested in seeing what your new place looks like. :)

  • @IchigiXSHINeeX2pm
    @IchigiXSHINeeX2pm 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    BEST KOREAN APARTMENT IVE SEEN! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SO GOOD THAT YOU DISEREVED THIS? If I move to Korea would love to have a Korean apartment like that just not so high.

  • @Bintazmin
    @Bintazmin 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    That Sofa, and red leather chair were mine at one point! haha, strange to see how they have been passed around :) x

  • @Ryans4hww
    @Ryans4hww 14 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love your videos Stephen. Thanks for taking the time to do them. I'm very interested in going to teach in Korea and also bring along my wife and three year old little girl. i think it would be a great experience for all of us. I'm looking into Gwangju, but I see it is on the map near Seoul and in the southeast directly west of Busan. Are you up near Seoul? That's my guess. Thanks.

  • @Worldofourown2024
    @Worldofourown2024 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    That's a nice set up. They have good modern housing over there. You lucked out. It can be a tiny room with a clothes washer crammed in the tiny bathroom. I had a tiny place with a hagwon, a huge 2 bedroom hanok house with a rural public school, and a nice 1 room studio over a dog restaurant in allyway the 3rd year. I would imagine that high rise living is good, because you don't have to contend with street level noise and it gives you a sense of privacy knowing no one can possibly by shooping.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just depends on the school. Some schools don't care, you can wear shorts and a t-shirt. Most schools you can wear a polo shirt and khakis, or dress shirt and slacks. University teachers should wear the dress shirt and pants.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Beautiful views day and night, and the elevator is fast.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @Ryans4hww Actually Gwangju is far from Seoul, the city is located in the southwest of the country. Busan is about a 3 hour drive to the east. Take another look at the map to get your bearings. Thanks for the love!

  • @alonaBAM
    @alonaBAM 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    your apartment is the first one i seen with an actual shower and an oven. it looks really nice. (:

  • @karennava16
    @karennava16 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Omg! Ur so lucky I've seen other people apartments and your is by far the BIGGEst!!!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @ktishme I've met many foreigners here in my 9 weeks. I go out to downtown a few times a week. I haven't met your family yet. They say there are around 7,000 foreigners in the city. Most of them don't come around downtown, or travel a lot, or stick to their section of town. In my section of the city, I'm the only foreigner I've seen for miles. So maybe I will bump into them at some point, I should remember those names. Yes, I know how lucky I am to get this great apartment and job!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I didn't pay rent for this because my school did. But my guess is this would cost around $400 a month with a $5,000 deposit which you get back when your lease is up.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @homerun565ft I don't know, usually the internet is hard wired and you pay a monthly fee ($25 for me). Can't count on free wireless unless it's in your school. Some coffee shops offer free wireless, but it's rare.

  • @LeeJCander
    @LeeJCander 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Lol great song choice...hole in the skyyyy! My girlfriend and I both have Degree's from the UK and tefl certifications and we role out next year :)

  • @myrudegyalshai
    @myrudegyalshai 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    You got so lucky! If I ever go to Korea, I hope I'm that lucky ahaha.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    If you sign with EPIK, that is the public school system and they give you some sort of orientation. If you go with a hagwan or private school, they just give you a textbook (or not) and just let you learn as you go. There's not much training for this, might want to do the 50 or 100 hour online TESOL just as a base.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Any degree will do. You have to be a college graduate to get the visa for Korea. A degree in Teaching or Linguistics will get you slightly higher pay.

  • @karmelasoprano13
    @karmelasoprano13 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    wow! this is the nicest and largest appartment ive seen yet!

  • @mariekilbane1958
    @mariekilbane1958 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    congrats for it out! and yes I pefer hot water in white clothes and sheets.. do u want my idea advice? I was thinking if you boiling water pour into washer to see if it works.. give it try! :)

  • @RobynRiley
    @RobynRiley 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    wow, awesome apt! I'm going to Jeju island in a month, do you have any friends who are there?

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @CapitainThunder i know i know! big part of the reason i stayed at my job for year #2. i keep seeing how my apartment rocks because nobody else has it better.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Gwang Ju Jeollanam-do? Nice home town! Thanks!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @ksum27 How did you like it? I heard of pungsong dong but never been, yet.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Go for it. A relatively easy, fun and eye opening way to spend a year overseas. Plus you return with money in the bank and a different outlook on life.

  • @derekbrown7020
    @derekbrown7020 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    you're living large for an English teacher's flat; lucky man. I visited quite a few in Seoul; nice one.

  • @stinkycatz
    @stinkycatz 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    Seems pretty large . They should do more Open floor plans , instead of all the little niches and nooks . i.e. the area with the washing machine and storage .

  • @jnyerere
    @jnyerere 10 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Yea, you are definitely (without a doubt) one of the lucky ones.

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  10 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah I know, I said so in the video too!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @ricanpinay you have a 5% chance of getting an apt like this one :-( and yes I went through a recruiter. my setup was all about great timing, i had a signed contract for another school and city that fell through right before Gwangju. Now I work for a small independent academy. Best wishes to you in Korea, you will have a blast!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    thanks, I was super lucky to live here for the first year and a half. not anymore.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yes, I had a recruiter help me. Finding the job and the apartment was a huge stroke of luck. I lived here my first year and a half. Now I live in a standard one-room.

  • @blooberrys
    @blooberrys 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    you need to do an updated tour then!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @xiahnsaya1004 Yes, you can't open the screen and stick your body outside and look down, you would vomit! I get dizzy a bit when I'm shaking out my blankets and towels out the sliders!

  • @mariekilbane1958
    @mariekilbane1958 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    i'm not school teacher and I look everyone's Apartments on youtube and yes, you were right about one thing, the place will not be same or look like it.. pretty interested places.. I love my home in amercia HAHA! I hope you make friend with who is amercia korean can show you how to use washer? yeah, I wouldn't messed around with it and might end up broken.. Good Luck!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Yes it was awesome and i appreciated every minute. It lasted a year and a half. Now i'm living like a normal English teacher! No oven, small apartment.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I didn't figure anything out. I had no idea. I just told them I wanted a city location, one of the 6 larger cities. When I was ready, I took the first job, the first call from my recruiter.

  • @JillTomson
    @JillTomson 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    That's a good size apartment for one person. Is Gwangju a convenient city for you? Can you find many of the stuff that you can find in North America?

  • @eyeswideshut7354
    @eyeswideshut7354 8 ปีที่แล้ว

    cool video man. beautiful area

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  8 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks, it was the outskirts of the city so not yet built up.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @mbrown187 Yes! I'm pretty sure it was me. I was in the Samgmu Lotte Mart one time, probably walked by you there. There are so few foreigners here that when you see one, it's a big deal! Well, to me at least.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    I don't, Jeju is transient because it's a vacation getaway place. I haven't been there yet. There's a youtube blogger (brutus) who lives there, check him out.

  • @FullBellyTravels
    @FullBellyTravels 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Where did you go? Make more videos! Are you still in Korea?

  • @lancsno1
    @lancsno1 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    how did you manage to get such a nice place. I have seen some apartments and they are frankly quite awful in terms of space and location.

  • @glenlee833
    @glenlee833 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @Ryans4hww There are two Gwangju cities in Korea, one is near Seoul area and the other is by far south.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @Brinah I know I know! I re-signed for another year at the same school to stay at the same apartment.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @masukarious the VCR is here too, but I didn't bother trying to watch the videos.

  • @jasonbardy3256
    @jasonbardy3256 9 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice, it looks like you lived near Suwan-jigu/ Hanam-dong.

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  9 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes, near that area. The Homeplus was about a 15 minute walk.

  • @Dannicthemanic
    @Dannicthemanic 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    This place looks amazing. I'm working with teacheslkorea and hoping to get there in January. Did you use a recruiter?

  • @captainoz2112
    @captainoz2112 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    awesome apartment. if you dont mind me asking, how much is your rent if the price is converted to US dollars?

  • @Ryans4hww
    @Ryans4hww 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    I would love to go and get setup in an apartment just like this since I have a wife and three year old daughter. Who did you go through to get this setup? Thanks.

  • @Brinah
    @Brinah 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @stephenworldwide You know, I want to do this but i'm so scared! I've never dealt with children before and I have had doubts about whether or not I can handle this! I love your place btw! What do you do on weekends? I also want to ask you something but would it be ok if I pm you?

  • @uandltwingirls7917
    @uandltwingirls7917 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    yeah Jeollanamdo!!! r u still there?

  • @uandltwingirls7917
    @uandltwingirls7917 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    oh Gwnag Ju is my hometown :) nice apt !

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I got the washer figured out. But, i'm very disappointed that it does not use hot water, only cold. you must use hot water to kill bacteria and remove dirt from fabric. so, that's frustrating with this washer.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @stalkingalizee I can imagine. My recruiter told me that the living situation is better in Gwangju and the past teachers loved it. She was right! I do have friends here who live in a shoebox, but I got lucky. My boss moved into this same building, and he's on the 8th floor. So I'm living larger than my own boss. This is an apartment usually shared by a family.

  • @thegameksk
    @thegameksk 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    How did you figure out where you wanted to apply too? All I know so far is id rather live in a city but I have more research to still do.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Was a stroke of luck! There were two teachers at the school before me, and two small apartments. The school combined the two into this one big apartment, and they only hired me since the school did not have as many students. Just dumb luck.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @stalkingalizee Yes, I certainly will stay for another year here. I know that if I get a different job, say in a university or public school, my situation could not be better than now. So I will enjoy this amazing stroke of good fortune for 24 months before I move on to something else.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    i'm getting a new washer soon, but thanks for that tip!

  • @quillpen1867
    @quillpen1867 10 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    cool apartment!

  • @lmagnumopusl1
    @lmagnumopusl1 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    What grade level school do you teach? Very nice setup? How do I find something close to what you have?

  • @yumiko0017
    @yumiko0017 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    You're one million percent lucky to have that apartment & you have an oven?! Jealous :)

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @DeeClosetOtaku nobody gets an apartment like mine :-(, expect one room and a porch, with a bathroom on the side, like a dorm room. be happy if you get something bigger.

  • @canvasjen
    @canvasjen 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    wow what an amazing apartment, is this typical of what you've seen of other ESL teacher apartments??

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @Bintazmin I'm making good use of the furniture! Keeping it nice and clean for the next teacher! Then I will make your same comment of THEIR apartment video! Haha.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @soupmaster23 Thanks! That's why I specifically say how lucky and blessed I am, and people should not expect the same thing when they come here. Thanks for watching!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @lmagnumopusl1 My students are middle schoolers, about 11-15 years old. I think I had a 1 in 10 chance to get what I got in Korea. My recruiter deserves the praise for placing me here, and timing was the other part. I'm very lucky.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @Ryans4hww This apartment would be great for a small family. I had a recruiter looking for jobs for me. It was just the luck of the draw that this job at this school opened up at the right time. My school rented out two apartments in this complex earlier this year, and before that it was a much smaller apartment. So my advice would be to find a school looking to hire you and see if they would accommodate your housing need. It's very possible.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Still here but now I live in Pungam dong near World Cup Stadium.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @bixlerscott It's a dream come true. I know it cannot be this good if I take another job, so I extended for one more year.

  • @mbrown187
    @mbrown187 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dude, I think I saw you at Lotte Mart (or somebody who stole your face). I'm obviously here as well living near Sojung Outlet. What school do you work at? I'm at Reading Town near the Starbucks on Sang Mu (I think that's the name of the street). So how do you like the job? You have a much nicer place than mine.

  • @adhistygenno2398
    @adhistygenno2398 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    when i search about gwanju youtube i found this channel. thank you for showing gwanju place. pls more video about gwanju city and buildings and mall in gwanju. is it gwanju like a village or country side? or same as like incheon? thank u. p.s ive already subscribed your channel👍.

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There are two Gwangju cities in South Korea. This one is the "big" Gwangju, in the southwest area of Korea. It's a wonderful big city, and has some of the best food in the country. The other Gwangju is a small city outside of Seoul. I also lived there for a while and made some videos. I live in Tokyo these days, so I can't make new Gwangju videos. Thanks for watching!!

    • @adhistygenno2398
      @adhistygenno2398 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@stephenworldwide thank you so much for replying. Now i understand about gwangju city. You have awesome content. Pls keep making videos! It helps a lot of people. 👍😊

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  6 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@adhistygenno2398 I still do, once in a while. I just made a new apartment video!

  • @ojosverdesPR
    @ojosverdesPR 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    What if family or friends from your country come to visit you, Can they stay?? Is there no problem with your contract??

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @tempestloor Tell me about it!

  • @ricanpinay
    @ricanpinay 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm teaching in korea in 3 months..i hope i get an apartment like yours! lol what school do you work for? were you recruited?

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    in gwangju? where's that?

  • @linx6022
    @linx6022 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Maybe Samsung apt, Unnamdong, 89 square meter including public space.
    Hi , Stephen.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @TheAcesniper two guitars :-)

  • @20somthingdrifter11
    @20somthingdrifter11 11 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    How did you get such a massive apartment?

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  11 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sheer luck. They overspent on luxury, and the second teacher to share it was never hired. So I enjoyed it alsone for a year and a half. But it came at a huge cost down the road...

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  9 ปีที่แล้ว

      Long story short, my academy lost students and money, and thus I lost a ton of money, too.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    This was a rare occurrence. It was originally meant for two teachers.

  • @mariekilbane1958
    @mariekilbane1958 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    oh sure, I understand.. Good Luck new washer!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    Haha, well things have changed for me, I will post a new video with my current apartment sometime soon.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    It's coming. Tour will take about 15 seconds.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    yes i did, and i said so in the video. i don't live there anymore, i have a "standard" apartment. maybe i will make another video so people have a true idea of what you get.

  • @stepDog359
    @stepDog359 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    what program did you go through?

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @somarriba333 : watching baseball, south park, or the office ;-)

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I would guess anyone can stay for a few days. I never heard of a problem, your boss doesn't care who stays with you as long as you pay your bills and the neighbors don't complain.

  • @EddieJRIriias
    @EddieJRIriias 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    AWESOME APT :D

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  14 ปีที่แล้ว

    @soth3d That's what all my friends say! I got lucky, and I'm staying here for another year.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @NaturallyMichea One year contract, I'm 5 months away from finishing my second year.

  • @LeafsLoyals
    @LeafsLoyals 14 ปีที่แล้ว

    This apartment is incredibly misleading for the majority of those wondering what theirs will or would look like. I've been in about 25 different foreigner's apartments in Korea, which all have just one room total for your bed, kitchen, and that's it. A small closeted area for your washing machine plus a bathroom. That's it. No balcony. This apartment here is one which I'm very envious of!

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm still here! I took a break for a year but I will get back to making videos in 2013. Stay tuned and thanks for watching.

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Don't base your decision on my apartment here. This is a family's apartment, which takes a $10,000 down payment and around $500 a month to rent. It was a miracle that I got this my first year and a half. You will get a smaller one-room apartment most likely. I don't know about China, but in Korea, it's paid for. Therefore you will make more money in Korea.

  • @chealikethecar
    @chealikethecar 13 ปีที่แล้ว

    How long is your teaching contract??

  • @AngorRandford
    @AngorRandford 11 ปีที่แล้ว

    So I don't need a ESL certificate and just my degree to come to Korea???????

    • @stephenworldwide
      @stephenworldwide  11 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      There are two types of entry level teaching jobs: public school and private academy. For public school you most likely need an ESL certificate like TESOL. For private school, they will take pretty much anyone with a Bachelor's degree.

    • @AngorRandford
      @AngorRandford 11 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks so much for your reply!

  • @simmycirclecircle4117
    @simmycirclecircle4117 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hey can I know this apartment name plz

  • @katness05
    @katness05 12 ปีที่แล้ว

    Are you still in S. Korea teaching?

  • @stephenworldwide
    @stephenworldwide  13 ปีที่แล้ว

    @IchigiXSHINeeX2pm I was just lucky. Like a 5% or 10% chance to get this and it happened.