do we have to keep the furniture the previous NET used?

[elprofesor]

i know this happens to you all the time.  the previous NET used the furniture like crap and you probably have to use it because the school doesn't want to buy due to costs.

[AC_in_Korea]

There is no harm in asking for new furniture, especially if the current furniture is not usable.   I bought myself a couch (from gmarket), and I intend on trying to sell it before I leave.

[Koreak]

If you are sure it is the previous tenant's furniture, then you can get rid of it.  However if it is the school's furniture they keep a record of it and are not overly pleased when someone sells it/throws it out unless it is cleared through the school first.

If something is broken let them know.

[Paul]

My understanding is that most "Western type" apartments come pre-furnished, and most "Korean" type come unfurnished. Given all seem to have ondol, I question if the furnishing is just the extent of the difference. What this means? Some furniture may not belong to the school or you by hand-me-downs but the landlord/landlady.

[elprofesor]

what if your school only provides you with a couch but no bed? i asked but my school says i'm out of luck because the admin office doesn't want to mess with it.

[Janitor]

They have to provide you with a bed, washer, TV and a fridge. They schools pay for it and keep a record. I have seen the list for my school as they just recently asked in anything needs replacing. If you don't have a bed, ask for won because it is clearly stated under article 12 section 5:

If the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following
appliances and furniture: a bed, table and chair, a closet, a range, a refrigerator, a washing
machine, and a TV set. The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or
furniture than those stipulated herein.

[elprofesor]

They have to provide you with a bed, washer, TV and a fridge. They schools pay for it and keep a record. I have seen the list for my school as they just recently asked in anything needs replacing. If you don't have a bed, ask for won because it is clearly stated under article 12 section 5:

If the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following
appliances and furniture: a bed, table and chair, a closet, a range, a refrigerator, a washing
machine, and a TV set. The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or
furniture than those stipulated herein.

but what if the couch is considered the bed? what differentiates the two?

[andyfoggy]

If you are sure it is the previous tenant's furniture, then you can get rid of it.  However if it is the school's furniture they keep a record of it and are not overly pleased when someone sells it/throws it out unless it is cleared through the school first.

If something is broken let them know.

this is very true, i threw away lots of broken stuff that was covered with dust in my apartment and got into trouble at the end of the year!! real headache

[Janitor]

well it is simply a couch with arms and is thin and does not fold out into a bed, then it is a couch...

[Darkeru]

If the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following
appliances and furniture: a bed, table and chair, a closet, a range, a refrigerator, a washing
machine, and a TV set. The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or
furniture than those stipulated herein.

I had to look this word up. I've only heard it referred to as a hob or burner, assuming we mean the part where you use a frying pan.

Dictionary quote:

range - a large portable or stationary cooking stove having burners built into the top surface and containing one or more ovens.

This part is news to me. Still wishing ovens were more common here.

[elprofesor]

well it is simply a couch with arms and is thin and does not fold out into a bed, then it is a couch...

thanks...i'll ask again but if they say no this time. it's probably gonna get ugly.

[jkang]

They have to provide you with a bed, washer, TV and a fridge. They schools pay for it and keep a record. I have seen the list for my school as they just recently asked in anything needs replacing. If you don't have a bed, ask for won because it is clearly stated under article 12 section 5:

If the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following
appliances and furniture: a bed, table and chair, a closet, a range, a refrigerator, a washing
machine, and a TV set. The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or
furniture than those stipulated herein.

I've said this on other threads before but id like to point out that the wording in SMOE contracts  is different than what is written here... It says "may" not "shall" which means the school doesn't have to provide those things if they don't want, can't, or see no need. and it also says "The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or furniture than those not provided by the Employer."

Double check your contract and look carefully for wording...

[elprofesor]

They have to provide you with a bed, washer, TV and a fridge. They schools pay for it and keep a record. I have seen the list for my school as they just recently asked in anything needs replacing. If you don't have a bed, ask for won because it is clearly stated under article 12 section 5:

If the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following
appliances and furniture: a bed, table and chair, a closet, a range, a refrigerator, a washing
machine, and a TV set. The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or
furniture than those stipulated herein.

I've said this on other threads before but id like to point out that the wording in SMOE contracts  is different than what is written here... It says "may" not "shall" which means the school doesn't have to provide those things if they don't want, can't, or see no need. and it also says "The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or furniture than those not provided by the Employer."

Double check your contract and look carefully for wording...

mine says

" if the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following appliances and furniture: a bed, a table, and chair, a closet, a gas range, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave, and a TV set.  The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or furniture than those stipulated herein."

which means i can ask only if it's from these listed.

my other question is then, how did the previous NET get a couch, if he can't ask for it?

[Davey]

They have to provide you with a bed, washer, TV and a fridge. They schools pay for it and keep a record. I have seen the list for my school as they just recently asked in anything needs replacing. If you don't have a bed, ask for won because it is clearly stated under article 12 section 5:

If the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following
appliances and furniture: a bed, table and chair, a closet, a range, a refrigerator, a washing
machine, and a TV set. The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or
furniture than those stipulated herein.

I've said this on other threads before but id like to point out that the wording in SMOE contracts  is different than what is written here... It says "may" not "shall" which means the school doesn't have to provide those things if they don't want, can't, or see no need. and it also says "The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or furniture than those not provided by the Employer."

Double check your contract and look carefully for wording...

mine says

" if the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following appliances and furniture: a bed, a table, and chair, a closet, a gas range, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave, and a TV set.  The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or furniture than those stipulated herein."

which means i can ask only if it's from these listed.

my other question is then, how did the previous NET get a couch, if he can't ask for it?

perhaps the NET bought it him/herself or it was already there and informed his/her school that he/she was fine using it as a bed.

they're clearly not the same thing--if the school claims they don't know the difference, print pictures.

[machoman]

my school is so ghetto that they gave me a school desk to put in my apartment.  when i moved out, i told them i didn't want it.  they said they'd pick it up but they never did.

[elprofesor]

They have to provide you with a bed, washer, TV and a fridge. They schools pay for it and keep a record. I have seen the list for my school as they just recently asked in anything needs replacing. If you don't have a bed, ask for won because it is clearly stated under article 12 section 5:

If the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following
appliances and furniture: a bed, table and chair, a closet, a range, a refrigerator, a washing
machine, and a TV set. The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or
furniture than those stipulated herein.

I've said this on other threads before but id like to point out that the wording in SMOE contracts  is different than what is written here... It says "may" not "shall" which means the school doesn't have to provide those things if they don't want, can't, or see no need. and it also says "The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or furniture than those not provided by the Employer."

Double check your contract and look carefully for wording...

mine says

" if the Employer provides housing to the Employee, the Employer shall provide the following appliances and furniture: a bed, a table, and chair, a closet, a gas range, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave, and a TV set.  The Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or furniture than those stipulated herein."

which means i can ask only if it's from these listed.

my other question is then, how did the previous NET get a couch, if he can't ask for it?

perhaps the NET bought it him/herself or it was already there and informed his/her school that he/she was fine using it as a bed.

they're clearly not the same thing--if the school claims they don't know the difference, print pictures.

thanks...but then why are schools so irritated to provide you stuff that's on your contract i.e. appliances and furnitures?

if they know they have to provide a bed, then why do they refuse?

[suzettec]

Some contracts are worded differently when it comes to items that are in your place.  I live in a very small rural village... not even a town.  Mine did not include a washing machine or mircrowave.  I can do without a microwave but not the washing machine.  I bought my own.  But they did buy me a new bed as was stated in the contract.  I worse comes to worse contact the MOE and see what can be done about it.

[elprofesor]

Some contracts are worded differently when it comes to items that are in your place.  I live in a very small rural village... not even a town.  Mine did not include a washing machine or mircrowave.  I can do without a microwave but not the washing machine.  I bought my own.  But they did buy me a new bed as was stated in the contract.  I worse comes to worse contact the MOE and see what can be done about it.

thanks for your suggestion, but if i did that the MOE would contact my school and it wouldn't go so well.  I'm trying to minimize the anxiety and still get my bed.  ^_^

i just started a new contract i don't want to go through one year of hell they're gonna put on me.

[kp]

Who are you going to about the bed issue?  It might help to try a different route, and persistence will certainly pay off.  Definitely don't go directly to the Principal (or director, depending on where you are teaching) but try your main handler first, and if that doesn't work, subtly mention to your Korean allies that it's terrible that you don't have a bed...  They might put in a word for you. You could also offer to select the bed yourself, giving them (the admin?) a few different options with prices to choose from so they don't have to bother with shopping.

I wouldn't, however, buy anything and hope for reimbursement - risky with your school, I'd think.

As for keeping ugly or broken furniture that is already in the apartment - hm.  My apartment came with things that belonged to the owner of the apartment, and then there were things provided for the school.  It was too much for my tiny room, so I asked the school to store some of the items.  They did, but it took them a little while to get around to that, and I think some people weren't especially pleased about the bother, ha.  (They only took out school-owned things - man, it would have been great if they'd taken some of the owner's stuff away for the year too ... Oh well.)

[elprofesor]

Who are you going to about the bed issue?  It might help to try a different route, and persistence will certainly pay off.  Definitely don't go directly to the Principal (or director, depending on where you are teaching) but try your main handler first, and if that doesn't work, subtly mention to your Korean allies that it's terrible that you don't have a bed...  They might put in a word for you. You could also offer to select the bed yourself, giving them (the admin?) a few different options with prices to choose from so they don't have to bother with shopping.

I wouldn't, however, buy anything and hope for reimbursement - risky with your school, I'd think.

As for keeping ugly or broken furniture that is already in the apartment - hm.  My apartment came with things that belonged to the owner of the apartment, and then there were things provided for the school.  It was too much for my tiny room, so I asked the school to store some of the items.  They did, but it took them a little while to get around to that, and I think some people weren't especially pleased about the bother, ha.  (They only took out school-owned things - man, it would have been great if they'd taken some of the owner's stuff away for the year too ... Oh well.)

thanks for those ideas too. ^_^ i've already asked my co-teacher and she said the admin office doesn't want to deal with the idea of buying a bed.  i want to know the reason why.