If you are looking for a place to stay in Korea, you have probably heard of GOSITEL<고시텔>.
In South Korea, GOSITEL is very well known as a short-term stay accommodation.
I will explain more about “GOSITEL” in this article.
GOSITEL was originally called GOSIWON
In South Korea, there are many accommodations called “GOSIWON<고시원>” for students coming from the countryside to study in the City.
As indicated in the photo above on the left, GOSIWON has many small bedrooms with desks and beds, the kitchen and bathrooms are shared with others.
The rooms are small, but the rent is low and there is no security deposit.
GOSIWON also offers one month contracts.
Rooms are small, but rent is cheap and short term stays are possible.
GOSITEL 고시텔
ROOMS
GOSIWON buildings are getting old. So it has been renovated and reborn as the GOSITEL.
Each bedroom in GOSITEL has a DESK, CHAIR, SMALL WARDROBE, SMALL BED and SMALL BATHROOM.
Internet and Wi-Fi in every room.
As you can see from the pictures below, the bedrooms are small.
GOSITEL’S bedrooms are quite small.
BATHROOM
Each room at the GOSITEL has its own private bathroom.
However, the bathrooms are not as large as those in the studio apartments.
Bugs might come out of bathroom drains.
If you clog the toilet in your room, you are responsible for it.
SHARED KITCHEN
In GOSITEL, you share a kitchen with others. Shared kitchens have cooking utensils, plates, etc., so you don’t have to buy them, which is very convenient.
We can save money on living costs!
WASHING MACHINE
You can use the washing machine in GOSITEL for free.
Some GOSITELs have space on the roof to dry the laundry. However, there are also GOSITELs that do not have that kind of space. Drying laundry in a room may cause mold in the room.
복도
The hallways in GOSITEL are narrow.
GOSITEL has about 20 rooms on each floor.
As many rooms as possible were created on each floor.。
With so many rooms on one floor, you would not be able to avoid noise from the other rooms.
Some people with bad manners take showers in the middle of the night or make loud noises when closing their room doors.
If you are sensitive to sound, you will be stressed.
to be honest, I would not recommend GOSITEL.
NOTES
- the rooms with inside windows
Some of the rooms with lower rents have only inside windows. There isn’t any sunlight coming in.
I guess it would be hard to change the air in the room.
- You are not allowed to invite your friend to your room at GOSITEL.
- In summer you cannot adjust the temperature of your air conditioner.
- The walls are thin. If The room next door is noisy, you will be stressed
- The bathroom drain sometimes smells bad.
HOW TO FIND A GOSITEL ROOM
FIND GOSITEL WHERE YOU WANT TO LIVE
Go to the area where you want to live. Then find a GOSITEL in that area。
It is not difficult to find GOSITEL as you walk down the street, Because there are a lot of GOSITELS in the city South Korea.
If you find a GOSITEL, try to contact them if they have any available rooms.
There is always contact information outside the GOSITEL BUILDING.
There are different names for GOSITEL, such as
- ○○HOUSE（○○하우스）,
- ○○ONEROOMTEL（○○원룸텔）,
- ○○LIVING TEL（○○리빙텔）.
But they are all GOSITEL.<고시텔>
- GOSITELs are usually located in the center of town. So, at night and on weekends, it’s often noisy outside.
SEARCH ON THE WEB SITE.
- GOBANG
- ROOM &SPACE
- KOSIROCK
Korean language you need to know when looking for a room
- 빈 방 있어요? Is there any available room?
- 방 볼 수 있어요? Can I see the room?
- 월세 얼마예요? How much is the rent?
- 그 방 계약하고 싶어요. I would like to take the room.
- 방 잘 봤습니다. Thank you for showing the room.
- 생각해보고 연락 드릴게요. I will think about it and contact you.
혹시 지금 빈 방 있어요?
Hello! I am CAT, I’m from ENGLAND. I am Yonsei university student. Is there any available room now?
Hello yes we have available room now. when are you coming to see the room?
Can I go to see it tomorrow?
Okay. Can you come at 3pm tomorrow?
It is okay! how much is the rent?
It’s 500,000KRW.
Okay! See you tomorrow!
I worked in an estate office in Seoul, Korea, for almost 10 years. And I met many international students there.
Some of them wanted to move out of their small GOSITEL rooms and into apartments.
What I found very surprising was that they were living in those tiny GOSITEL rooms for as high a rent as a studio apartment.
Many international students find rooms through a study abroad consultant firm, but some of them live in GOSITEL at higher than average rents.
And they have paid 3~6 months rent in advance through their company, so even if they wanted to move out, they can’t easily do it.
If your accommodation is uncomfortable, you will not be able to enjoy your stay in Korea to the full.
so if a study abroad consultant firm recommends a GOSITEL room to you, please decide it carefully.
