Sogang University South Korea
Accommodation

Accommodation:

Dormitory

Located on campus beside the rear gate, Gonzaga International Student Hall can accommodate up to 900 students.

  • Only Double rooms are available (2 students per room)
  • Rooms include bed, desk, chair, drawer, shoes closet, internet, phone, internet LAN
  • Facilities include Global cafeteria, laundry room, prayer room, gym, etc.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Do note that rooms do not come with bed sheets, blankets, pillows, pillowcases etc. Hence, set aside some time on the first day to get all the above necessities!

For more information and online application, click here!

 

Goshiwon (고시원)

Goshiwons (a.k.a Goshi-tels, one-room-tels and living-tels) are residential facilities with small rooms that are usually furnished with a bed, desk, and mini-fridge, as well as a common restroom, showers and laundry room on each floor. Most Goshiwons have separate floors for different genders.

Originally occupied by students preparing for various national exams, Goshiwons today are also home to many young working individuals. Rents vary by its location, facilities, room size and type (e.g. private restroom).

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Goshiwons are perfect for students who are on a budget and just want a comfortable no-frills accommodation to reside in.

Goshipages (link here!) is a website that allows you to find Goshiwons and other housing options near your host university!

Hasukjib (하숙집)

Hasukjibs are similar to Goshiwons in that it provides rooms that usually furnished with a bed, desk, and mini-fridge, as well as a common restroom, showers and laundry room on each floor. It also usually has separate floors for different genders and rents vary by its location facilities, room size and type (e.g. private restroom).

Key differences are that meals are often included in the monthly rents and service levels a notch higher based on general consensus.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Hasukjibs are suited for students who do not want to over-spend on accommodation, yet values a comfortable stay and having meals provided. Should you plan to eat out often, you may want to negotiate with the owners to see if you can opt out for the meals option.

Guesthouse

Guesthouse can be viewed as a category that is in-between that of Hasukjib and hotels. While it is slightly pricier than Hasukjib, guesthouses usually provide room services like that of hotels. Room rates may vary by season and length of stay. The longer the stay, the cheaper the room rates are.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Guesthouses are popular among backpackers and students seeking short-term stays (up to 1 month). If you are one who values room service (i.e. lazy to clean your own room) and would not mind paying slightly more for it, guesthouse may be your desired choice.

Apartment / room rental

For students who are considering to rent an apartment or a room, do note that it is common in Korea for heavy deposits, which can amount to several months’ rental, to be paid in advance.

By
2016-10-30 02:38:59
I opened an account with Citibank Singapore. There were several Citibank ATM machines in Seoul, making my access to cash almost hassle free! Some of my classmates mentioned that they faced language barriers while applying for services in Korea but luckily for us, staffs of Sogang University applied on our behalf! In terms of cash, I would recommend that you bring extra in case of emergency or unforeseen expenditures like too much shopping, utility bills and even shipping even though shipping from Korea is generally cheaper as compared to Singapore…
By
2016-10-17 18:59:08
I chose Korea for my exchange studies because I wanted to explore countries within Asia that are more foreign to me. Korea seemed like a good choice at that time. When I first arrived in Korea, the biggest shock I had was the level of English proficiency; I had a lot of difficulties communicating. There were many areas for shopping though and groceries can be conveniently purchased from E-mart and Daiso. Decent Cafes and restaurants can also be found around Sinchon and Ewha. I would recommend the Chinese restaurant on the road to Sinchon Station! On top of that, the university was not too far away from the city (just 20minutes away) so we managed to save on transport by taking the train spending just about SGD50 per month.. On the other hand, campus life was rather dull as the university had pretty strict rules regarding the time we were required to return to the halls. I would recommend staying in the accommodation if you are financially constrained otherwise, it would be better to stay with your friends.. For SGD400, my room was not too small and was well furnished with basic necessities including wifi. It’s also located within a minute walk away from the nearest school building.