9/23 Studio Apartment

Talk about a studio apartment you used to live in.

I used to live in studio when I was in college. Because my family lived far from my school, I had to move out and live by myself. Many of my classmates lived in similar studios like that. The studio I used to live in was just the right size for me. It wasn't that big, but it had everything I needed including a bathroom with a shower booth. In fact, it was a partly-furnished studio. Things like the washer and the fridge were built into the walls. I had to buy my own desk and bed among other things. I paid a monthly rent while I was living there.

@ Speaking Tips: partly-furnished vs. fully-furnished

가구가 일부 갖춰진 vs. 가구가 완비된

partly-furnished는 부분적으로 가구가 갖추어져 있다는 말이고, fully-furnished는 가구가 완전히 다 갖추어져 있다는 말이다. 한편, 가구가 하나도 없는 경우, non-furnished라고 한다.

@ Were they fully-furnished?  가구가 완비된 곳들이었어?

* the washer: 세탁기  ex> built-in-washer: 붙박이 세탁기
* the fridge: 냉장고
* freezer: 냉동실

* the air: 에어콘

6/11 Talk about the ways of renting homes in Korea.

 There are two options of renting an apartment or a house in Korea.

ex> Most newly-weds rent an apartment or a house.

First, there’s something called weol-sea. You pay a deposit before moving in.

* pay a deposit: 보증금을 내다

ex> I paid a deposit and got it back when I moved out.

And then, you pay a monthly rent as you go.

ex> Tenants pay a monthly rent to live in their apartments.

The lease is typically for a year or two. The other option is jeon-sae. You pay a big lump sum at the beginning of the contract as a deposit.

* pay a big lump sum: 큰 금액을 지불하다

ex> I cannot afford to pay a big lump sum right now.

You do not pay a monthly rent though. You get the deposit back once your lease is up. Of course, there are lease contracts that combine the two ways. The problem is rent prices have skyrocketed in Korea in the last couple of years. There are many real estate agencies that help you find a home you want. You pay them a commission only if you do sign a deal for a home.

* real estate agency: 부동산 중개업소, 복덕방

ex> You pay the real estate agency a commission if you sign a lease contract.

@ My lease is up next month.  다음 달에 임대 계약이 만료돼.

<HOMEWORK>

1. I prefer renting a house to buying one.

2. I had to pay a deposit of 10 million won.

3. I’m paying a monthly rent of 1 million won.

4. You have to pay a big lump sum every quarter.

@ Related Topics>> Renting an Apartment (2010.9.29), Renting an Apartment (Power English, 2013.12.9)

9/29 Talk about ways of renting an apartment in Korea.

There are two financial options you can choose from when it comes to renting apartments.

Weol-sae requires you to make a substantial deposit before moving in, and then pay a set monthly rent as you go.
* substantial deposit: 상당한 금액의 보증금
* pay a set monthly rent: 정해진 월세를 지불하다.

Jeon-sae involves no monthly rent in return for a much bigger lump sum at the beginning of the contract.
* lump sum: 일시불 (You have to pay a lump sum amount of 5 million won.)
* in return for: ~의 댓가로

You get the deposits from both options back once your lease is up.
* get back the deposit: 보증금을 돌려받다.
* My lease is up in two months.

You pay the real estate agency a commission for their services.
* commission: 수수료

@ That's very foreign to me.  그건 나한테는 상당히 생소해.