Where do all the foreign students who left their distant hometowns to study in Korea live? Most of them probably live in the dormitory provided by the school, right? Or, there are cases where you pay the rent in a studio near the school and live on your own. The place to look out for this time is 'Gosiwon'. You may have heard of Gosiwon at least once. Goshiwon is a unique residential facility in Korea. Let's take a look at its characteristics.

Goshiwon was originally a facility that was created for those preparing for difficult exams to continue studying while taking care of lodging and meals. Originally, Gosiwon was a space for poor students who wanted a space where they could study while having simple lodging (sleeping and eating) at a cheap price near schools or academies. There are several rooms on one floor of the building, and there are only beds and desks in the rooms, so it's an inconvenient facility where you can't do anything except study and sleep. So, few people live here for a long time, and most of them are students who only use it for a short period of time to prepare for exams or while attending school.

In general, gosiwons only have a desk and a bed. It's very narrow and there's no space to move your body, but since there are several rooms on one floor, you shouldn't make loud noises in the room, and you can hear small noises from the next room. Also, there are rooms without windows, so there is a disadvantage that there is a lot of mold due to poor ventilation and high humidity. These old gosiwons vary depending on the region, but in Seoul, they usually cost between 250,000 and 350,000 won per month.

It's not just old and dirty gosiwons. The monthly rent is a bit expensive, but there are also clean and good gosiwons. Usually, this place is called 'gositel' or 'one roomtel'. The special feature of this place is that there is a toilet in the room. So it's very convenient because you don't have to use a shared bathroom. The room is a bit spacious and clean, so it's good to live. However, the monthly rent is expensive as much as it provides such a good environment. As expected, it varies from region to region, but in Seoul, it is around 450,000 to 550,000 won per month.

I will tell you what you should check when choosing a gosiwon.

1. Check if there are windows (prices vary depending on exterior and interior windows)
2. Check that the cooling and heating are working properly
3. Make sure hot water is running well in the bathroom
4. Make sure your Wi-Fi is working well
5. Check if food, such as rice or ramen, is free
6. Make sure the place is well-managed by the owner or staff
7. Make sure you are prepared for emergencies like fire

You must check these seven things and decide on a gosiwon!

When looking for gosiwons, search for 'gosirak' in the Naver search bar or download the 'gosirak' app to see gosiwons in the area you want at a glance. It is very convenient because you can see the facilities and monthly rent of the gosiwon at a glance. And if you choose a place you like, you can also inquire about entering the room by text or phone.

Then, I hope all of my international students who need a gosiwon find a place they like!

Source: https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B3%A0%EC%8B%9C%EC%9B%90