Korean Job Discussion Forums

[azzwell]

so today our boss springs on us the wonderfull news that us waygook teachers have to head down to Wonju on Saturday, the 20th for some sort of teachers meeting from some sort of official government agency.
Im not kidding, this is all the info I have on it, hopefully will get more soon. Anyway, the question of the day is, whats this about? Heard something about this my first year in the country but ended up not having to go. Is this a mandatory thing for Gangwon-do or what, anyone have any news about it? It is supposed to take three to four fun filled hours.
Last question, who pays for this jolly adventure? It says nowhere in my contract that I have to do or pay for something like this. The hourly thing I am not really worried about as I have wanted to see Wonju and look around the city for awhile but who pays for the bus ride? I live up in Sokcho so I am looking at something around 25-30k for the round trip.

[Big_Crazy_Ape]

oooh, i've heard rumors of such a place...
i hear that's where they take people, and have them walk through a dark forest only to shoot them in the back of the head when they're not looking.

[Cohiba]

Wow, hanging around Seokcho or Wonju. I think I would rather
be shot in the back of the head than go there. Now living there,
you must be out of your mind!!!

[hubba bubba]

That's teh one where the spring drug tests on everyone and require randon criminal background checks on some people, right? They told you to bring your degree and a set of sealed transcripts, right?

[ChuckECheese]

They also have many North Korean infiltration tunnels there. I heard that N Koreans are looking to abduct some waygook English teachers from the South. Be careful.

[azzwell]

you guys are so freakin funny!
thanks for the help dumbasses!

[ED209]

Yeah heard about these. Most people just pretend to get lost and never turn up. Nothing really happens.

Although I've only heard from people who didn't go, not from people who did. So, maybe there's some truth to the bullet in the back of the head rumour.

[ontheway]

These meetings are required by the government and are held on different days in a variety of locations. Foreign language teachers of English, Japanese and Chinese are required to attend. There are penalties for your school if you don't go. If your school has any other black marks against it, it could be closed down. To avoid that, you could be forced to go to an alternative location at a later date.

The meetings are stupid and boring, but required. It would be nice if your school paid for the trip and the registration fee (10,000 won), but this is essentially a tax imposed by the government (the education ministry) on teachers. It's considered "training". Consider it an opportunity to meet some other teachers after the meeting.

[grainger]

I live in Wonju and will be going to this meeting on Saturday, or at least the start of it. It runs from 10-1pm and costs 10,000 won, which my boss is covering. There is a form that your director has to fill out for you. It's pink and should have been sent to him/her if you're required to attend in Wonju. I'm not sure if public school teachers have to go or only teachers from registered hogwons. They'll answer pension, labour law, etc questions and then they will apparently teach you how to teach. All in under three hours. Personally, it's the last part I plan to skip out on. I already paid a lot of money for a university education on how to teach. I don't think they'll be able to cover any new ground in under three hours.

It's not far from the bus terminal. I can't remember off the top of my head what the building is called but if you need the info PM me and I'll get it for you tomorrow.

Cheers.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ontheway]

TUM

These are for hogwan teachers. Public schools have their own meetings as you mentioned. Government and University teachers and teachers who have not been legally registered by their hogwans don't have to go.