Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wings]

I have applied for a job with SMOE and I told my recruiter that I am only interested in working in central Seoul. I know that we don't get to choose where we end up, but I'm wondering what the chances are that I will end up en central Seoul. Has anyone with SMOE ended up where they didn't want to be?? If I end up getting asigned to somewhere on the edge of Seoul, or with a crappy apartment do I have any options??

[Ozabout7or8]

There is some leeway for them to give you your wish but it all depends on the number of other teachers who have similar wishes, who asked first, and far more importantly from their perspective, which area's are in greatest need of an English Teacher.

You are hired as a government resource and the govt gets to choose where it puts you within Seoul. There are desires on your side and also their which can often be met with a happy compromise if you say the right things and get in early.

If you are still at the recruiter stage then ask them to press your case. If it is at the level of an ultimatum "here or else" for you then make this clear also.

Seoul is a big place and the subway system is fantastic. You may end up being further from "downtown" than you like, but there are something like 10 or 15 decent shopping districts in Seoul so don't stress too much.

[SPINOZA]

Your desire to be in central Seoul may backfire. You may end up in the Co-op at Dongdaemun. What's that? University style accommodation, very small, bloody awful, lots of complaints.

Out of curiosity, Wings, how familiar are you with Seoul at this moment in time? How informed is your "only interest" in working/living in the center? How central is 'central'? Do you consider Itaewon, Hongdae, Shinchon central? I'd much rather live in Itaewon or Shinchon than anywhere in the center. How does Kangnam fit? Any mention of 'central' Seoul must be regarded as suspicious because the situation in the city isn't as straightforward as .... "okay, here's the center where everything cool is, and then there's the suburbs"....and really, discussing the center without due consideration of Kangnam and Mokdong is absurd to anyone familiar with the city - yet these places are several miles apart and even sometimes divided by a river. If you know all that already, apologies....just tryna help. But generally, being solely interested in 'the center' is suggestive of a newb who hasn't a clue what the *beep* he's doing and this backfires. I'm 5 miles from the 'centre' (double to Kangnam) yet am very comfortably close to everything of note in the city, have an apartment I like opposite a major department store - whereas folks who demanded to work in the center are in accomm that's an absolute joke and are unhappy.

[wings]

By central I just mean in actual Seoul, not the surrounding metropolitan area. I imagine that when a lot of teachers get hired from abroad they say "Seoul" and get shipped off to the suburbs. I would be happy with Hongdae, Itaewan etc

I read the last post about this bad housing situation and I am going to talk to my recruiter to see what can be done.

[ttompatz]

[butlerian]

[ttompatz]

[Bibbitybop]