Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Corky]

Does anyone know why Yeungnam University is always hiring over ten new teachers every couple months?

[ajstew]

To answer the above question, probably because they can't get enough qualified applicants. It looks like an attractive position, but there have been about a dozen positions in or near Seoul that eventhough they may not be quite as good, are near that area and make them more desirable. Still, I may send an application there too... but would like that 40,000,000 if I had to live there.

[yeremy]

I had an informal interview with them at KOTESOL for their Daegu campus, and I wondered about that, too. I found them to be a bit arrogant. First of all, they were late for interviewing those who had indicated an interest. And, when I was led into the interview room, I found a welcoming group of four or five people waiting for me. I did not find them to be particularly friendly, but I was encouraged to apply anyways. Third, one fellow, who seemed to be the senior person in that group asked all of the questions, while the others listened intently.
A friend of mine re-applied to them, but did not hear anything. She did not seem surprised. It does not seem to be a positive sign, but that is just my gut feeling and not factually based. If I do ever find out, I will post it. I found another position, so, good luck.

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

Yeremy,

I can only suggest you entirely go with your gut instinct on that one.

Avoid that place like it's ebola-flavored bungdegi.

Speaking from recent first hand experience, and more recent contact with someone who's still there.

They pay in the top three of Korean universities in all of Korea - for Korean professors - but were recently amongst the worst for foreign staff. They improved the pay and conditions somewhat when they changed the hiring requirement last year to make it absolutely necessary to have an MA. They told old staff with BAs they had two years to gain an MA or they'd be out. One year later, the last of those with BAs are already not being renewed.

One friend there who got out the same time as me (after one insufferable year) did agree to do a holiday camp before he left, even though he'd had the worst schedule you could imagine (split shifts, travelling all over the province) and was pretty much exhausted by his time there. As you probably know, your severance pay is supposed to be an average of the last three months you work. His holiday overtime was not, however, included in his severace pay. He phoned, found the right person in accounts or whereever, and was told bluntly that this rule didn't apply to him because he was 'just a foreigner'. He brought in the Labour Board and after a fair bit more of a fight, did get his deserved payout.

Another who was more recently still there said among the new hirees, some are of course good decent types, but a bigger proportion seem to be the "I've got an MA!" types who seem to consider their higher education an excuse for grossly indecent and unprofessional discussions in staff office rooms. This has, of course, affected morale, which does, of course, come from the top.

So, as I said: go with your instinct. 'Arrogant' is a very good word.

[NightSky]