Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rusty1983]

I tried to do a search on this but Daves search function is faultering. Does anyone here work the after school program in Seoul?

Do you like it? Im tempted because of the hours. Is 300,000 enough to cover your pad or do you have to supplement it with your own cash? Do they allow you to get an evening Hagwon job as well?

[sineface]

Hello, and yes I do.

I do like it. I'd suggest you do your research on the specific company that will be hiring you out to the school (and the actual school too, of course) because some of them are out to f*ck you right over. When I first started the job, I moved into a smallish ( but certainly not the smallest I've ever lived in) apartment and paid an extra 50,000 a month. They helped me EXTENSIVELY to find a place. But that was in Uijeongbu. I've lived in Seoul before and unless you're willing to pitch in some of your own money, I can see the apartment being less than delightful.

As far as the extra job thing, I THINK that the general rule is if your school ( or in your case, the company working for the school) agrees to add an extra workplace to your ARC then it's allowed. But I am FAR FROM AN EXPERT on that stuff, so please don't take my word for it. There are stickies on that I'm sure. Anyway, if it's something that's really important to you, it's something you need to discuss with them before you sign.

I've worked in an alright hagwon, a fantastic hagwon and now at this PS after school scheme. They're certainly not the brightest of buttons I've ended up with, but that's a lot easier to deal with when you don't have to sit there from 11-9 being exasperated about it.

Do your research, visit the school if you can, and don't listen to the Dave's haters about involving oneself in illegal shenanigans. It's sweet hours, it's better pay, and you could get shafted at any number of legal hagwons that work you to the bone. Carpe Diem my lad!

[rusty1983]

Hi man, cheers for that, so 300,000 probably wont get me too far in Seoul right? By the way I wont be up for this til August so I figure I can check it out in time

[sineface]

The 300,000 probably won't get you too far.

However, a helpful anecdote goes something like thus: I remember when I was working in a kindie in Apgujeong, and living 15 minutes away by bus, as the crow flies. Every morning and every evening I would sit on that bus ( or taxi, it didn't matter what I tried) for 40-50 minutes. And I was paying through the roof for my apartment, simply because it was in Seoul.

When I got this job (the after school one you speak of), I moved a considerable distance away from it. Obviously out here there are bigger apartments/nicer apartments for less money. And although the distance is greater between home and work, I spend LESS time getting to work than before.

My point is you could commute, and it probably wouldn't end up being that big a deal if once you get home there's no cockroach party a-happening in your fridge, or you havent wasted an hour or two of your free time sitting in traffic.

It's entirely up to yourself. Bottom line, these jobs can work out really well, and dont let slightly stingy housing put you off.

[RobbJK9]

I have one burning question about these places: If something goes wrong and they're violating your contract can you go to the labor board? I hear "illegal" thrown around, but how can they get you a visa if it's THAT illegal?

I'm interviewing with these people tonight and I've heard problems, but they seem like minor things that can be fixed by knowing your contract and not being afraid to contact the labor board. The only thing I'm worried about is if things go wrong, your only way to get out is to pull a runner.

[sineface]

[Suwoner10]

They vary from terrible to excellent. I love mine.

--I don't pay my own rent, get paid 2.7 for 25 hours (the extra 4 hours is OT pay-all squeezed in from 1PM-5:45PM)
--no second bank account shadiness
--NO BOSS, only a co-teacher in the other room
--I get paid, I've called pension office, pension being deposited regularly


I line up unholy amounts of "other things" in the AM and PM. So much so I need 3 bank accounts to avert curious Koreans.

[RobbJK9]