Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kim Jong Jordan]

There are a lot of people who come to korea to teach english and many of them are blind as to what they are getting themselves into. After spending 13 monthes at this hagwan (13 monthes only because i felt an obligation to my kindy kids who were puttiing on a play) i feel as if it is my responsibility to warn people about this hagwan, and why they should avoid it is very important. The wonjangnim named charlie will seem very nice and congenial over the phone but that is because he wants you to work there. The job sucks. Its split shifts involve kindergarten, elementary, and middle school, basically working a multiple split shift (i.e.) kinder from 9-11:30am, then a couple classes from 2-4, then an hour off and then 3 classes more, and it ALWAYS CHANGES! I was working an average of at least 10 hours a day, and that is shit if you want to do anything other than work in this country. Contract wise, the school charges 5% tax which is almost double the actual legal amount (3%). The manager Charlie is nothing more than a lackey for the owner; he does the boss man's bidding. If you think that things such as pension payments (for you yankees and canucks) are payed, haha, good luck. There is also a FREAKING TON of reports and other things unrelated to the direct English teaching of the students to do for all the students. Did I mention "phone teaching" where you have to stay at the school till 10pm some nights calling kids who don't want to be bothered......? Basically, I'm posting this message so that people who are thinking of coming to Korea to teach English will think otherwise about signing a contract with this school; they will try to sweet talk and seduce you into working here but believe me, it is a nightmare job. This school (hagwan) has a horrible reputation, so stay away from it and continue your search. This is truly a bad job. If you have any further questions then feel free to send me a pm and I will elaborate further.If you desire, I can also forward you to a number of other former teachers who have worked for this hagwan, some dating back to 2000, who all share the same sentiments. If I were you I would try for a job in Seoul not Uijeongbu, Seoul is a million times better. Good luck on your job hunt!

[Roch]

I met a Boer who told me that he taught for Uijeongbu E.C.C. Gee, he had nothing good to say about the place, too.

[princess]

ECC branches are notorious for being bad hagwons. I had a friend who was on her 5th year at a Seoul ECC in 2001, and she was STILL making 1.5 Uijeoungbu also sucks, as I lived there for 2 years and blew lots of dough making weekend journeys to and from Seoul.

[Kim Jong Jordan]

bump

stay away people, stay away!

[genezorm]

It seems ECC in general gets a bad rap. However, I worked a year at Uijeongbu ECC and I have very few complaints. Sure, some of the stuff they wanted you to do was ridiculous, but all in all, it wasn't that bad.

These schools have been around a long time, and have dealt with a lot of whining, lazy, and incompetent foreign teachers. As long as you do your job, don't whine and fight about every little thing, they treat you with respect.

I have no complains about not being paid, or being stiffed with anything money related. It seems to me the original poster has it out for this school for one reason or another.

[Kim Jong Jordan]

perhaps things have changed in the 2 years since i left that place but when i was there 3 people pulled runners and one was 'fired" because she wasn't "english" enough. Mr. yoo screwed me out of $2000 as he withheld my pension payments throughout the year only to have me realize that he was just pocketing it as the pension office had no record of any contributions being made. also, when myself and a couple co-workers realized that the tax rate we were paying was double what it should have been charlie basically told us to stuff it. i could go on and on.....

[AussieGav]

Good post thanks for the advice. I'm in the Bu and was thiking of changing schools. Guess I wont be looking at this one. Cheers.

[mountainous]

[mountainous]

[genezorm]

dude, there are a lot of schools in korea that didn't pay pension, but i know for a fact they pay the pension there now and it is legit

i have nothing to gain from this, as i have no vested interest in that place, i worked there a long time ago, but they treated me with respect, and i did the same and acted professionally

i know some people had bad experiences there for whatever reason, but others have also had good experiences working there....and i'm just trying to give the other perspective as opposed to the constant bitching that goes on here about how you cant trust hagwons and they steal and are dirty

[mountainous]

[genezorm]

[phillyb]

well shucks, im set to start teaching here in about 3 weeks.
guess ill ride it out and see how it goes.
so i should be watching out for pension and health insurance fraud?

[Yellowperil]

Im due to start here in about 3 weeks? can anyone confirm if these horror stories are true? or have things improved?

[candyteacher]