Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stiofan]

Only having 2 hrs teaching today and being bored I worked out that in 2009 about 75% of koreas national holidays will fall on either a saturday or sunday. I may be wrong but by my reckoning we'll only have 4 days off for public holidays out of a possible 12-14...its enough to make you cry.




Though I won't.

[coffeeandmilk]

My public school usually makes those up to us. That and whenever anyone even breathes the word "test" I don't teach for a week.

I am not worried

[maingman]

cofeeandmilk wow!

[talltony4]

yeah, I noticed the lack of holidays too. 2009 is really gonna drag without the wee breaks

[espoir]

[kprrok]

My contract for next year will stipulate a maximum of 20 days of work per month. Terrible year for holidays....just terrible.

[Xuanzang]

This country needs more 3 day weekends and less middle of the week or weekend "holidays". I bet they somehow rig it that way

[kprrok]

[Underwaterbob]

I'm finding all the test-time-off really trying. The days drag by so slowly when I'm at the school for 8 hours and teaching for less than 2. I'd rather be teaching a full schedule.

[bede777]

[Jane]

By my count, we have 6 days off in 2009, including Soelnal and Chuseok. The government takes holidays away (like Arbor Day, etc), and then doesn't compensate people for those that fall on the weekend. Also, in 2009, I believe one holiday falls on either Seolnal or Chuseok.

The lack of holidays might not be a big deal for university teachers who get months off a year, but for those teachers and non-teachers who do not get any significant time off, this is something to think about.

Also, it should be noted, that people looking to come over shouldn't be enticed by the "15 nationals holidays off!" that recruiters tout to attract newbies. The number should accurately reflect the true amount of holidays, 6!

Oh hell, people, just go and teach in Japan.

It should also be noted that 2010 doesn't fair much better for holidays. I hopefully won't be here to not enjoy the no-holidays that year.

[sojourner1]

The 1st 3 day weekend is on July 17th, 18th, and 19th. Then there is a 3 day Chuseok weekend and a 3 day Christmas weekend. That's it.

Children's day falls on a Tuesday and that's about it for week day holidays with the exception of the 3 falling on Fridays to make the 3 day weekends. This is quite a puny holiday schedule. I thought America was stingy when comparing to European countries. Wew, Korea is really getting lean on em'.

I understand that Korea is taking fewer holidays and the government does set up the days to fall when they do other than Christmas and Chuseok, because Korea is slowly converting to a 5 day work week. Right now, it's mid point in the process by having various types of civil service people, including Korean teachers, work every other Saturday. They say, they won't have to do that the rest of their career as Korea is going to a 5 day work week.

I still see so many working 6 and 7 days a week in blue collar occupations like mechanic, retail sales, and many services. I know of mechanics who put in a solid 7 day work week right outside where I live with Sunday being a half day where they come in later. I know of a couple store clerks who work a solid 7 days a week with the only break of getting off a couple hours earlier on Sunday evenings. There's so much workaholic culture in Korea it aint funny. These people aint got a life.

If teaching for a hawon, expect pretty much almost a solid 50 weeks of back to back classes which gets exhausting, but PS offers more vacation and canceled classes so it's not too high stress to go that route.

[CentralCali]

Remember that not all Saturdays are non-work days for the Korean schools. Of course, that doesn't help us out any for the loss of the day we hoped to get!

[hagwonnewbie]

Already been covered

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=130497&highlight=

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