Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Enigma]

I'm coming into my last few months of my contract at a hagwon, and I'm starting to consider my options for my next contract. I'm considering a public school for a change of pace, and because I like the idea of having more holidays.
I realize it varies from school to school and province to province, but I'd appreciate some input about how many holidays you actually get, and how much notice you're given. The impression I've gotten in Korea so far is that things are left until the last minute, which makes it difficult to arrange flights abroad in advance.
Do many schools have discretionary vacation days (you decide when to take them) or do the schools usually set all of your holidays for you?
I'm not interested in Seoul or Gyeonggi. I'm looking at Gangwondo, Gyeongsangnam, Jeju and the Jeollas.

Thanks

[xCustomx]

[afsjesse]

If your looking for max vacation, go to Gangwondo. You get 35 Calendar days. Gyeonggido you get 21 and for 2009 same for Gyeongbuk. I don't know if this is standard for all EPIK POE's now.

I'm getting 7 work day's per my 2008 contract. It'll be abou the same next year as they will count weekends as your vacation.

I'm switching to Gangwon ASAP!

[Fishead soup]

It's best to book near the time of the lunar New year. By this time most camps are finished and they can't count your holidays as paid vacation.

[DrOctagon]

I live in Jeju and they don't count holidays or weekends as vacation days here. I also get 3 weeks off in February because my school lets me stay home when I don't have to teach. Then there's all the test days I get off (not everyone gets these perks. You can be one of the lucky ones). For example, finals at my high school are held on the 22-24th of Dec. 25th is Christmas. So if you include the weekend, I have 6 days off in a row. Pretty sweet. Again, it all depends on your school! But a normal EPIK contract gives you 7 days in the winter and 7 days in the summer. They will add days if you volunteer to work in festivals and go to workshops, etc. You get to miss school for these. Then you have things like school foundation day, holidays, field trips, etc. Public schools are really the way to go if you want a lot of time off.

[English Matt]

It does totally depend on the school. Whilst I had heard that Gangwon-do offers a lot of vacation in their contract....I get way more at my GEPIK school. I am on the old contract and therefore have only 14 days vacation....however I get way more. For instance, this winter I finish at 12pm on the 24th December and do not come back to school until 4th February. I would say that I have already had 3 weeks off in the last 6 months, and by the end of my contract I figure I will have had 10 weeks in total.

And yes, it's always given to me at the last minute. I only had my winter vacation confirmed yesterday.

[Perceptioncheck]

Here in Chungnam, I'm still waiting to hear about my winter vacation but I am teaching two weeks of winter camp (half days) and don't have to come in when the camps aren't on. Like other posters have said, I'm sure if you ask your co-teacher about your vacation or tell them you need your dates in order to book a ticket, you should generally be okay.

I'd also like to add that not only do public schools vary from province to province but also within cities. Some of the teachers in my city get paid extra for their camps while some do not. Some of the teachers have to teach three weeks of camp while some don't have to teach any. Some teachers have to teach full days while some only have half days.

I mean, do they not think we talk to each other? I think this complete disparity between teachers situations is a massive problem of Epik and they need to get their act together quick-sharp if they want more people to work for them. So OP, if it's that important to you I'd recommend trying to get hired by the school rather than the programme. That way you can probably wrangle a little more vacation time.

[nomad-ish]

OP, i wouldn't go anywhere near seoul or incheon if you're looking for the most possible days off at a public school. it seems like the closer you get to seoul, the crappier the situation (i know this is a generalization of course, but i guess most applicants apply for these areas, so schools feel less pressure to make the position attractive).

[English Matt]

[nomad-ish]

[sweetiesmith]