Korean Job Discussion Forums

[semi-fly]

Is it too early to start looking for 2009 positions? I'm looking at taking a leave of absence from my MA program beginning next year.

Can someone suggest a place other than Seoul to consider for a first time gig? I would prefer a public school position as previous posts have mentioned that it is a better option over a hagwon position.

I don't want to be completely isolated from 'civilization' but I would rather not live in Seoul. Both Pusan and Incheon are options, but I would like other options if possible.

In a previous post someone suggested Gangwon-do province, can someone who lives in that area give advice about living there? Pros and cons please.

Thank you.

[Otherside]

You don't want to be isolated from "civilisation".. well Gangwon-do is about as isolated as you can get in Korea.

Perhaps you should look at the Metropolitan cities (Gwangju, Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, Incheon and Daejeon). Busan is the biggest of the lot, but all of them are major cities with different things to offer and you'll be in civilisation. Another option is Gyeonggi-do (the province surrounding Seoul). Gyeonggi can vary from major cities of over a million people to small rural villages, but you are never more than 2 hours from Seoul and maybe 45minutes from a major city. Another plus is that the Gyeonggi board of education is the biggest in the country, so its pretty easy to get a PS job there.

[Morgen]

Rural Korea isn't like rural America. I live in Gangwon and the only thing that really bothers me is the difficulty of buying books in English, but that's probably saving me a fortune. (And they can also be delivered in 2 days for free from Seoul.) I have to ride 30km on the bus to the nearest city, but it's a mountainous coastal road and, aside from periodic alarm that the bus has actually tilted onto two wheels going around the curves, really beautiful. Donghae, on the coast, is about 3.5 hours from Seoul, and the western cities, like Wonju, are maybe an hour and a half, so it's not as if you were in the middle of Arkansas and had to drive ten hours just to get to Texarkana.

It's probably a lot easier for a first-timer to live here, too. Generally speaking, the more rural the students are, the easier they are to deal with and more responsive to candy and stickers and other bait. The people are more laid-back and helpful, although one thing that could be pro or con, depending on your perspective, is that it's rare to find someone who will speak English, or admit to it anyway. Your Korean will improve quickly.

So I don't know what your critera are, but if it's to save money, it's cheaper to live here and the extra 200k a month doesn't hurt. If it's proximity to outdoor sports, half of the province is some national park or other, and even if it's just plain countryside there are great places to bike or hike, and the sea is close to everywhere. You also can't beat it for cultural immersion. If it's happening nightlife, though, you would have a really slow year in Gangwon. There are places to hang out at night, but no doubt there's nothing even approaching Seoul, for better or for worse.

[semi-fly]

Thank you both for replying to my question.

Otherside: I specifically stated that Pusan and Incheon were other options, but that I wasn't looking to live (not specifically mentioned) in a big city like Seoul. I will give consideration to the cities you mentioned with specific consideration given to the Gyeonggi BOE. I take it you've lived in one or more of the areas you mentioned, if so can you give any insight into the specific area (likes, dislikes, etc.)

Morgen: Like Overside mentioned I would be somewhat isolated, do you know if there are language institutes in or around the area. If I'm going to be cut off as Overside said I would like to immerse myself with the language both in a formal teaching environment and informally with the local inhabitants. I think that a more laid back setting would be ideal for a first position.

For 'rural' teaching do you feel that you have a greater opportunity to improve your overall teaching abilities vs. 'city' teaching at a breakneck pace?

I know this all depends on the school you are assigned to and the faculty as well, but shouldn't your first year fly by no matter where you're located?

I would like to save money of course, do a lot of outdoor activities generally explore what Korea has to offer.

[Otherside]

Well, I wasn't sure of your reasons for not wanting to go to Seoul. Both Busan and Incheon are BIG cities (3.6million and 2.6million people respectivly)

My only experience is in Gyeonggido. I live in Suwon which is a pretty large city (1mill+) and I find it has a lot to offer. It's a reasonably short trip to Seoul which is nice on occasion. I work in a rural school outside of Suwon where there are exactly 2 foriegners in the entire town, quite charming to work there...but no ways I could live there.

As Morgen said, rural kids are generally better behaved and more responsive to candies etc. However, the flipside is that the level on average is extremely low. I struggle to see major improvements in my students and I have to be satisfied with small victories.

[semi-fly]

[QbertP]

Pusan was a great place to live. I miss it so much i'm about to head down for a long weekend.

Start looking now. Go through a recruiter, or do it on your own. Don't expect to have a position locked in until late jan/early feb. Expect to start working in march.

When you arrive if your in incheon come over to seoul and i'll by you a drink. If your in busan I'll come sleep on your floor.

Goodluck

[semi-fly]

What is the current teaching market like in Busan/Pusan? Is it like other areas where positions are available year round? Can anyone recommend a recruiter that specializes in the area? Is there any one particular recruiter or school to stay away from?

[Sector7G]

Busan is definitely a great city to live-I hated to leave it.

But Daegu, Korea's 3rd largest city depending on whether you include Incheon as separate from Seoul or not, is turning out to be a lot cooler than I had expected. The only discouraging word I have heard is that it's hotter than Hades in the summer. But I am from Florida, so I think I can handle it.

[semi-fly]

[semi-fly]

A few additional questions:

1. How many transcripts and duplicate degrees should one order at the beginning of the paperwork phase of the initial job search.

2. For those who went through your local police station for your CBC is there anything specific you need to tell them other than: "I need a CBC."?

3. Other than a transcript, degree, cbc, resume, passport, and mugshot what other documents would one need throughout the job search procedure?

I'm still interested in working in Pusan, but I am also interested in Gangwon-do province are there any websites you could recommend (other than Wikipedia or Galbijim) where someone could find additional information about those locations?

[oldtactics]

1. I needed just my original transcript (the "copy" that gets notarized is literally a photocopy, not another parchment) and three transcripts - I applied for public school.

1 to give to immigration when they notarized/apostilled my degree
1 to mail to Korea with my other paperwork
1 to apply for my visa

2. Yes, they'll know what you're talking about. Ask for CBC with VSS if you're in Canada, that's a Vulnerable Sector Search to see if you've ever had any issues while working with kids or the elderly.

3. Paperwork-wise, that's all you need, but I'd also recommend starting a new email address just for this process - if you post your resume anywhere, you'll be getting about 40 emails a day at the beginning - helpful to have a separate email to keep all your Korea stuff separate and uncluttered. If you apply for EPIK you'll need two letters of recommendation, but most people on here will suggest that you just write them yourself and put them in an envelope. Your choice.

I live in Chuncheon, the capital city of Gangwondo, and I love it. Seoul people seem to think that I live in the sticks but the bigger cities in this province are as big as any city in the US in terms of density, and there's no way that one could ever get bored or run out of things to do/see. Plus, Seoul is only 1.5/2 hours away if I really need to buy something I can't find here. There are lots of videos and blogs online if you google gangwon blogs or chuncheon blogs or just gangwon or city names.

Couple good ones:
http://gangwon.blogspot.com/
http://kimchi-icecream.blogspot.com/

There are quite a few of us here on Dave's in that area, and I'd be happy to answer questions about the province if you have any.

[semi-fly]

I'm back with more questions.

1. Beyond the three transcripts (as describe in a previous post) would it be wise to stock up on transcripts?

2. I have a duplicate/replacement degree, will I need to purchase others if/when I decide to stay in Korea for an extended period of time?

3. Has immigration figured out a way of recording the required visa (or any) information into a central database (accessible nationwide) in an effort to reduce "paperwork" for both parties?

As silly as this may sound are there expiration dates attached to the document in question 1 and 2?

[jinks]

In my experience:
People who live outside Seoul (Talking about foreign English teachers, here) WILL go to Seoul several times a year, as well as travel around other areas of the peninsular
People who live in Seoul rarely, if ever, get out of the city - especially if they only stay here for a one year contract.
If you live in a big city like Busan or Daegu, you will spend a lot of your time there, but you sure as hell will visit Seoul as well. If you live in a small town or city, you will spend time around your province, as well as visiting your nearest big city and you will (sure as hell) visit Seoul. If you live in Seoul, you might get out of town to visit other places in Korea, but you will certainly spend most of your time in Seoul; you'll get to know the city well, but you won't see much else.
So my advice to the OP is to live in Seoul if you want to spend your year exploring everything the capital has to offer, but live outside Seoul if you want to spend your year visiting sites and scenes around Korea in general (including Seoul).

[ThomasR]

I have sorta the same question as one posted above.

Everytime we get a new visa (so our one year contract is up and we are RE-APPLYING (IE Staying in Korea another year at least)) do we need to give them our degree and transcripts again? This seems stupid to me. If we were issued the E2 in the first place, why would they need to see this again?

So the question: Do we have to give transcripts and degree EVERYTIME we RE-APPLY for a E2 (after successfully getting the E2)?