Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pianowill]

A recruiter from Tenet Korea has given me the following info about some positions they are offering me:

* Level: Elementary
* Location: Yongin, Namyangju, Seongnam (30 minutes away by subway from Central Seoul)
* Start date: May, July 2009
* Working hours: Mon-Fri, 12pm-6pm (classroom hrs: 25 hrs/week)
* Compensation: KRW2.0-2.3mn/month
* Benefits
- Round-trip airfare
- Furnished studio housing
- Medical + Pension
- 14+ days of paid vacation
- Year-end bonus

Are these standard benefits, hours, compensation? Can anyone offer some advice about any of these cities?

Thanks,
Will

[tenchu77491]

I work in namyangju, 12-5pm. I live in Seoul though.

[farrepatt]

I work in Yongin. Yongin is actually quite big and it can take an hour on the bus from one part to another.

If you're in Bundang or Suji then you'll be on the subway line and can get into Seoul in 30-40 minutes. If you're closer to Yongin's "downtown" then there isn't a subway (though on is under construction) and it's about a 45 minute bus ride at best to Gangnam (south eastern Seoul). The bus can take up to an hour and a half in bad traffic, especially if going into central Seoul.

Yongin has grown on me, but I wouldn't highly recommend the part I live in to anyone. It's pretty dirty. There are nicer areas though (i.e. Dongbaek).

[pianowill]

Will I want to go to Seoul all that often? Are there things to do in Yongin?

[DC in Suwon]

Hey Will. I teach after school in Dongbaek, Yongin. Tenet Korea was my same recruiter. I have the same deal you're looking at. Everything is as advertised. I'm paid by my elementary, even though it's sort of a private company. So you get the health insurance, pension, and that stuff. No problems. Jenny (my recruiter at Tenet Korea) was really friendly and answered my e-mails pretty quickly.

Uhh, if you can, let me know where you'll be teaching in Yongin. I hope it's not my job!!!

Oh yeah, Dongbaek is great. There's a small community of foreigners here in a little area. Everything needed for shopping is close. The bus ride to Seoul isn't bad at all. PM me if you have any questions....and let me know what school is hiring in Yongin.

[trish91198]

i have a friend in dongbaek and she seems to really like it as well. im in jukjeon, which is part of yongin, and it takes about 45 minutes to get to seoul by subway. i would say most things you would really want to do will be somewhere in seoul. not much to do in this area other than drink good luck with your search!

[climber159]

Bundang is great. It doesn't have all the madness of Seoul, it's got plenty of western conveniences, it's got a very nice small river with biking/walking path, and it's to bus will get you to Seoul within an hour. But, unless you're one of those who enjoy being the only foreigner (or one of the few) in your town, then it's usually the case that if you don't live in Seoul, you're trying to there.