Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RODK]

To the vets:

I've been offered a job in Daegu at ECC Bokhyun.

Does anyone have any knowledege of the working conditions in Daegu at this particualr ECC?

Also, and since I'm a newbie, how are foreigners REALLY treated?

I have a critical mind and I do not accept things at face value. I always carefully consider everything I'm being told and thus compare it with the information veteran ESL teachers in Korea supply. I like to read between the lines (or lies).

How is the nightlife?
Should I expect to be treated as a museum display or a circus act?
Should I compare this year long excursion as life in a monastery?
Does it take long to get used to Korean cuisine?
Is Korean food colon blast (if you know what I mean)?
How do foreigners treat each other in Daegu? Is it a close community or are you left to go to hell in your own way?

I read that Daegu tends to be a more traditional, conservative city. That doesn't seem to bode well for foreigners.

I've read a lot of posts about life and work in Korea in these forums. I'm just looking for something specific about Daegu and ECC Bokhyun.

Thanks guys.

[wisernow]

I have not lived in Daegu extensively but did stay over my friends house for several days and Daegu can be as fun as any major city. It is a large city of 2.5 to 3.0 million and have all the amenties of Seoul or Busan but not on the same scale as Seoul. It is a more conservative compared to Seoul but depending on your taste you may like Daegu more than Seoul or Busan as you will be treated a little more special in Daegu thaan Seoul because they aren't as many foreigners in this city compared to Seoul so you will be a mini celebrity. Think of Daegu as being a good cross between a large city like Seoul but not so large and definitely not a small city or town. Daegu is on the bullet train line and you can easily travel to Seoul, Busan or any other major cities very quickly.

Also, if you make Korean friends expect them to be more loyal to you as people of Daegu are not the typical city slickers like people in Seoul although they tend to be as not as "modern" thinking as Seoul citizens. More pro Korea regardless of the real world situation such as being more against the FTA agreement. Also not as many professional yuppie types are in Daegu compared to Seoul.

Again, if you don't want to be in a city of 10 million + then Daegu can be a good city for you.

Also, find out if your school that you are considering is a franchise ECC or company owned ECC. I used to work for a company owned ECC school (It was overall worth my two years as I learned to be better teacher: It had its downs but mostly ups) and I heard that franchise ECC schools can vary greatly. Some are fantastic and some terrible depending on the owner of that franchise. Try to get in touch with some of the teachers there now as franchise schools can change ownership in just a few years or wait for a former teacher to post comments here.

[Karea]

I'm interested in Daegu too.

If the OP is still here, can you tell me if you ever did take up that job, or at least move to Daegu. Thanks.

[soviet_man]

Pretty sure that Daegu Bokhyun ECC would be a franchise, as opposed to a centrally owned branch.

Meaning that a mom/pop owner can run it however they please without being answerable to head office = basically it leaves open the potential of them being a law unto themselves.

So if you took it, it would be pot luck as to how it turned out.

At least with the company-owned branches (of which I worked in one in 2004/05) you have some vague protection of head office guaranteeing your pay and how the place is organisationally structured.

With the franchised branches, many are unprofitable (due to low enrolements) and this results often in financial instability, late pay and a world of other problems = eg. they survive month-to-month.

As a former YBM ECC vet, let me say this: if it is not on this list (company-owned) I would pass. www.ybmecc.co.kr (click on locations).

[FUBAR]

I know a few guys that worked there and they really liked the owner. From what I heard this is a good branch to work at. The area itself is close to Kyungpook National University and as such has a good nightlife and plenty of good restaurants.

Also... don't worry about Daegu being conservative. You're worrying too much. None of the major cities are bad.

[Karea]

It seems that the only good thing about the company owned ECC schools is the fact that you will get paid on time. However I have read various accounts on the net of how a 30 hour contract can suddenly turn into a 50 hour+ at the official schools.

Can anyone divulge further?

What can you do if you are not paid on time? People have to eat, right?

[soviet_man]