Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bibbitybop]

[dean_burrito]

I've pretty much found SMOE to be unheard of to resolve any issues. They hire you and that's about it. It's ridiculous for SMOE to say they don't send teachers to the co-op knowing that schools do. They just seem to pick and choose when they want to be an entirely separate entity and leave teachers and schools to battle over the particulars of a contract.
Anyways fact is the new teachers won't know where their apartments are until the day they get there. There are some instances where a school will contact you first to say hello. If so jump on this opportunity to ask about accommodation.
If it makes ya'll feel better I'd say most people don't live in the co-op. I can't think of anyone who does. So the chances of ending up there aren't that great. Heck, some unlucky few end up in places even worse than the co-op.
I'm not knocking SMOE here, just being honest about the operation. They will however pay you in a timely manner.

[Xuanzang]

[Mysteriousapien]

does your friend have pictures of her apartment by any chance? I looked up the residence area and it does not seem so bad(maybe its because they showed the best rooms of the building). Anyways, it'd be great if I could see pictures. I want to see how 'bad' this housing option really is since I might end up teaching in Seoul.

[smee18]

I've heard of the shitty co-op, and I feel really bad for your friend.

You can be lucky with SMOE though. My wife and I ended up with a fantastic three room apartment in a brand new building. We did, however, have problems with furniture, because our schools were told about us a week before we arrived. They were quick to get us a fridge and washing machine, couches and a table, though we ended up spending quite a bit of money on a bed, kitchen wear and bedding, and some other things. Still, we figured we were better off party furnishing a decent apartment then getting a crap one with lots of crap stuff.

Thing is, working for SMOE is always a crap shoot. You don't know where you will live or who you will be working for before you get here. My wife and I had decided that if the housing was substandard we would leave immediately. Fortunately we didn't have to.

[smee18]

sorry, just read my own post. Its kitchenware, not kitchen wear, and there is a THEN that should be a THAN in there somewhere. I really should use that preview option ; )

[EvanD85]

So what would be the best way to get a job in Seoul? Do all the recruiters go through SMOE or is SMOE a recruiter of its own? I'm a little lost now. o_o

[dean_burrito]

[EvanD85]

[shostahoosier]

[EvanD85]

I've done a bit of research, but nothing really seems to be set in stone. Everyone has something different to say as to what is a good idea and what isn't, so it gets very confusing.

[nyla54]

I've skimmed through all the posts, but I don't understand how one is actually supposed to go about avoiding bad housing, e.g. the Co-op Residences in Dongdaemun Stadium. In SMOE, unless through a lucky break where your school contacts you, you don't know what school you are placed at or where you will be living.

I can only imagine demanding a change in housing at the "Housing" table during orientation would probably be met with dirty looks and no accommodation changes.

I know that some responses have said it's the luck of the draw, but others respond with avoid and react. Thus, for the latter respondents, if anyone has any tips/advice, I would be grateful to hear from you.

[mt01ap]

Personally, I don't know anyone living in the Co-op near Dongdaemun. Not surprised that teachers are placed there tho.
What's the best way of fighting this?? Ppl living there taking a stand? New recruits being aggressive with their housing? Calling SMOE and complaining...haha...like that will ever do anything!
For soon-to-be SMOErs reading this thread, it's not all doom and gloom & dirty rooms. Most of the ppls places I've been to are decent and in a good part of town. It is hit or miss but most places I've seen I'd say are decent enough for the year

[seonsengnimble]

I know much of this has been covered, but I'm too lazy to go through all of the previous pages and thought I'd add my own opinions about this.

I have a good friend who lives there, although he's about to move out because he's changing schools.

I'm not too sure about his full opinion about the place as a whole. I've seen the place, and it's tiny.

It's not as tiny as other places I've seen or heard about though, and it does have some good aspects. It's nearly immaculate. The place provides a cleaning service since it's also a hotel. It has a nice set of furniture and appliances. It also has a great location and being less than a five minute walk to a subway station which is on three subway lines, in downtown seoul, which you can navigate almost entirely underground when it's winter or raining.

The downsides I've heard of or seen are the fact that the bathroom wall is glass, which can be rather unpleasant when you have company and don't want to see them doing anything that they'd be doing in a bathroom. I've also heard that it's a pain in the neck to get a smaller bed in order to make the room a bit roomier. I know that there are some noise problems, although the same can be said of nearly any apartment in Korea.

Personally, I could take it or leave it. I like my relatively large and cheap apartment, but I dislike all of the downsides of living in a villa.

[alphakennyone]

The only thing I've read that would bother me about this co-op is signing the paper that says no overnight guests/no delivered food. I just wouldn't obey those rules, sorry.

I've stayed in a Co-op residence before. Yeah, it's small, but it was OK for me. I imagine I'd be fine as long as my school would let me stow my luggage at the school. My only beef was the crappy small LCD tv.