Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SW]

I know this subject has been addressed before, but I don't mind bringing it up again, as I believe SMOE has begun (or will soon begin) its hiring processes for March 2010.

I just began working for SMOE. In regards to the work itself, I could barely be happier. Only real problem is the school's location, but what can be done about that? Somebody's got to teach there.

The area in which I was extremely disappointed - and also the area in which I think a better job could have been done - was housing. The house I've been provided with is old, dark, lonely, run-down, left filthy by my predecessor, in a lousy neighborhood (I don't think I even need to name which one), and inconveniently located on top of a mountain (not a hill, an honest-to-God mountain).

Another complaint I have, which is probably the opposite of what one would usually hear, is that the place is too big. It could be comfortably occupied by two people, and Koreans used to living tight could probably fit three in there. I do not have that much stuff and can only be in one room at a time anyway. You might say it's better for entertaining, but I don't think anyone would actually want to come here, given the steep climb, and the difficulty they'd have in finding the place.

This is my second year in Korea. I finished my first contract in the spring and came back mid-July. Between then and now I was staying with someone else. So, the whole point of my posting here is this: if you have the ability, take the 500,000/month housing allowance and find your own place. If I had known how crappy the provided housing was, I would definitely have done this. I do realize that most people coming to Korea for the first time won't be able to provide key money, but still, I think most people who would want to teach abroad in the first place would rather live tight as long as it was a good location and other people were around. I can honestly say I would have taken a goshiwon or a hasook (sp?) over what they've given me. I thought the school might have been trying to save money, but I happened to see the rent on the place, and I definitely could have found a better one for 500,000, even with my limited knowledge of living options in Seoul. I have some other theories of why the administration picked the house they did, but there's no point thinking about that now.

I apparently am not the only one who has experienced this problem. I've talked to several other SMOE teachers who hate their apartments, and it looks as if recruiters sometimes try to play it down.

So, to sum up: if you have the money and wherewithal, give yourself peace of mind and take advantage of your options with housing. Otherwise, I might as well say that aside from that, you could do a hell of a lot worse than SMOE as an employer in Korea.

[reactionary]

my place is a 25-30 minute commute from the school, but i can't complain. i'm on the 15th floor of an officetel. nice view, clean...thin walls though. it's a bit small but it's ok for me. my only problem was a lack of furniture. they really went by the book - small kitchen table, two chairs, bed, etc....and put the TV on the floor since providing a tv stand wasnt included in the contract.

overall i'm happy, but of course this is school provided housing. on a whim it could change. if i leave the school, i lose the apartment. so yeah i'd say it's better to get your own housing.

[Draz]

[Murakano]

I guess it's pot luck. I got an extremely nice place in Gangnam provided by my school.....no shoebox either. Have you said anything to the school? If it's as bad as you say, invite them over and ask them if any of THEM would consider living there. If it was me I'd certainly be on my school's case.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Housing like getting a decent job / co teachers or not is a lotto...

[SW]

[Ukon]

[SW]

[Morning_Star]

Pictures? I'd like to see just how "bad" it is.

I guess it's the luck of the draw. Some people get great housing, great location, good school, nice co-teachers...others get the opposite.