Korean Job Discussion Forums

thegreg52 · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

I'm a bit confused about this. Online it is telling me that the pre-orientation is mandatory, however in my NOA information sheet it says that it is simply recommended.

I'll do the pre-orientation if I absolutely have to, but I looked at some of the material and it is everything I went to college for and would really not want to do it if I need not to.

Does anyone have any information on this? I would hate to get sent back home because I didn't do this.

Thank you much!

Rory_Calhoun27 · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

I never knew about that until I looked at the EPIK website for another reason.... I was scratching my head on this, and emailed my recruiter..... I was told not to worry about it as there was also an orientation as well once I get there....

and that's the story I'm sticking to... as Sgt Schultz on the old Hogans Heroes used to say, "I know nothing.... I know nothing...." Shocked

JBomb · Joined: 16 Oct 2008

It is a week long drunkfest at a University Campus that will inevitably ban EPIK from going there ever again in which you get positive reinforcement from foreigners, Koreans, and administrators while eating cafeteria style Korean food, meeting random people you may choose to be friends with, and heading into town at night to sample Korean Adult Beverages. I am pretty sure it is mandatory and it for the most part it is a good idea. Most of the people I met there, we still hang out.

Rory_Calhoun27 · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

I heard after a problem at a GEPIK conference last year they banned all alcohol sales at the conference center.... but of course someone's roomates found a way to get booze, got ****faced and puked in the bathroom the next morning.....

it's like Sophomore year of college never ended! Laughing

tampabulls · Joined: 20 Sep 2009

I believe the OP was referring to the online EPIK Pre-orientation, not the orientation.

Rory_Calhoun27 · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

Yeah... I was told to ignore it from my recruiter....

testudoaubreii · Joined: 05 Sep 2009

If I wasn't unemployed, the fact that I have only 10 days before my flight would make the 60 hours course seem like a chronological impossibility. Oh wait, we get our PINs after our NOAs, and I don't have that yet... may or may not get it Monday, that means I have 8 days before my flight. So I'm going to spend 8 or 10 hours a day on this course? Balls!

Rory_Calhoun27 · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

eh.... skim it... worked for me in college....

Sked · Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Location: USA

i've completed it and i found some of it useful, at least. you can complete it in a day and if you know the information taught on the unit already then you can just skip to the 4 multiple choice questions at the end and complete it in no time. if your worried about it, then just do it. peace of mind an all that Cool

nomad-ish · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:57 am Post subject:

the EPIK coordinators will probably go over the whole thing again at the actual orientation, so why bother? just enjoy your last couple of weeks at home with family and friends! Smile

Rory_Calhoun27 · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

and you can impress them if you know all the answers at the end.... Wink

poppy56 · Joined: 04 Nov 2009

The course doesn't take 60 hours to do - it's actually quite easy. According to the EPIK site it's mandatory and you need to print out the certificate to prove you've done it. I'm not sure if they will or not but why chance it. Spend a couple of hours and just do it.

Oh and you can't skip the lectures and just write the test - it won't let you.