Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Daphne]

I just saw that ESS Busan is advertising for teachers on this site and so I felt obliged to give y'all a bit more info on this outfit that should make you think twice about applying.

This outfit prides itself on being Busan's oldest operating Hagwon, but what they fail to mention is that the Mr.Kim who started the organization passed away about 4 years ago and his thirtysomething son, Tae-Kyun, inherited the operations and has promptly managed to make a mess of it.

I found it curious that he is hiring teachers directly himself now, as ESS always had one of the native speakers (serving as the head teacher for others,) who was in charge of hiring, but since the new owner took charge every head teacher either quit or was fired due to conflicts with Tae-kyun.

Midnight runs became a fairly regular occurence and ESS was taken to the labor court on at least one occasion for refusing to pay the full severance amount to a teacher upon completion of a 1-year contract.

ESS has always relied on its prime location in Busan as sort of a meal ticket, but recently another famous chain has set up shop opposite them in Nampo-dong and I know for a fact they are feeling a pretty tight financial squeeze, so apply at your own peril!

[chronicpride]

The fact that you were not scathing and damning in your testimony, like some others are, gives off an air of sincerity and honesty. I'm more apt to believe something like this, than a teacher coming on here a tearing a strip out of a place.

Any other things that you can elaborate on, outside of what you mentioned?

[Daphne]

I can also mention that most of the ESS teachers I knew decided to dump the pads given to them by the Hagwon on Young-do and moved into Yogwans (love motels,) in Nampo-dong.

This was due to the pretty derelict state of the pads and also that the school deducted about 100 to 150 thousand Won from the base salary every month for housing and with transportation costs added it made more sense to go the motel route.

I can also add that even ESS' Korean programs don't have a good reputation in Busan, as 1 teacher was fired after having sexually explicit material in his TOEFL book whic was given to teens attending the class!