Korean Job Discussion Forums

[teachmeenglish]

YBM is not bad. Worked there 4 years and had some good times. Pay is not great but OT available. Splits can be gone after a year of senority at Jungno and Kangnam.

[mendicant]

As for location, i am not that interesteed in Kangnam, one of the Seoul offices without being killed by accomodation costs, I don't mind travelling 30 min door to door, but reasonable access to the Seoul metro area.

[chickenwhat]

I forgot to say something about finding an apartment, and this would apply to the other schools too- usually schools want you to come over on a tourist visa, then do a visa run a few weeks/months later. But if you are at a school where you have to find your own apartment you cant sign a contract on a place without the work visa. It's not crucial though, you can get by in the hostel or love hotel, but it's worth knowing before you set off looking for a place.
Also, with YBM you get loaned key money, a ripoff sure, but it's also worth knowing that they won't lend it to you if you find a place that has a loan on it. That means that if the owner has a mortgage- pretty normal right?- then forget about moving in. YBM lets you spend weeks looking for a place before they tell you that. Actually there's this Korean guy called Terry who does that. Don't expect much help from him, he's slack!

[Rather_Dashing]

[chickenwhat]

The maximum loan is 10 million, but even if you are loaned say 5 million the interest rate is still 50 000 a month. that should double the interest rate mentioned above.

[guangho]

Back in the states I interviewed with them and turned them down. (6 AM to 9 AM and 6 PM to 9 PM? Pass.) So imagine my surprise when a friend called to say that my name was on their site as one of their newly recruited teachers.....

[SuperHero]

[chickenwhat]

I've got an MA, eight years experience total, and five years experience teaching at universities in Australia and New Zealand. I work at YBM.

And in my "bottom-rung" job I don't teach kids, don't get any anti-foreign Korean management beep or great Korean university beep. I have a single shift which gets better the more time I stay there and don't have to break the law to earn extra, there's so much overtime available. And I've been in Korea less than half a year and I think I'm doing ok. Not perfect, but it's a good start.

OK, so why don't I teach at a uni for shorter hours? When I applied from overseas the universities I interviewed for came across as unprofessional. If university jobs are so "top-rung", why do universities ask so many culturally inappropriate questions, or even plain ignorant questions, and why was YBM the only employer to ask questions directly related to my ability as a teacher? You can't teach esl for as long as me by choosing an employer on the basis of money and working hours. A bit of respect counts.

Yes, people with connections, local knowledge may get better jobs, but there's plenty of people at YBM who have been in Korea for years and still choose to resign their contracts.

[bjonothan]

Go to Pagoda. They give you a better deal by far.

[Aless]

Not to hijack the post but perhaps a comparison will help.

I've just been offered what seems to be a standard Pagoda deal:

80-160 hrs a month at a min of 18000/hr. Split-shift, of course. Raise after 6 months.

5million key money and 100 000/month for apt.

1month vacation


I have a B.Ed and definitely want to start teaching adults. Is this reasonable or should I keep digging?

[bjonothan]

The pagoda I work at gives me a far better deal. Keep digging.....

[Voyeur]

How is the Pagoda deal better?


RUns to 2.16 million with housing allowance for 120 classes (100 hours)

BUT then you minus 500k for rent and its 1.716 for 120 classes or to compare to YBM 1.716 for 100 hours??!!