Korean Job Discussion Forums

[freebeerandchicken]

Hey all,

I am heading over to Seoul to teach for my first time sometime this Summer. After much internal debate I decided about a month ago to go with Footprints Recruiting. (So far so good with them, by the way). So today they sent me their first finding.. I was wondering if some of you could advise me on a few things. (If you have time, take a look at the school's website too - link below). First I'll paste what they wrote to me. I've edited it a bit to cut out the unnecessary. And then I have some questions/comments below. Thanks again eh!


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Overview:
School Name: Oedae Jongro
School Website: http://www.oedae.com/apply

Location and Start:
City: Seoul
Location Link: http://www.jongno.go.kr/english
Start Date or Dates: July 1 June

Basic Introduction:
We have a job opportunity with a school called Oedae Jongno, in the heart of downtown Seoul. This school is located in a neighbourhood called Jongno- the heart of downtown Seoul.

Contract Overview:
Salary: (min) 1,700,000won (max)
Overtime: 17,000won (10,000-25,000;various overtime pay depends on classes)
Airfare: provided by school
Bonus: 1,750,000won
Housing: housing deposit+rent stipend

Vacations: 10 days paid vacation
Medical Coverage: 50%

Description of Duties and Opportunity
Schedule: Monday-Friday
Teaching Hours: depends on contract
Type of Students: elem-adults (business english)
Number of Teachers: approx. 9
Number of Foreign Teachers: approx. 30

General Links for Area and Local Attractions:
Link 1: http://english.seoul.go.kr
Link 2: http://www.guesthouseinkorea.com/Jong-No/?M=Intro&L=1&B=

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1. What is this Jongo area of Seoul like? They tell me its right right downtown, like in the heart of downtown Seoul. True? If so, do you think it would be good to work in this area?

2. Have you heard of the Oedae school(s)? Any insight?

3. Housing: The school's website says that the most popular neighborhood for OeDae teachers to live in is Taehungdong in Shinchon. Can you offer any insight regarding this neighbourhood?

4. Housing: This school does not completely pay for housing. They say that they pay 5,000,000 Won for key money (which i guess is a housing deposit?) plus a monthly housing allowance of 300,000 Won. Since they don't say so, I am guessing that they do not cover bills (utilities, phone, cable, etc). Any opinions on this? Is this going to cost me a lot?

5. Housing Location: As for this "Taehungdong in Shinchon" neighbourhood, the school's website says that it is "fifteen to thirty minutes away from the school by bus or subway, depending on traffic. It's also close to a subway station". Is this accurate? Also, how does traffic affect the speed of the subway? Am I missing something there?

6. House Furnishings: The school's website says it provides "a gas range,
refrigerator, washing machine, as well as bed, desk and chair, lamp, telephone, a 'sofa' small one person section of a sectional sofa, wardrobe, and electrical transformers, if needed." In my research I have come to think that it is the norm for school's to provide a tv and vcr, occasionally even a DVD, stereo, etc. Is this a low-end set up or am I just getting greedy?

7. Pay is 1,700,000 Won/month, and thats for 100 hours a month. After 100 hours I get "10,000-25,000; various overtime pay depends on classes". How does this stack up? 1.7 seems pretty low (lower than the 1.8 standard I seem to see most people write about) and I don't see anything else making up for it. Also concerning overtime, should I be concerned about the school forcing me to work overtime? Should I have an option? Theres nothing along these lines contained in the sample contract they sent me.

8. I get 10 days paid vacation. Is that about the average?


Thanks for whatever help you can offer!


kevo

[Grotto]

From what you've posted I call it a crap offer from start to finish.

Low wage.1.7 is below norm. 100 hours is below norm but with a schdule depending on ????the unknown it sounds stupid.

no set hours Mon to Fri but schedule depends on contract?

Teaching adults usually means very early and very late classes.

Looks like you have to find your own housing and possibly pay part of the rent

No mention of pension...could be good or bad depending on where you are from.

Tv is the norm...vcrs/dvd players are bonus
Flexible overtime rate is bogus as well...10,000 won is ridiculous...

10 days is about the average...unfortunately.

Thats my 2 cents anyway

[Bulsajo]

Schools still offering 1.7?!? I was making that in during the IMF...

[NearlyKorean]

I hope this helps...

[peppermint]

Never heard of Oedae Schools, but Jongno is very central Seoul, so unless you're a small town kind of person, it should be a good location. Shinchon is a university neighborhood, lots of clubs and restaurants, but it might be noisy

It's kind of strange that they're not providing housing, but not unheard of. Do ask if they'll help in finding accomodation since you're new to the country Utilities and phone are almost never included in paid housing, and while a TV is standard, things like a stereo, DVD etc are definitely not.

1.7 is low pay, but so are the hours. If having time for other things is a priority, it might be okay

Make sure the medical coverage is the national plan, and if so, you'll be in the pension plan too.

To get a better idea, we'd have to see the contract.

[sheba]

I was told never to accept my first offer, basically because you dont know what you can get.

1.7 is low, and Seoul is very expensive.

The one thing I learned that I think is very valuable, is that you can afford to shop around! There are SO many jobs around! I turned down 4 offers in 2 weeks before I was offered my current job, and so far everything is great.

Are you still looking at jobs offered on the net? Its good, just to get an idea of the average pay/housing/etc

[Dan]

While waste the next 2 - 3 years of your life bitter and drunk in a foreign country?

[matthews_world]

You may be doing a split shift with the adult thing but since it's elementary included then you'll probably stick to an afternoon block.

Shinchon rent is quite lower than average but still in the center of bustling Seoul with the numerous universities around. 300,000 would cover a large portion of your rent for that area.

After you save 5 million won, you can always use that for your own key money and have the 300,000 added to ur salary and pay rent yourself. Many teachers do this after living here awhile.

Ask your school if they would allow you to put a clause in your contract for other part-time work.

[PaperTiger]

I worked for Oedae in Kimpo, and it wasn't what I would call an ideal first experience.

Teaching adults? Find out how many are in the class. Ask if you can contact any of their current teachers. Talk to as many as possible. You might get people who don't care or sold their soul lock, stock, and barrel to their employers and are too cowardly to say something bad about them no matter how richly they deserve it. There's also the first-year eternal optimists who could see the bright side malignant rectal cancer, so you have to weigh what you hear carefully. Uh, and watch out for people who seem too bitter...just ask around but don't be unduly influenced.

Their kindy/elementary franchaises all seem to have one thing in common: shared housing. It's becoming an industry standard (if not my own personal standard) to request single housing. Trust me, if you don't know someone, you're better off getting to know them without having to live with them at the same time. Ya pretty much lose the lotto every time ya play, right? Don't gamble on roommates, bub.

[PaperTiger]

I worked for Oedae in Kimpo, and it wasn't what I would call an ideal first experience.

Teaching adults? Find out how many are in the class. Ask if you can contact any of their current teachers. Talk to as many as possible. You might get people who don't care or sold their soul lock, stock, and barrel to their employers and are too cowardly to say something bad about them no matter how richly they deserve it. There's also the first-year eternal optimists who could see the bright side malignant rectal cancer, so you have to weigh what you hear carefully. Uh, and watch out for people who seem too bitter...just ask around but don't be unduly influenced.

Their kindy/elementary franchaises all seem to have one thing in common: shared housing. It's becoming an industry standard (if not my own personal standard) to request single housing. Trust me, if you don't know someone, you're better off getting to know them without having to live with them at the same time. Ya pretty much lose the lotto every time ya play, right? Don't gamble on roommates, bub.

[coolsage]

For what it's worth, I worked for Oedae in a previous life (1998). The one in Jongno is still run, I believe, by one Jay Lee. The accommodation that I was offered in Shinchon was by far the worst that I've ever seen in Korea: a filthy, bug-infested ajumma box atop an apartment building-- and I had to pay rent for that dive. If you have other options, give this one a pass.

[freebeerandchicken]

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone, its much appreciated. I'll let you know when I get to see an actual contract. ... And yes, Oaedae Jongo is still run by Jay Lee. Did you work for that specific school? If so, how was it besides the dismal accomodation?

[coolsage]

kevo: Yes, I worked there. The schedule at that time consisted of the obligatory soju-soaked businessmen in the early morning, and following a breakfast break, mostly university students on their breaks doing conversational English. That part was OK. Should you choose to follow up on this, I'd suggest that you demand to have a look at the accommodation before signing off on anything. Also, you should know that Jay Lee is one unctuous piece of work. He'll warm you and charm you, and then throw you to the wolves. All luck to you.

[freebeerandchicken]

"Should you choose to follow up on this, I'd suggest that you demand to have a look at the accommodation before signing off on anything."

Unfortunately, this is all going to happen while I am still in Canada. Its doubtful that I will be able to make it over to Seoul without first finding a job before leaving. I know thats not the overall best way to go, but thats what I have to do. So I'm working under that condition.

All I am hoping to land is a job with what seems to be the decent standard these days...

- minimum 1.8 million won/month
- max 30 hours/week
- return airfare
- paid for single accom, furnished
- a decent (i mean average) overtime pay rate
- not forced to work tons and tons of overtime
- 1 month salary as severance pay after 12 months
- 10 days paid vacation (not including korean national holidays)
- 50% of medical coverage paid for
- if doing split shifts, accom that is reasonably close to the school

If I can find something like this, I will be very happy!

Do you think that I can realistically find this, given that:

- I am arranging everything before I leave;
- I have a BA and no certificates or previous experience;
- I plan to leave Canada at the start of August

With these points in mind, I get the feeling that I would have to be pretty lucky to land all of the above-mentioned provisions. I also get the feeling that if I demand all this of Footprints, my file might get pushed aside to make room for "less picky" first timers. I'm not giving up on Footprints at all, but my time frame is beginning to close in on me a bit ya know?

kevo

[Grotto]

hang in there....you will easily find a job with the minimum standards.

do a search for YBM.ECC everything you listed there is within thier basic minimum....not the best and not the worst but usually a safe first year place to start.