Korean Job Discussion Forums

Qjmonster · Joined: 22 Jun 2005

Hi all-

I am going to be working with the SMOE in a public school this fall. I have some female friends in Japan who said they surprised by dress standards. If any of you ladies can think of things that surprised you in Korea, I would love to know. For example, my friends in Japan didn't know that they couldn't wear open toed or sling back shoes.

I work a corporate job in Chicago right now, so I have plenty of business casual clothes. How dressed does a teacher need to be? Are slacks ok for women? Is a jacket necessary?

Any advice would be great. Thanks!

PolyChronic Time Girl · Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Location: Korea Exited

It's really not all that strict. I got away with casual dresses, skirts, pants, nice shirts. You don't need to wear business suits....I find that casual business just like back home would suffice. Just use your common sense like back home....no jeans, low-cut shirts/skirts, tank tops, or grungy clothes. Koreans are a little funny about showing shoulders, so make sure you throw a light cardigan/blazer over a very-shorted sleeved shirt/dress. You can also wear relaxed footwear....heck, a girl I worked with wore sneakers (but I wouldn't recommend this). Also, there are plenty of schools where you can't wear your street shoes; you wear the slippers that they provide for you. So, don't splurge on work shoes yet. I also wore open toes shoes in the summer and never had problems (but all schools have different rules). I worked at an all-boys public high school last and I took a little more care to cover myself, well, because they are hormone-driven boys who never see girls. But I never had a problem with administration about my clothes. At the hagwons, clothing is even more relaxed.
Don't worry...I'm sure what you bring is fine. Good luck to ya!

Qjmonster · Joined: 22 Jun 2005

Thank you very much!

pompomouse · Joined: 21 Jun 2005

I think what PCTG said is true. You don't have to worry about being really dressed up but you should keep a few things in mind;
- For the most part Koreans tend to take personal grooming and clothing seriously. Coming in to work with wrinkly clothing, and an unkept appearance will reflect negatively on you. Yes many westerners don't heed this advice and think it is no big deal but a semi- professional, clean appearance goes a long way with them.
- Regardless of your size (even if you are thin in North America) you will have a difficult time finding clothing in Korea. Many shops have no where for you to try on clothes, meaning you have to eye it and guess whether it will fit or not. Bring as much clothes with you as you can affrod or charge to a credit card and pay back later. Trust me on this one- I couldn't even find socks or basic tshirts to fit me the last time I was there. Since SMoe is paying for your ticket, paying for an extra bag of luggage will not be a big deal.
- Don't waste space in your luggage for toiletry items outside of deordorant and feminine hygiene products. Deordorant is hard to find and expensive when you do find it and feminine hygiene products are easy to find but you will most likely not be able to find the brand you prefer to use.Other items like makeup, shampoo, conditioner, soap and toothpaste can be easily found.

Glad to hear you took the SMOE job. Take care!

vixen nomad · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Location: Korea

I am currently on my third contract, and have always wore jeans and a t-shirt or sweater to work. Now that it is summer, and monsoon season, I wear capris or capri jeans with flip flops. No one seems to care, and never has. But the general rule is no tank tops or short skirts. So unless stated otherwise on your contract, anything else goes really.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I wear business casual. It really depends on the culture of the school. My school is really funny about bare legs. I'm supposed to wear hose/socks in 30 degree heat. i then explained to my minder that I had a problem with with ingrown toenails and it was best in the heat i didn't have to wear them.

A bit will depend on the age of your students. Please note that middle school boys will look up your skirt, using mirriros, and take pictures under your skirt given half the chance.

I wear business casual, jeans on friday. Take your cues from the korean teachers but remember that you must always be better dressed than them to get the same respect.

peppermint · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject:

Depends on who you're teaching really:

kindies- wear something washable, that you don't mind getting grubby fingerprints on.

Kids hagwon- casual, unless told otherwise

Public school- take your cues from the teachers you had. Nothing low cut or short, especially if you teach boys.

Business classes- Dress professionally. If you want the students to take you seriously, you've gotta look the part.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

It is very relaxed where I work. T'shirts, jeans, etc are fine. We're not allowed to wear short skirts, low cut or sleeveless tops. Yes, we have to wear slippers (which can be shoes as long as they arent worn outside - ever) and no open toes. We are allowed open toe slippers/shoes but then we have to wear socks.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

Four comments: 2 questions, 1 spit-take, 1 eye-roll

1. Tank tops. It's been quite a while since the Guru was in a classroom anywhere, and when he was, nearly all his teachers were male. Do female teachers in the West wear tank tops and such these days? (And T-shirts & jeans? I thought even children went to school better dressed than that, no?)

2. Wearing slippers on the job. I suppose if one's literally on their feet all day, then it might be comfortable. But were I to live to be 100, I'll still never get with the slipper-wearing-office-worker thang. The only time I've done it was when I worked in big buildings and they had a shoeshine service. They would come up, gather everyone's shoes, and give us slippers to wear for an hour. The service was good, cheap and convenient, though I did witness two ugly scenes (verbal and physical berating of a young bootblack -- biatch-slapped with a slipper Shocked

) when the shoes were returned late and people had to attend meetings with The Big Man or with foreigners -- in their green & pink slippered feet!! ("Aw, how cute!" Razz

) It was also rather comical watching this one mean-faced, barrel-chested director spit fire at his underlings -- with his fuzzy little green slippers on. But I digress... Does anyone really get into this slippers-on-the-job thing?

3.

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

clg have you had any boys try to look up your skirt with mirrors. If so what did you do to the little preverts. I know that peeping up skirts is a big problem in korea.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

They have to go to the teacher's room and do the love heart thing on their knees. Painful and humilating. Great way to teach a short sharp lesson

pegpig · Joined: 10 May 2005

Let's see if I got this straight. Punishment for looking up a skirt is getting down on your knees in front of a skirt? Cool

What is the love heart thing?

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

It's where the make hearts with their arms so they aren't crouching ,just kneeling.

kermo · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:42 pm Post subject:

I was told last week "You're wearing running shoes! Don't you know Koreans don't wear those indoors?"

So, is that true, or is my co-teacher just a bit grumpy these days?

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

you've really had boys look up your skirt? man, i'm glad i teach at an elementary school, i'd take their phones away and call canada with them.

i hate wearing slippers at work.

i wear biz casual to teach except on very hot days, then i wear a nice dress or something, b/c they don't have air con. oh yeah, in the winter, there's no heat either so bring thick sweaters.