Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ameroak]

I just applied for work with EPIK. There was a placement preference section on the application and I chose 1)Busan, 2)Ulsan, and 3)Gangneung.

Can anyone tell me if this was a good list to create for my choices? I've lived in Korea before in a very rural area of Jeolla. I was hoping for a more urban expericence this time with a beach, as well.

Anyone working in these positions please reply and give the living situation details.

[Homer]

Hey there,

I have a few friends working for EPIK and this year for Busan there are 3 placement spots....

So it was good you put Ulsan there on your list of choices. If you prefer a city, why not put 3 cities in your choices instead of 2 and a province?

As for general conditions with EPIK, it varies greatly from PEO to PEO and then from school to school.

They do pay on time and offer a decent salary range based on qualifications and experience.

they also offer orientation which to some is useful and to others useless!

Anyway, best of luck!

[ameroak]

Thanks Homer.

Yes, I prefer a city but, I prefer an east coast city and/or beach area to be more specific.

My last contract with a hogwan was in BFE on the west coast. So, I was hoping for a change of scenery and something more urban, as well.

I'm really hoping to hear from people currently working for EPIK in the aforementioned locations.

Stay warm, stay safe

[Homer]

ameroak,

If it is Busan you want...try Pusanweb (the website dedicated to Busan) when it comes back online.

You migh find good job offers there.

As for coastal cities, I can understand your desire to be in one as I have lived in Busan since 1997 (except for a year in Seoul).

[Rteacher]

I've visited Busan, and it seems nice for a fairly large city. I lived in Gangneung, a fairly small city, for a year, and it was also nice and very scenic, situated near famous Gyonpo beach and majestic mountains and valleys... A drawback for me in Gangneung was that I regularly needed to go into Seoul, and, while the express bus trip was usually pleasant, it often would take at least three hours, and it cost around eighteen dollars each way...

[ameroak]

Thanks for the replies.

Homer - I have tried the Pusanweb but, for some reason or another the job offerings won't open past the first page.

Rteacher - if you don't mind my asking, why did you regularly have to go to Seoul while living in Gangneung? I'm wanting to know if I would I find myself in the same dilemma if I'm placed there. One of my reasons for putting cities on my list of potential placements was to keep from having to run back and forth to the city every other weekend just to catch a movie or buy cheese.

[Homer]

ameroak,

P-web was hacked by some idiots last week and they are still trying to re-load the site....sorry..forgot to mention that!

As for jobs in Busan, they tend to be buried here on Dave's ESL job bank...p-web was a good source but you can also try a few recruiters if you wish. I know of a couple of a reliable recruiters but I do not know for sure if they can place in Busan.

There are also the bigger companies out there (ex: YBM) and you can apply through them and specify you want Busan or some other coastal cities. These bigger companies also have their good and bad points however...

Anyway, if you have questions, feel free to pm me and I will do what I can.

Cheers

[ameroak]

Thanks for the heads up, Homer.

As far as recruiters go, ewwww, scary . . . not sure about that. I'm hoping to get on with EPIK and from what I've heard so far, I shouldn't have any trouble. I seem to have the qualifications (BA in English Ed. + graduate coursework completed in TESOL) and the experience they want (4 years teaching ESL in the US, 1 year teaching EFL in Korea). Plus, I've applied as a part of a couple with my husband. He worked with EPIK for 3 years before he took off two years to finish his PhD. So, I'm hoping as part of a package deal, I'll have more appeal in Korea's job market.