Korean Job Discussion Forums

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

Here's the dilemna:

I'm looking to come back to Korea and have two good job offers on the go.

Both are similarish when it comes to teaching times/hours/ages/housing/vacation, etc.

Job #1: Cheonan, it's where I lived before and a good friend I met there hooked me up with his old workplace, with a great boss that doesn't screw people. Hence a known entity and would be the safe bet. I did like living in Cheonan because it was easy to travel around Korea, go to Seoul, hike, fly out of Incheon, etc. Salary is 2.3 million.

Job #2: Jeju Island. This a bit less safe...I'd be the only foreigner, however the school does get high praise from the guy working there now and the school has been in operation for years. Salary is 1.9 million. Without a doubt, Jeju is nicer than Cheonan. However, the extra 400 000/month would be nice. I took a vacation on Jeju Island my last time in Korea and did enjoy it, however I'm not so sure that I wouldn't go stir-crazy from the isolation.

What do you think...money or scenery?

The decision....

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Go with Job #1.

You say you like to travel and if you work in Jeju-do, it will get expensive travelling off-island every time you want to get away. Also, you'll be making less. Work in Cheonan and fly down to Jeju-do on the extra income.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

yeah i'd probably go with cheonnan as well.

the nice thing about cheonnan is you could be on the KTX and be in Seoul in 19 minutes if you wanted.

Ekuboko · Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Location: ex-Gyeonggi

You could always try asking for more money for the Jeju job and they might give it you...If you want to make your decision harder!

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

To add another option to the mix. I just received an offer from a summer camp. Not that great....but enough that I could pay for my one-way airfare from Vancouver and have 2 mill or so to hang out in Korea after and look for a job. The stress! All these places want answers asap.

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

tranquilo · Joined: 16 Mar 2005

Jeju's truly a great place. Maybe I'm a bit subjective after living there for two plus years but the scenery (if not the weather) was up there in the same family as what you'd find in Southeast Asia. That said, it did get stir-crazy and the beauty of the island went out the window in the dead of winter. Probably better to stick to what you know and fly down there from time to time for good ol' fashioned sightseeing.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject:

i turned down several 2.5 mill offers from public schools and hagwons
the salary diff. isn't everything, as you implied (I wanted to be near the jinju, namhae, tongyeong and geoje region of the southeast)

but the fact that you personally know a guy at the one place should be a huge factor

the credibility of the other guy is unknown (s/he could be motivated to lie)

save up the extra 4,800,000 in salary and treat yourself to an extended two- or three-month vacation at the end of your year.

imo

but if it's in halim near hyopjae beach then ignore the above advice and head for the water! make it a six month contract - enjoy the summer in jeju, and head mainland by the end of october

good luck whatever

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

I'm not so hot on Jeju as other posters might be-- it's nice in summer. So is Cheonan. They still have winter.

SE of Cheonan is Cheongju-- there's an airport there where you can fly cheaply to Jeju for the odd weekend. I would do this with the extra money you are earning.

Ken:>