Korean Job Discussion Forums

Koreaboundandgagged · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: USA

Which would be better? We are awaiting offers from two places, a Unigwon in Daejeon with 5 wks vacation and a foreign school in Jeonbuk teaching K & 5/6th grade with 8 wks. vacation. The pay is very similar, 2.1 Won and 2.2 Won at the Unigwon. The working hours at the Unigwon would include split shifts and the elementary school has set hours of 9:00 to 3:05 and includes all lunches. What's the difference between Daejeon and Jeonbuk? Climate-wise? The "big city" Seoul option really isn't important to us since we have two young daughters and prefer to be near mountains/hiking. With 750,000 people in Jeonbuk I'm sure I can find all the excitement we'll need...
Thanks!

To clarify, the foreign school has mainly native Korean students with citizenships from other countries (English-speaking, I'm assuming?).

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

If you're also gong to be teaching mostly elementary kids at the unigwan, I'd take the foreign language school.

Koreaboundandgagged · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: USA

Thanks for the comment.
From what I was told in the interview, 20% of my time would be spent off-site teaching kids and adults conversational English. The other 80% of the time I would be on-site teaching the equivalent of a freshman English class.

What about the location differences? I know Daejeon is about twice the size, but again, this is of no huge concern to me as 750,000 people is plenty. I come from smaller communities and much prefer them to larger metropolitan areas.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I don't know either city, really. You could try asking Quinella about Daejon - I'm sure he'd be very helpful.

If it's teaching 80% uni students I'd take the unigwan job, but that's just because I don't like elementary kids very much. However, be careful about believing the 80/20 ratio. It could turn out to be much more than than.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Jeonbuk isn't a city, it's a province. It's Jeollabukdo, North Jeolla Prov.

You're probably going to Jeonju, which is bigger and better than Daejeon.

Find out where in Jeonbuk.

Koreaboundandgagged · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: USA

Thanks for the suggestions, Yu_Bum. Much appreciated. Really, though, how much "smaller" is a city with 750K vs. a city with 1.5 Mil.? I'm just looking to hit an occasional bar, take my family to occasional dinners, catch a movie here and there, and maybe find a nice hot springs once in a while. And some hiking in the mountains. While I do really like to cut loose now and then, my ripe old age of almost thirty doesn't like the effects much anymore. I'd much rather sit in on a traditional Budhist chant and chat with the locals (using as much broken Korean as I can muster) afterward. There, that's us. Shocked

Koreaboundandgagged · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: USA

Why is it bigger and better than Daejeon? I thought Daejeon had a pop. of 1.5 million? Isn't Jeonju around 750,000? What is the weather difference between Daejeon and Jeonju?

Thanks.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Wait, yeah. Jeonju is much smaller than Daejeon, but you still haven't told me if you are indeed going to Jeonju or somewhere else in Jeollabukdo.

As for weather, Jeonju is much warmer and a lot windier than Daejeon, it's a lot flatter than Daejeon which is surrounded by mountains. I just like Jeonju for being relatively undeveloped, cleaner and having better food.

You might really enjoy Daejeon more for being on the KTX line to Seoul. Takes 53 minutes. Jeonju is 3.5 hrs by slow train from Seoul. It's, um, rustic.

I used to work for these guys, they set me up well:

Koreaboundandgagged · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: USA

Yes, I'm sorry, it is Jeonju. What do you mean by "much flatter?" I mean, from what Google Earth looks like, there should be mountains around the city!?!? I've heard about the good food, but really, what's the diff. between 750K and 1.5 Mil. people? We don't really care about "rustic," in fact, we embrace it. You should see the rustic people where we live now! University town, but I'm talking chilly (though very warm) northern Minnesota folks that look like actual vikings! Well, almost.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Koreaboundandgagged · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: USA

Thanks for the clarification, Pyonghin. Having revealed my naievety...is the sea visible from Jeonju, or is it at relative sea-level thus making it impossible to sea the see? Laughing

Nonetheless, I'm 99.9% sure this is where we are going. I basically accepted the two positions last night (early this a.m.) and am now awaiting the official contract. The owner (who speaks flawless English) mentioned they normally signed two-year contracts with teachers. Is this normal??? I guess this is a pretty posh place from the sound of it--located on the grounds of the former provincial governor's mansion! Our apartment is on the grounds and is a 2-3 min. walk. The downtown area is about a 10-min. drive--perhaps a bit longer by bicycle I imagine. We are very excited!

Thanks again for all your advice and commnets; they are a newbie appreciated--I assure you.