Korean Job Discussion Forums

MollyBloom · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Location: James Joyce's pants

Hey. My boyfriend and I are looking to get jobs in SK. How interested are schools in hiring couples?

Should we include that in one cover letter that we are traveling/working/living together, instead of two separate cover letters?

Can any one recommend some good advice for couples working in korea? anything at all you can give is appreciated.

thanks.

Corporal · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

jmbran11 · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: U.S.

I would seriously recommend working for two different schools. You can both live in one of your free apartments, and the other can receive a housing allowance. Then, if one of you finds your school has serious problems, you are not both totally screwed. Plus, you'll meet twice as many people and have two bases of support.

Of course, it will be more work for you up front. The only advantage of working together is that sometimes you will receive a larger apartment if you share, but you can't assume it automatically.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:43 pm Post subject:

my bf and i got jobs together. we saw an ad for a couples position and jumped on it.

from what i hear, it's very hard to get couples to come, but schools love it when they do. couples stay sane longer, in my opinion. plus we can share accomodation.

but it might be better to say you're engaged. it's very traditional here... we know a Canadian couple who took hagwon jobs together and shared an apartment -- they were shown the apartment and told "okay, you sleep in the living room, and you sleep in the bedroom" because they weren't married yet.

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

My wife and I are now into our sixth year here and as a couple this has been a far easier place to bare than as a single. We have always worked together and that also has more positive elements than negative. It helps that she is also my best friend. Schools, hogwans like couples. Smile

gtse · Joined: 01 Sep 2006

If u teach in different schools and one gets the housing allowance and u both live in one house, won't the school that's providing the house be mad?? So is this "keep it on the downlow" kinda thing??

Teaching together or separate?? This battle could take days!

jellobean · Joined: 14 Mar 2006

Ummmm.... not really taking advantage.... One school provides housing, the other pays an extra 300,000 won (although I would push for 350-400) so both schools are essentially paying. You pay the utilities so there can't be a complaint about the extra person causing extra costs. Alternatively, you could try to convince two schools to go together and get you a bigger place. Don't settle for a studio for both of you. Insist on a decent sized two bedroom and make sure it is in the contract as 2 bedroom with a minimum number of pyeong (make sure there is a min size because there are some small two bedrooms - mine is about 10 and it is a little small for two people) if you are at the same school and they are providing housing for you together.

I pretty much lived in my bf's hakwon provided apt for about a year (I had a room in an apt with friends for about half that year but I just used it for storage). I was working in a public school that had no housing or allowance included. He changed jobs and now we rent a place on our own (I saved up the key money) and he pockets half his housing money (he gets 400 but that's all our rent is and we split it).

If you were going to work in Seoul and could both get housing allowances, you could get a studio in Haeboncheon or 1-2 mil key money and 250-300 per month, but this is often better left until after you have some experience.

gtse · Joined: 01 Sep 2006

Thanks for the advice! I will keep my eyes open and keep that in mind. But i doubt that most schools will do that.