Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Alias77]

I was told in the midst of a conversation last week, that Gangnam is not a good place for a new English teacher to start. The area was described as very "stressful" and having a "high turnover rate, because people don't finish their contracts as a result".

Just curious what those of you having worked in that area might say to this description.

I'm still searching for a position and often see listings for Gangnam - is this proof?

[Ilsanman]

I worked in Mokdong, which is 2nd to Kangnam in education.

Mokdong is super competitive and parents are picky as shit and 2-faced. I did finish my contract, but almost didn't. Everyone else was stressed out all the time and the Korean teachers had a super high turnover rate.

[jajdude]

Seems to me it is getting more competitive all over the place, not just in Seoul. There are so many hagwons everywhere it seems. Maybe more parents and kids are complaining more often? They can be hard customers to please. I don't know what they want.... More this, less that, and also the opposite....?

[Ilsanman]

Or parents of kids in the same class tell me they want less homework, then more.

More checking of homework, then complain that it takes too long.

The supervisor told us about these complaints, and we reamed her out. Why even bother telling us words out of the mouth of the truly stupid?

[Homer]

[PRagic]

Plus:

worse traffic
more expensive rent
noisier
more attitude...even from those that don't actaully live there
more 'bickie'..'hey, you want a girl?'

No facination with the place. Lived there for a year and couldn't wait to move north of the river again.

[MollyBloom]

yeah, what's the deal with gangnam?

[Alias77]

Is Seocho less intense than Gangnam or is it pretty much a mirror of its neighbor? (In terms of working conditions, stress, turnover, etc)

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Gagnam mothers have a bad reputation even amongst Koreans. I can't even imagine what horrid, spoiled monsters their little kids are.

[rawiri]

Gangnam public school gigs are the most sought after by those who know what to look for. I have friends working in hagwons in Gangnam, none of whom are making under 3 mill. I'm moving there next year if i can line up the right gig.

[Alias77]

* edited to start a new thread to get more direct answers *

[matthews_world]

Dude, what are u talking about? People here are answering your very generic questions. What more do you need to know?

[Alias77]

[jinju]

What do you really want o know? About hagwons? And whay kind? Adult, kids, convrsation, business, etc? Corporate gigs? Public schools? Your question is too general and as a rsult you see, you didnt get any answers.

[Alias77]

My mistake. I had actually left the discussion open ended because I wish to hear about both public and private teaching nuances. Personally, I am exploring opportunities from kindegarten through junior high level education for my introductory year in Korea. However, responses that I received earlier for this Gangnam thread were perfectly in line with what I had hoped for.

I try to rely on Galbijim, wikipedia, and other informational sources, but there are gigantic holes in explaining the smaller divisions of Seoul or any other shi, gu, or dong for that matter. When looking at a list of 20 jobs designating locations for schools, it may say Seocho, Mokdong, or Jukjeon which have very little referenceable information to help me understand where these are in the city and what living/working conditions are like in that part of the city. After some time, I learned that by tracing the subway system, I have a chance of possibly discerning what Gu it is located in, by which point I begin to ask generalized questions from others having experienced living/working in the area. So, that is why I didn't wish to constrain the topic, but leave it open ended for anyone to lay out their thoughts for Gangnam or Seocho, knowing that the majority of participants will by default focus on their work experience with a variety of age groups within public and private. Its just that explaining my questions in this way makes them seem a dozen times more complicated.