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Dress Code in class?

 
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madcap



Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Location: Gangneung, Korea

PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:47 am    Post subject: Dress Code in class? Reply with quote

I'm heading out to work in a public school in Gangneung in March and I was wondering what type of dress code was required in most schools. Is a shirt and tie typical? A suit? Or do people wear bluejeans and t-shirts? I just want to know what to take with me because I don't want to be forced to buy a bunch of Korean clothes that don't fit well.
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jmbran11



Joined: 19 Jan 2006
Location: U.S.

PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't work in a public school, so you should wait for someone with more expertise to reply. But, I would suggest you maintain at least business casual at work, such as dress pants (not jeans) and a button up shirt. Buy several and mix and match. This is a place that judges people largely on appearance (maybe everywhere is such a place). And bothering to be a little neater than the next guy will go a long way to disguising any flaws you have in your teaching or attitude. Of course, I'm not insinuating that you have any flaws, I'm just suggesting that you bring 5 pairs of non-denim dress pants and twice as many button-up shirts, since they are relatively cheap and easy to buy in the U.S. Additionally, you should consider buying wrinkle-free materials. Even if you don't, dry-cleaning is relatively inexpensive here.
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Bibbitybop



Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wore a tie my first week to make a good impression and get more initial respect. Nobody else ever wore a tie, so I went down to just a button-up, tucked in shirt. Somes I wear short sleeves, and I never iron. The general rule is that you dress up, then relax your standards to fit in with the school. Unless you have a dress code to follow, anything goes except shorts, t-shirts, hats and spandex.
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madcap



Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Location: Gangneung, Korea

PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What about around town and when you go out at night? Do people dress mkore formally in general or just in certain circumstances? Are jeans only worn by Westerners or do Koreans were then as well?
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skconqueror



Joined: 31 Jul 2005

PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think it depends too on your principal.. if he is strict, then all the teachers will dress up.. if he is laid back, well the opposite will be the case.

I always wear dress pants and a shirt.. some of the Korean teachers wear jeans..
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frankly speaking



Joined: 23 Oct 2005

PostPosted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For personal life wear what you usually do. The fashions in Korea tend to be more of a urban hip-hop style. People tend to be very trendy but in the rural areas they tend to dress more casual.

As for work environment, everyone else gave you a good outline. Clean cut is always more accepted.
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travelx



Joined: 30 Apr 2006

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I work in a Hogwan and started off with smart casual, they asked me why I didn't want to wear jeans! God I love them

So now jeans it is - everyday, maybe it's like at home, if your too dressed up they think you have a job interview.
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Oreovictim



Joined: 23 Aug 2006

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that I'm the only teacher out there who has to wear a dress shirt and a tie to work. I work around little kids, so why do I have to get so dressed up? The dress code only applies to the foreign teachers. One of the Korean teachers has worn a Budweiser shirt before. (Man, that beer is disgusting.)

If you want to wear a shirt and tie for the first week or so, by all means, by them back home. Korea has some of the most gaudy-looking shirts and ties I have ever seen.
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cdninkorea



Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I work at a public school, and in my contract it says I have to wear a shirt and tie everyday. I did that for the first few months, but after constantly getting "why are you so dressed up?" and seeing all the Korean teachers wearing everything from jeans and a t-shirt to full on suits (depending on the teacher, but most go very casual. Especially the men), I decided to start going more casual. Five months of wearing jeans several days a week and no complaints yet.
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OiGirl



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

travelx wrote:

So now jeans it is - everyday, maybe it's like at home, if your too dressed up they think you have a job interview.

Or a court date.
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