Korean Job Discussion Forums

arh · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

What's Jeju Island like? What is there to do there? Would it be a nice place to live? Would it be alright if you lived there and didn't have a car? Oh...by the way... What is the best English school on Jeju Island to work at? Thank you for any information! Very Happy

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: Middle Land

From a strictly personal point of view, I have found Jeju the best place in Korea by far

Clean air, warm temperature, palm trees, orange trees, nice beaches, nice people (ok..NICER people).

When I walked around a tiny village in southern Jeju-Do, I felt welcome.

When I walk around Seoul, I feel like a negro walking around a 1920's white neighbourhood. "Go home Yank" is a common phrase lately....

From what I understand though, wages are lower there for teachers. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Here's the low down pal. I suppose if you want to live in korea, Jeju is about the best place. Clean air, water, space, not as crowded, yet, but it's getting that way. Friendly people are in seoul also. Just have to pick and choose your friends.
Working? A hokwon is a hokwon no matter where in korea. Good and bad owners all over. I would not sign a contract in Jeju at a hokwon. Why? They pay cheap! And want you to teach many classes a day! However... Teachers don't have to sign contracts in Jeju for low wages!!! But they do and then complain after! Schools in Jeju say "it's cheaper to live in Jeju, hence the low wages." B.S.!! Schools in Jeju charge students the same tuition as in seoul! And they have just as many students! Who are they trying to B.S.?! The schools in Jeju and elsewhere have "agreed" to keep the wages low. They KNOW that some fool will sign the contract. Now, I'm not saying you're a fool. But, MANY teachers sign and then complain about the bad hours, etc. And many DON'T re sign. A few teachers have made Jeju their home and are doing well. It takes time to get the right job, connections, etc. And it takes PERSONALITY!
You'll get "island fever" and want to fly to seoul and if you're making 1.8, a round trip ticket to seoul in almost 160.000 Won. Plus, schools at times stick you in "officetels" and the monthly maintenance fee can average 125.000 Won! You have old Jeju city and new Jeju city. The people don't mix. Jeju is clickish. They don't care for seoul people. Jeju is also GROWING! The city is getting crowded!
You need to get at least 2.0 per month. Teach no more than 5/6 50 minute classes a day. STAY away from BCM! Split shifts, LOOONG hours!
The best gig is at a University. Food? Korean food is the same all over. Western food? Lot's available. Winter is COLD! Summer is hot but then you can jump into the ocean! Meeting people? Lot's of non koreans in Jeju. Lot's of foreign teachers also. Stay away from a small town hokwon! You'll regret it! EVERYONE will know your business! Change your door locks when you move in and give NO one a key, not even the school. Jeju has a small U.S. military base on the SW side. SMALL base! Football field size. But, it has a small PX, restaurant and you can get on the base. Koreans can't enter unless escorted, but just show your passport to the gate guard and you're in. The manager of the base is EZ to get along with. You can what western items you need also. Check with the manager FIRST! You need a military ID card but, again, see the manager.
Just get the BEST deal you can at a school and live with it. You many like it! Don't agree to teach 120 hours or 100 hours! Schools will cheat you! If a class is 40 minutes long, you have to teach many classes to get to 120 hours!

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: South Korea

Um Chedju Uni! Yep stuck up the hill on minimal pay and spread hours and good luck with accommodation. The worst money I got tricked into in the last six years. See the accommodation first and don't take any notice of anything said unless it's on a signed contract in your hands. Try getting back to the mainland. You can have the place.

wanamin · Joined: 14 Apr 2008

I went to Jeju for a vacation, it was great, the culture was a lot different than the rest of mainland korea

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Jeju is overpriced and overrated as a tourist destination. I've heard of people spending 500,000 won or more for just a weekend there, when they could've gone to Thailand or the Philippines for the same amount.

bovinerebel · Joined: 27 Feb 2008

VanIslander · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 7:16 pm Post subject:

safeblad · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

I had a serious critical response all written down but then i see this thread is over 5 years old.

nateium · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Location: Seoul

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

It's the Hawaii of Korea - that's what my Ss told me.

Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida · Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Location: Not Korea

Never went and now have no desire to.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

15 years here. I've been all over the penninsula, and am generally a supporter of Korea and things Korean. However, off time is off time, and if Cheju is the best they've got, in my book it's just another reason to vacation in Thailand, Bali, the Philippines, or Vietnam. Live and work there? Forget it.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

I'm in Jeju-do right now on vacation. I love it. Of course I'm not well travelled so I don't have anything to compare it to, but to reference other foreigners I met in Jeju-do who are well travelled, it's a pretty good place to visit.

It has a lot of beautiful things to see and fun things to do, it's easy to get around (I was able to rent a car easily even though I can't get one in Seoul), and everything is priced well.

Some of the places we went (Sunrise mountain) were breathtaking, and the Koreans were nice enough not to dump plastic neon stuff all over it like they do in places on the peninsula. You really feel like you're able to breathe here: big open roads, quiet / clean towns, and very friendly locals. The scenery is so lush, open and green too, you'd never get that on the peninsula anywhere.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking to unwind without leaving the country. I don't know about working here though, maybe something I'd do after I've been in Korea and decided that I really needed to get away from it all.

To all the naysayers: you can't say Jeju-do is a bad place. Even if you've been to more exciting places abroad and find Jeju-do boring, it most certainly isn't bad. There is nothing bad about it at all. It just might be a little boring for someone who spent a lot of time in Thailand or something.