Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DebEVoyager]

Hello! I am new to posting here, although I have read numerous threads for countless hours the past few months to get me to where I am today.

As of right now I have two job offers. I have all of my documents ready, I have done several interviews, and now it is time to decide.

Both jobs have pro's and con's to what I see. For a little background it is my first year going to Korea. I currently live in Atlanta, GA. I am 27 and have worked as a chef for the past ten years. I recently and finally graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Linguistics and a TEFL certificate. It has been easy to find a job but now I am having the damndest time deciding between the two.

If anybody has any advice or input, I would greatly appreciate it. I have spent all day researching the two locations....


Details: Suwon
Public school - elementary - City
Standard flight, housing, insurance, etc. Relocation fee 300, 000. 10 days paid vacation plus holiday...waiting on exact salary expecting 2.1 million KRW, no orientation, starts early March.

****I had a great interview with the native teacher, she praised the school, her co teacher, and the city, and her apartment (which I think I would be moving into)

Details: Gangwon Do (Kangwondo)
Public school, exact location TBA
This is not through EPIK but rather a recruiter (KoreanHorizons) and the POE
1.3 M KRW In flight allowance, 1.3 M KRW exit, 300,000 resettlement, 2.2-2.3 (depends on provincial) , standard housing, insurance, etc. 35 days vacation, 18 national holidays, starts late Feb - orientation

****Still waiting to interview with POE - after holidays


Now I really like both opportunities, I don't mind living in a smaller city but I don't want to live with pigs, I love being outdoors, close to nature, away from pollution but I also love being in a mid sized city with access to restaurants, shopping, night life, etc. I am torn between living in the possible boonies (there is no guarantee I would get a coastal mid sized city- like Sokcho)..or who knows Gangwon Do looks like a fairly large space...

the major differences are the amount of vacation, the orientation ( I like the idea of being introduced to Korean culture gently with a group of other expats), proximity to nature, parks and beaches ( if I get a great coastal city) and also access to city life and Seoul...

I could go on and on and just cannot make up my mind.

Please share your experiences and ideas on these locations. I have had a hard time finding threads on areas in Gangwondo especially

Thank you!

[Otherside]

Hi Deb,

I'd like to clarify a few things, (or maybe you should get them clarified). Regarding the Suwon Job, if it's a public school job, it should have 20 days vacation, rather than 10 as mentioned (I've seen the 2010 GEPIK contract).
Additionally, there is usually an Orientation in April or May, so you will get that, just not right off the boat.

I live in Suwon, and I like it. It's a good transport hub, its close to Seoul, and has alot to offer on its own. I'm more of a city slicker, so obviously I'd take it over the countryside. However, you are no more than an hour away from the country (and ski resorts etc), so you do have that available to you when you want it.

The Gangwon option offers a bit more money and a few more perks, but you do take the risk of being out in the sticks, and generally a rural assignment can be extremely tough for a newbie, unless they really like the outdoors and immerse themselves deeply in the culture. The average person would be far better off on an Urban assignment, atleast for their first outing.

[andrewchon]

Take Suwon. Better the devil you know.

[DebEVoyager]

Thanks for the response so far.

Otherside - you are right I meant to type 10 days summer and 10 winter..so it is 20 although I am dealing with Work N Play for the Suwon job, they have not said it was through GEPIK or if there would be an orientation...I don't need it, but I like the idea of it, recovering from jet lag, experiencing 'the firsts' with other people....but it is not that important, it will be boring too cuz I spent two years doing the same thing at school.... I am actually waiting on a reply for clarification of a few things..the recruiter takes a few days..

Suwon does sound great, but really how is the pollution? If I want to go for a run is it impossible? I hear it is hard in Seoul, etc b/c of population density

the thought of living in the sticks is sort of appealing...but for a year?! Your words of advice ring true but still when I see Sokcho it looks so beautiful by the beach by the mountains, yada, yada...but really the chances of getting a good city in that large province feel slender...

Don't get me wrong, I am happy to hear about Suwon but there seems to be little to no info. on Gangwong Do aside from the rainbows and butterflies video my recruiter sent me...

Any other opinions? Anybody in Gangwondo who can attest to something kick ass? Lastly is Suwon very dirty? I am nervous about pollution..

[Otherside]

I'll be honest, I haven't found the pollution in Suwon to be that bad, comparable to most major Western Cities I've been to. As for going for a run, there are a couple of parks and rivers you can run along, and as long as you don't run along the highway you should be fine, pollution wise.

What do you want to know about Suwon?
It's got ALL the korean style nightlife you'd want, a couple of expat places, a few western-type restaurants (1 or 2 really good ones), quite a lot of ethnic food (Turkish, Indian, Nepali etc - mostly decent), all the Korean-style places, Department stores, cinemas, etc etc, a few nice tourist attractions. And, I live in central Suwon, I can get to central Seoul from my apartment in under 40 mins, so I have all of Seoul available too.

[ChopChaeJoe]

Gangwon-do isn't terribly far from Seoul, but staying over night might eat up your bucks. Gangwan-do is beautifil and there are a few mid-size cities, nothing as big as Suwon though.

[3DR]

I'm in Suwon as well and I like it. Transportation is excellent...in front of my apartment I have 3 buses that I can take that will get me to areas in Seoul directly (Sadang, Jamsil, Gangnam) and 3 that will get me to Suwon station.

There are also parks where you can run if need be. Another friend of mine runs up a mountain 3 or 4 times a week in Suwon.

There are also a lot of teachers here (though for some reason everyone I hang out with is mostly from Seoul) so you can easily make some friends.

[Tycho Brahe]

suwon is a really good city to live in.
urban enough that you won't feel that out of place.
the only place you'll have any issues with congestion are around suwon station.

but where are these turkish and nepali places?
that sounds interesting

[DebEVoyager]

Well just for the record for other people who may search out this thread, I have decided to take my chances in Gangwon Do

For both personal reasons and for matters of timing, the Suwon job won't start until April 12 2010 and I am looking to move a little bit sooner...my life here in the States is slowing to a grinding holt and for financial reasons aswell the Gangwondo position is more appealing.

I will be sure to visit Suwon and perhaps for my next year I will brave a bigger city, seeing as a I live in a large city here in the States I like the idea of being in the sticks. I do plan to get a small motorcycle to alleviate any pressures of not being able to sufficiently get around though =>

I will try to update and share information with everyone when I have it.

Thanks for the insight, Suwon sounds lovely but the prospect of living in a real Korea with some peace and quiet and hopefully beaches and winter skiing is tugging at my heart.