Korean Job Discussion Forums

[driftingfocus]

So, I got offered what sounds like a rather good public school job by a company called GMSC Vancouver. Does anyone know anything about them?

Also, has anyone here lived or worked in either Yangju (the town north of Seoul) or Namyangju? I'm quite aware that they're rural - that's why I'm interested in them - but I'd appreciate any info on them I can get.

[Imrahil]

If it is GMSC Recruiting which is based in Surrey (eastern part of Vancouver) I used them the first time I came here. I have no complaints about them and they actually called me about a month after I started my first job to make sure everything was okay. IF it is the same people running the agency I would say they are fine.

About the cities in Korea you mentioned, I have no information about them since I live far away from Seoul.

[driftingfocus]

[Imrahil]

My friend and I both used that agency when we first came over and neither of us had any problems with the schools they found us. I would say they are pretty good as recruiters go, again as long as it is the same guy working there. I have no idea if it is under the same ownership.

[SqueakyBuddha]

I used them to get my public school job. They were good. But double check everything you're told. You can never be too carefull.

[sineface]

Hullo.

I live in Yang Ju. I did my first contract here. I went home, came back to live in Apgujeong, and then returned to Yang Ju. So it can't be all that bad. It's not exciting in the least really, and it's STARE CENTRALE (even after being here, in the same place, with the same people, for two years, for *beep*'s sake) so prepare yourself, but it can be very pleasant. I loved living in Seoul, but sometimes after a hectic day there now ( or any day really), the further the subway takes me away, the more I feel myself relax. More space to move, less noise etc etc. Not super beautiful, but Dobongsan, Suraksan and Soyosan are nice little hikes. There are some lakes to visit. I walk my dog around the rice paddies in the evenings sometimes, it's pretty nice, pretty quiet, usually no one accosting me in English. There's lotte mart and E mart. Uijeongbu has a pretty sweet little park. If you want to go out to bars in Seoul the commute is a bitch, and missing the last train even more of a bitch. But it's also not the end of the world. New(ish) subway line has opened up here with Deokjeong and Deokgye so you're set for transport. If you have any more questions, just ask. Good luck with your job hunt.

[driftingfocus]

[driftingfocus]

[driftingfocus]

[sineface]

[Otherside]

I work near Namyang. It's on the east coast (far too cold for swimming though) and some parts are pretty scenic. Not a bad rural place if that's your bag. You are about a 30-45minute (depending on traffic) bus ride from central Suwon (shopping, nightlife, variety in food etc).

[Imrahil]

They did call to check on us once each to make sure we were okay. But I have never used them since because I have had no reason to use them. Hope that answer's your question.

[yakey]

Don't think of Yangju as rural.

This is a new planned city. About 8 mega-apartment complexes just sold their apartment buildings (about 15 20-story buildings per apartment) and the construction has already started. So if you like to hear banging and watch cement trucks drive by, this is the place for you.

Also, as mentioned, the subway just go here, so businesses will be sprouting up all around the subway line.

Also, there are a ton of little factories spilling out toxic fumes from their smoke stacks. A year or so ago one of those factories caught fire and the whole area smelled like burned plastic for a week. Just about every morning I get up and as I'm walking to my car I have to hack up the previous day's pollution I inhaled. And I hear the neighbors nearby doing the similar coughing spell, so it's not just me. I've lived in Libya, Pakistan, Iran and Singapore, and this is the worst air quality I've ever lived in. And the rush hour traffic is already jammed up and will be getting worse as the new tenants get into those new apartments I've told you about. The city is trying to expand roads to deal with the congestion, but so far it's an uphill battle that they're losing. A lot of people are spilling over into this area from nearby Uijeongbu and all parts of Seoul.

The positives are the ease of the subway on travel, though you're 1 hour and 30 minutes from Central Seoul. Also, the area near the US Army base at Camp Casey in Dongducheon has some decent shopping and restaurants. And the hiking at Dobongsan and Soyosan is pretty good. And Yangju has two good stores for shopping, Lotte Mart and EMart.

If you want rural with good air, I would suggest places to the far south, like Yeosu or Mokpo, or on the East Sea, like Gangneung. Also, the air in Chunncheon seemed pretty good as it is surrounded by trees, but it's one of the coldest places in winter. I did my first year on Jeju Island and of course the air there is also very good and the climate is warmer.

[driftingfocus]

[yakey]

Seoul to Mokpo

By the high-speed KTX train, about 3 hours, 30 minutes.

By car or bus, about 6 hours.