Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Monkey82]

My fiance and I are about 7 months along our hagwon contract. Not overly displeased with it, but we'd like to move to a public school next. But our current contract is up late-Sept. Is that too late to start a public school position, will we have to wait for March? When is a good time to start looking, and where?

Any tips about finding them would also be appreciated. I know we can't be at the same school, but we'll both have the same employer - the province, right? So we can still live together?

We'd like to live in a city, Busan area preferred, but anyplace other than Seoul is OK.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[yeremy]

You have three basic options: 1) you can find one or more recruiters who work with the major public school openings in SMOE, EPIK and GEPIK. 2) You can apply directly, such as you can to EPIK by going to their website and filling out the on-line application and then following the instructions. Or 3, you can prepare your resumes and go to areas where you would like to teach and go door-to-door, which some have suggested can be very effective. I work in one of the three big public school programs and two people I know, who are an engaged couple, were placed at different level schools in the same city, so they ended up living together. SMOE is for Seoul; GEPIK is for Gyonggi Province; EPIK is for the rest of the country. Not every public school participates in one of these three big programs so options two and three could be very much worth your while, but perhaps more time consuming.

Because of your start time at your hagwon, you may want to consider leaving early, which most likely means giving up your end-of-contract bonus and part of your final months salary.

The Korean Education Ministry seems to have prioritized placing NETs into the rural areas, so your chances of getting what you seek would be higher in a rural area rather than a big city such as Pusan, because many people want to live and work and there are just so many job openings. Good luck.

[ttompatz]

There are lots of schools with 2 FTs in gyeonggi province. There are fewer of them outside of Gyeonggi. GPOE is the biggest education office in the country.

If you insist on being together you can be placed together (same or adjacent schools and one apartment (family housing)).

EPIK and GEPIK won't turn you away for that reason and they will certainly try to accommodate you.

Contact them directly via their websites.
Note that GEPIK has a new website (even though the old one is still there).

GEPIK: http://cge.ken.go.kr/eng/index.asp
EPIK: http://www.epik.go.kr/

[jadarite]

Who do you contact for SMOE positions? The SMOE site just looks like a general website about the education system in Seoul. I don't see any direct link to teaching English as a foreigner.

[ttompatz]

[dogshed]

Don't worry about the start time. I'm sure you can find an EPIK job
at any point in the year.

[wylies99]

Are you SURE applicants MUST go through a recuiter? I know GEPIK teachers who were hired directly by GEPIK without any recruiters' lies.
They got their choice of locations and schools, too.

http://gepik.ken.go.kr/foreign/application.php

[ttompatz]

[pkang0202]

You can apply to GEPIK directly. Hell, I got all my paperowrk together ahead of time, showed up at GEPIK's office in Suwon and they hired me on the spot.

[Smee]

Just curious why people are still applying to and working for EPIK?