Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fromtheuk]

Have you seen they offer 7 weeks paid vacation at their public schools?

My current GEPIK contract ends in May 2009.

I am very tempted to work in Gangwon next time. The pay scale is good too.

The question is when do they recruit? Anybody know?

If you work there, please tell me what it's like. Do you get even more vacation time, unofficially?!!

I hope they recruit in May/June 2009!

[afsjesse]

I have numerous friends who work in PS up there, and I tried desperately to get in there myself! It is true. It states in the contract that you get 35 paid vacation days off. One of my friends in Donghae gets more as a matter of fact. It depends on the school.

What you have heard is true. However I got Gyeongbuk with its 2 weeks off.... but I like it.

[Jessie41]

The contract states 35 calendar days, not working days. This amounts to five weeks vacation. However, someone renewing within the POE will get an additional 2 weeks, for a total of 7 towards the end of the first contract.

I have seen them recruit throughout the year, not just for September and March, but that is when the bulk of the new teachers start.

As far as "unofficial" vacation time, that will vary among schools.

[sojourner1]

I seen a job listing recently offering 7 weeks paid vacation. I think that's referring to 5 weeks plus 2 more if you resign for another year so it's actually 5 weeks. Occassionally, you do get a free day and then there is a Winter and Summer break where you may not be teaching or you teach camps for extra pay. I understand snow days and yellow dust days happen too. I would had liked more Fall days to hike, but holidays and vacation don't fall in Fall other than Chuseok.

It's really not bad as it's lower stress with much less congestion, traffic, rude people, and pollution than even a mid sized city such as Changwon, but your shopping options are severly limited. You can survive on what's availabe in just about any small town as long as it has a grocery store and 5 day market, but might want some things from Emart or Homeplus. Shopping can mean a whole day bus trip to a city such as Gangneung in order to vist an Emart and Samcheok is the only place with a Homeplus in Gangwondo, but does not have direct buses to other towns other than Gangneung due to road layout. You can still get stuff through Gmarket. You probably won't have a 7-11 or GS 25 store offering a decent international beer selection, but you will be lucky to have a Familymart offering a few. You won't see hardly any flashy neon and strobe lights. I can't say small town people are as friendly as I expected, but there's definitely a noticably lower level of staring and annoying looks. Students tend to be more eager to learn English and show a little more respect since they're not as spoiled as many of their peers in the city.

8 more weeks to Winter break...

[fromtheuk]

Thanks. I'd have to live near a homeplus, I couldn't travel far every time I want decent groceries.

[Jessie41]

One more thing OP. Although I live in a decent-sized small town, there is no bank where I can exchange or send money to my account in the U.S. I have to go to the next town to do this, and of course it is only open during school hours. Therefore, those extra rural allowances don't add up to much when I have to sit in frustration as my savings declines in value and I can't get to the bank any time soon.

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

There are plenty of big cities here in Gangwon, plenty of rude people, traffic congestion, pollution (dust) But ive never seen nor heard of closed school due to dust or snow.

They take people more or less all year round. Not just Sept and March.

Vacation is 5 weeks calander. 2 weeks resign bonus.

If you do summer camps, you may get paid extra. you may NOT. It depends who organises the camp, your school or the POE.

I like Gangwon. Good location, close to Seoul, the beach and Busan and snow in winter. Really has everything - even supermarkets with decent groceries.

[Mandinga]

right now there are positions in Chuncheon, Wonju, Donghae, Hoengseng, Hwacheon & Inje, according to one of the posters in the job forum. They are to commence in November, December & March .more locations in 2009.