Korean Job Discussion Forums

nicam · Joined: 14 Jun 2008

Has anyone done this, or does anyone know anything about the process?

I am on Geoje island, and was told that my school would be in the urban/suburban development of Gohyeon. Instead it's up in the sticks (30 minutes by car, 90 mins by public transport). I am tired of commuting on busses full of ajummas who hog all the seats and being given no extra time off. I would like to transfer to a school IN Gohyeon, a reasonable distance from my house.

Should I contact my local POE? Do I need a translator? Do they usually place people as close to their current location as possibe?

blonde researcher · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject:

Go back to your recruiter who should then talk to the office of education for you . Strange you are in a rural area on the island? Geoje is a real wilderness in many places. The recruiter must have known the location of the school you were sent to, unless you came from the EPIK intake. I have been told that once you are placed that is it! Good luck in shifting schools.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

yeremy

You're not getting the info you need. I'm in the process of changing schools. I"m an EPIK HS teacher in Gyoungbuk and I've applied to transfer to another school at another level. Last December, I got a memo from the POE which asked me if I wanted to re-sign, resign or transfer to another level which for me is either middle or elementary school. I opted to transfer to another level. I don't know yet if it has been officially approved and obviously I don't know where I will teach in EPIK for next year.

Once your recruiter has placed you, you are out of their sight and mind as far as most of them are concerned. You can only change schools or levels (high / middle / elementary) officially once a year, to the best of my knowledge and I have spoken to the Gyoungbuk EPIK manager about that. The deadline I was told by which I had to make up my mind was early February 2009, so if you haven't gotten ahold of the EPIK coordinator or manager already for where you are in EPIK, you should as soon as you can. Don't wait a minute longer. Go for it. Good luck.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

yeremy · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: POE Approval for Switching

The op asked who was in the process of changing schools. I am and I am, as Draz pointed out, at the end of my contract, which means that I'm eligible. But I'm in a different province, so it could differ. Basically, I applied to transfer to a different school or schools, and it has to be approved by the POE. I also applied to transfer to a different level. That has to be approved by the POE, too. I don't know where I'm going to be working next year yet. I'm hopeful.

If the op is halfway through their contract, they have to wait and be patient until they receive the application to transfer. When I spoke to the EPIK manager for my POE he told me (in very good English) that even though you may apply to transfer to another school, it is possible to be denied by the principal of that particular school, for example, so you could end up elsewhere.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

yeremy · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: Switching

It all still has to be approved, Draz. No matter what you, I or the op want to do in EPIK transfers to other schools, it still has to be approved by the POE. What don't you understand about that? There's nothing to argue about.

nicam · Joined: 14 Jun 2008

Well, sounds typical of Korea... lack of consistency and organization. I guess there is no correct answer here because it differs from province to province, school to school, etc.

I also don't want my current school to find out I was trying to bail only to be denied by the POE. That might make for an even more awkward remainder of the year.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

yeremy · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

Are you really in EPIK, Draz? If so, you would know how controlling they can be.

I am in Gyounbuk. Here you have to apply to transfer to another school at the end of your contract and it has to be approved. The POE sends it to you at your base school. That's how it works here. Perhaps in your province it's different. So what if you're ignorant of what goes on in other EPIK areas.

Your comment about hearing of three people (allegedly) transferring to another school was interesting, too. Perhaps they didn't transfer but were transfered. Maybe their schools wanted to move them. I heard of such a case here.