Korean Job Discussion Forums

[linky123]

I have a tentative offer from CDI. Can you guys help me decide on the pay method and the location?

Thank you.

[Ya-ta Boy]

1. Housing: Are you in Korea now? If you are and can speak a bit of Korean or have a friend who can help you, then consider finding your own apt and take the rent subsidy.

If you are not in Korea, can't speak Korean, then take the plan with the school providing the housing. It would be too difficult to arrive here, arrange temp housing while you helplessly search for a place.

2. Pyungtaek or Daejon
Pyuntaek is a suburb of Seoul. Daejon is more centrally located. Do you want to live in metropolitan Seoul (12 million) or in a smaller city (around 1.5 million)? Both have advantages and disadvantages. The best fit for you depends on your interests and life style.

[linky123]

I am still in the States. I can speak Korean fluently. Please, give me some feed back as to where I should decide.

THank you

[linky123]

bump

[ajuma]

Even though you're fluent in Korean, I'd take the package with the housing unless you have a friend here who can check out places for you. It would be terrible to fly in and have no place to sleep! You usually have to pay a lot of money up-front if you want your own place.

As for the Daejon/Pyeongtak decision: Pyeongtaek is close to an American base. Songtan is just up the road and there are lots of black market stuff there. The people seem to be a little more "country" than in Daejon. Daejon has Costco (great place for foreign goods) and is a little "higher class" than Pyeongtak.


BTW: I wouldn't let on that I speak/understand Korean. It could be your ace in the hole when dealing with hagwon owners and students!!

[D.D.]

Lots of bad stories about CDI. Are you sure you want to work for a big chain hogwan.

[linky123]

[wesharris]

link123, look up CDI on the boards. It's a horrid place to work most of the time. They actually have a contract that is completely AGAINST labor law, but they don't tell you that.
Tax rate's are wrong, company treats you as a number typically, much more regimented. Not bad for a starting teacher, if you don't mind weekends, latenights, holidays, and a number of other things.

[blackjack]

if you have 5-10 million won cash don't take the provided accommodation, if you don't, well take the provided

[egrog1717]

Don't think anyone pointed this out yet... But working on an hourly wage can't they list you as an "indepentant contractor" and screw you out of pension/NHIC/taxes/etc etc?

[linky123]

[wesharris]

potentially.
It's lawful and required for CDI to give you Pension, Medical Insurance, you pay certain taxes. You'd be on an E2 probably, E-2s CAN NOT be I/Cs that's illegal. Just remember CDI stands for Can you Dig It ?
_+_
Wes

[linky123]

[Ruraljuror]

Linky you appear to have done your homework.

As for CDI, they get a bad rep because they share 2 traits with bottom of the barrel hagwons: they don't provide benefits and they absolutely work you to the bone. But CDI has mitigating factors: they tell you up front you aren't getting the benefits and don't deduct money for benefits they don't provide, they are very upfront about how much you will be working, and they provide a salary on the upper end of the scale. They also provide a very extensive training program, which I've heard really prepares you for teaching, which may be useful for you if you've never taught before.

Personally I'd say CDI ranks at or near the top of the hagwon chains. I don't think it's any kind of fun to work there every day, even hollidays, but at least you are well paid for your time. If you are indeed here in Korea to provide for your family back home I think CDI is an excellent choice for your needs.

As to the areas: never been to Pyongtaek or Daejon. Can't help.

Finally, I would HIGHLY recommend taking the housing allowance. It's a shame to me how many teachers take the horrible provided housing instead of finding their own place. When your employer must provide housing for you...they have a clear financial interest to provide as cheap a place as possible. The major hurdles for most teachers would be the key money and difficulty in finding housing...but if you have the key money and can speak Korean, you will really be better served finding your own place. Do you have family here you can stay with while you look for a place? If you don't, in my opinion it would be worth the hassle and expense to stay in a cheap motel for a week or 2 until you can move into a place you find yourself. You are going to be here for a year and there really is that big of a difference between the holes that hagwons provide and the places that you can find on your own...and the housing allowance will probably cover the entire rent.

My two cents anyway. Good luck.