Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cait09]

Hey,

I have been teaching in Japan for the past two years but I have decided to start looking for a teaching job in Seoul.

However, if possible, I would like to live in Itaewon. I would like to teach in a public senior high school. I know I don't ask for much!!?? My friend told me to wait until I have arrived in Seoul to look for a job. Do you agree??? I really want to get sorted before I arrive in Korea. So basically I need know where to start!

Do you have any agency/job/website suggestions?
Is it difficult to find accomadation in Itaewon?
What is the cost of living in Seoul?
How much should I expect to earn?? (I have an hons degree and 2 years teaching experience)

Thanks in advance,
Cait09

[crossmr]

you can look for a job here, but if you've never had a teaching visa in korea before you'll need to go back to your home country to do all the visa stuff.

[losing_touch]

[hari seldon]

[Toon Army]

[Skippy]

As someone commented you may have to go back to your home country to get your visa processed and to even be interviewed. First time applicates to Korea have to go for an Interview. Actually you might be lucky and skip that if you apply to work with SMOE or GEPIK. As they allow some people to skip the Interview at the consulate in their home country

As to Itaewon, why? Their is more to Seoul then Itaewon. Do you want the night life, foreign community, really what is the reason? I do think the prices are very high (but not impossible) to rent in Itaewon and area.

As to getting into a High school. I give you middling chances. You should defiantly apply to SMOE. How I do not know? Google it? Remember. I give you the middling chances as there a whole lot of people that want to live and work in Seoul. And getting a school close to Itaewon(meaning ok busing/subway time) is not easy?

As to how much to earn you can expect about 2.2 million won and up. Living in Seoul I have heard can be quite expensive. But if you a a cheap person you can defiantly save money. But if you want to live in Itaewon you will definlty not save much money.

Good Luck

[plynx]

[broken76]

Getting a public school position in Seoul shouldn't be too difficult for you but many issues that came up are true.
First of all SMOE (Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education) only hires twice a year for the start of the spring and fall semester. The actual location of the school is up to SMOE so there is no guarantee that the school will be near Itaewon. Itaewon in itself is not a typical residential area so there aren't many schools there to start with. You can get housing allowance and live in Itaewon though (make sure you know how leasing in Korea works before you go forward with a housing allowance).
The pay scale for SMOE is low since it is a both a government position as well as a high demand position. Last time I checked your pay would be either 1.9 or 2.0 million won (again I'd double-check).
The consulate in Fukuoka will allow you to get your Visa with a Visa approval document from SMOE (don't know the official term but if you go through SMOE you will get it in lieu of a Visa approval number).
An after school program is not an official public school position through SMOE but are private classes held at a school so will get a Visa number and not the approval document. So if you go for an afterschool program you will need to return home (KCUE is another option but one the school has to do).
There are a set number of official SMOE recruiters so you can contact them with your inquiries (sorry don't know who the official recruiters currently are).
Hope that helps.

[petethebrick]

Wait until you come here to find a job. I know it's nice to have things sorted out beforehand but you will honestly get a much better job/location if you are here in person. There are plenty of cheap places to stay until you get a job. It's not a big deal to get a visa then - just an overnight visa trip to fukuoka which your new employer will pay for.

Like others I'd say itaewon isn't the best place to live but its ok. Most of the accomodation there is in the haebangchon area and rooms are easily available and cheap. The big advantage to living there is that the deposits are small compared to other areas. Also you'll have western food readily available (doesn't matter for me as I generally stick to korean food but can be good when you've a hangover which will be often if living around itaewon ha )