Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mysterious700]

Is your decision a choice between security or location? In other words, as a newbie, did you choose a hogwon in Seoul with the risk of not getting paid, etc or did you take a public school job elsewhere in Korea to have stability (getting piad, etc). I am merely curious. I had some friends who faced those choices. However, maybe SMOE will hire new people without experience. (But I am guessing not so much.)

[Draz]

If a steady paycheque is your definition of security, you really don't have to choose. Work at a big hagwon in Seoul, you can live in Seoul AND get paid.

[Underwaterbob]

My first time coming here my "choice" was determined by whoever would hire me. I was about to fax a signed contract to the first school that contacted me, which was in a village with no other foreigners and whose best English speaker barely managed to mangle the language, when I got a call from a real English speaker in a much better sounding school in a city with a foreigner community. The decision was made.

[nicam]

I chose security and money (would have made a lot less money with SMOE than EPIK, and Seoul is expensive) and I kick myself every day. Seoul is the place to be in Korea! There is nowhere else (unless you actually like rural living, but I know some who thought they did and are still relocating to Busan next contract). Location, location, location! Do your research on reliable hagwons and go to Seoul!

[cj1976]

I have a similar conundrum. I live in a stupendously crap part of Seoul (the kind of place where public urination and spitting seem to be a sport for the locals). There are no decent restaurants or any foreigners at all, and the only form of entertainment seems to be in the various massage joints.
However, I earn a substantial wage because I work 4 fully legal P/T jobs.
The question is should I move to somewhere a bit more civilized and take a huge drop in income, or should I stick it out in the slums and rake in the coin?

[Rory_Calhoun27]

Remember the sage advice of Gordon Gecko.... "Greed works.... greed is good." Just remember to wear a raincoat at the massage parlors and have a decent connection for your laptop, and another year will go by pretty fast.


And if you still have doubts, make sure to have plenty of Penecillin and anti-virus programs ready, to be on the safe side.

[cruisemonkey]

[Bibbitybop]

[roadwork]

[cj1976]

I live in Sangbong, which is almost on the very edge of Seoul. The places you mentioned are much more cosmopolitan!

[mysterious700]

Interesting. I do still notice many foriegners opting for hogwan jobs even though the public schools have been hiring a lot. I'm guessing it is because of wanting to live in Seoul. I work with a couple of people who were offered hogwans in Seoul or a public school gig in a small city. They chose the public school gig as did I. But my experience now would allow me to work for SMOE. The only good thing about small town life is it's ease and stress free work environment. While every school is different; did any of you find a problem even in Seoul at hogwans (ie not getting paid on time, nasty office politics from Korean coteachers, etc)?

[nicam]

cj1976, if you live IN Seoul you are at least close to civilized society, and you ARE making a TON of money. I'd trade with you any day. You could be in the real depressing boonies (which is exactly how you described Sanbong, only worse, and nowhere near a city) and not be making jack.

But I hear ya' about living in a crap district. It's just not the same. Couldn't you just change apartments?

[cj1976]

[Draz]