Korean Job Discussion Forums

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

Hi,

I've been interviewed for a job in a small town about an hour or so north of Seoul. This is my first time coming to Korea. I'll be the only native English speaker at the school (there is no current native speakers teaching at the school so I can't get in contact with anyone (and, from what I can ascertain, I will be the first English teacher there ever)). From researching online, I've been able to find the breakdown of the foreign/Korean population in the town - it seems native English speakers are a bit thin on the ground. Information on the town itself is practically non-existant online. Does anyone have any experience of this kind of gig as their first teaching position? I'm slightly apprehensive about being cut off from the world.

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

What's the name of the town? Maybe someone could give you some more information on it who has lived there.

iammac2002 · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Location: 'n Beter plek.

Fox · Joined: 04 Mar 2009

Public transportation is very good in Korea; being merely an hour away from Seoul, you won't be cut off from the world at all. If you choose not to socialize with Koreans your week day options might be limited, but nothing would stop you from going to Seoul every weekend if you wanted to.

iammac2002 · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Location: 'n Beter plek.

What if he is 3 hours away from a big city? It is possible, I know from experience. Bad bad experience. There's no good public transport 3 hours away, only the train. And you have to take an expensive taxi to get to the train station, you can't walk there. I did once ride my bike over there with my duffel bag (no taxi wanted to put the bike in the car)...that was painful.

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

Chet Wautlands · Joined: 11 Oct 2008

About an hour north of Seoul isn't really the sticks. Don't expect a lot of English, expect there to be a few other foreigners, and expect to be a bit bored during the week. Expect to go into Seoul almost every weekend. Expect to occasionally not go into Seoul on the weekend only to find that, come Monday morning, you wish you had done something. Expect to have internet and running water.

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

climber159 · Joined: 02 Sep 2007

This town/school might be an hour away from Seoul; but, how far is it from central Seoul? If you will be going out at night in Seoul you'll have to leave early, book a motel/goshiwon, or stay at a friend's place as the subways and buses close between 12am and 1am. Taxis run all night, but their fares go up after the subways close (and do you really want to pay 30,000-40,000KRW to get home?).

If you take a job outside of a major city, I hope you are a very independent individual. You'll probably find yourself with a lot of time by yourself.

Teelo · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Wellington, NZ

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:19 pm Post subject:

He can't talk about the town because it's only an interview. When he's on the ground then there'll be helping hands then. It's an adventure! You're getting an opportunity to do things.

gelynch52 · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

An hour north of Seoul is still Seoul. It most likely is on the Seoul subway line. Koreans tend to think that Suwon just south of Seoul is a small town. It "only" has a couple million people & is for all practical purposes, part of Seoul.