Korean Job Discussion Forums

aphong420 · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Location: KOREAAAAAAH

I posted this a while back - but has anyone had an experience with TOPIA, in general?

Specifically, they're opening a new branch in Mokdong - anyone headed there? Anyone interviewed yet?

mtnhiker · Joined: 18 Jan 2008

No sure about Mokdong however, make sure that you are getting pension and enrolled on taxes. Make sure you are registered as an employee. Make sure your contract is very specific and made ammendments to it.

Otherwise, paid on time and curriculum set up for you.

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

Are they not the, um, employer of the fork who leaked exam ?s to Gimpo Foreign Language High School a couple of months ago?

Somebody out they-uh, please correct me if I'm, like, wrong.

R

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

darkpoet · Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Location: Korea

...worked for Topia EZ in Sangdong, Bucheon... like all franchise chains, the conditions depend on the owners/managers/staff. Finished the year... contract terms all honored or at least mostly fair (pension excluded but after checking with the pension office and my contract... nothing I could do)...

aphong420 · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Location: KOREAAAAAAH

I don't think this is a franchise ... I believe it's an extension of it's main campus.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

The fact that there is a lack of information is a good sign. Looks like no one has any major problems with TOPIA.

You should try it out for yourself. You are on an F-Visa right? If it isn't what you expected then just start shopping for a new job.

Thunndarr · Joined: 30 Sep 2003

purple_octi · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

anyone have any experience at their Mokdong location?

atomjuice2 · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Korea

I experienced 'Topia' near Nowon about 4 years ago....it was absolutely ruthless. They also claimed to be 'Christians'...and since I had a degree in theology and once been a Wesleyan-Methodist minister in Cornwall, Canada...they told me I had to 'help' them convert their non-christian staff. I was very uncomfortable with that, since I had left fundamentalist Christianity in the rubbish bin long prior to that time. Even though I still hold to basic Christian Orthodoxy, I believe most people know the pitch...heaven, hell, Jesus...so on. Anyway, i soon discovered that they were not only supporting this presumptive hidden agenda, but they were mean, corrupt, and rude to me. Without honor. I worked less than 2 weeks there. Told them I worked for heathens who had higher moral values...at this point, one of the foreigners ( who was a bum-kissing you know what ) almost hit me. I left thinking how lucky I was to have escaped so easily. Even today...four years later...I see the huge 'Topia' busses and a shiver runs through me...I'm totally serious.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Xanadu123 · Joined: 01 Jul 2009

Can anyone tell me anything about the topia in gangbuk

Any input is greatly appreciated

darkpoet · Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Location: Korea

I can say that it looks like they've pulled the plugs on the franchises and now operate only branches. The buses all look better anyway and the contracts are likely through head office. May be better, may be worse. Depends on management, eh?

PigeonFart · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Someone above mentioned there weren't many negative reports about Topia. Some negative reports did exist in the past, they were just taken down for legal reasons...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=topia+gangseo+warning&meta=&aq=f&oq=

The link above no longer exists but some people will remember it. Yes, it does depend on the specific branch. Some good, some not so good. The one in Gangseo got into so much trouble that it had to change from Topia to another franchise.