Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/10/117_52813.html

[Mr. Pink]

I would have been smiling to the bank if I was teaching in Gangnam. First of all, I would never live there as the rents are too costly. Secondly, there are a lot of places where one doesn't need key money to get an apartment...and Itaewon isn't the only place out there with cheap rents. If people put in 30mins commute time a day they could live somewhere nice and cheap and pocket the rest.

Hell out of the 100 teachers employed there, how many are complaining?

[Seoul'n'Corea]

[Carla]

I really hate to play the devil's advocate, because I really like and appreciate the ability to choose between housing and housing allowance, but there are those who brought this on us.

School rents house, puts down money, moves in teacher. Teacher leaves (for various reasons) and the school is out money for the apartment, out any damages, bills, etc. From the schools point of view, it's hedging the bets against runners.

Now, it's easy to say, all the runners are because the schools are bad, but we know there are people who run because they have family problems, because they have better offers, because they just don't like Korea, etc.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Thing is, if you refuse to sign the amended contract, what can they do?

Further more, guaranteed the new contracts in March will get way less than 900,000 for housing allowance.

[Carla]

[cruisemonkey]

There must be a bunch spineless idiots working in Gangnam.

Just how are they being forced/coerced into signing an amended contract?

CT: "Here is new contract... sign it please."
FT: "No!"

[CentralCali]

Followed, of course, by: "You're fired!"

I'm with you, though, CM, on this. As I've posted in another thread: SIGN NOTHING!

[Draz]

[Gillian57]

If this happens it is going to spread like wildfire, and everyone will be put into the same position. Here are my questions: Will the schools be paying for the expense of the move, or do the NTs have to pay? Is there a clause that includes a "cost of living raise" if housing prices go up? Will the NT get a "travel allowance"?

Those are questions just off the top of my head, I am sure there are other questions.

All-in-all, this is lame, very, very lame.

[oskinny1]

How many of the non-native E. teachers live in Gangnam? I bet they have to travel as well. Many at my school have 1+hours of travel and this is in little ol' Busan.

Cost of living raise? It's a one year contract, cost of living isn't going to go up that much in a year.

Travel costs? Maybe they can give you 2000won a day for the subway.

Good call on paying for the move though, the NT shouldn't be out of pocket for that.

The big thing is, how are new teachers supposed to find their own apartments?

[byrddogs]

i worked and lived (decent provided housing) in apkujung for a few years. my school owners/admin were surprised when i told them that i was leaving for greener pastures (ie..public school and wanted to get out of kangnam-gu). "why would you want to live somewhere else?"

[bassexpander]

This is just the beginning.

Mark my words, in the future, you'll see them lower wages by almost 600,000 per month, citing their "excessively generous" 900,000 won housing allowance.

[cruisemonkey]

[T-J]