Korean Job Discussion Forums

[earthquakez]

I've never been employed in Korea through GEPIK. I've been employed in public schools through EPIK and I've worked at hagwons - currently at one.

A friend has asked me to tell him about GEPIK - what do you know, for example if he has to go to orientation etc etc. He said if he accepts the job he has to book his own airfare and they will apparently reimburse him when he gets there, unlike my EPIK experience first time of getting the fare paid upfront.

Thanks for any info I can pass on to him.

[ttompatz]

Tell him to actually READ his contract and not skim over the good parts (like getting paid).

Orientation is usually about 5 days (live in). For some, it occurs before they head for their school. For others it happens anywhere from 1 week to 1 year AFTER they start work.

Airfare for MOST public school jobs is usually NOT prepaid (but if you ask your recruiter nicely they may help you).

Airfare reimbursement or entry fee (flat fee of about 1.3 million won) varies (depending on which version of the contract they are using.

Schools can be a bit of "pot-luck" depending on current staff (remembering that all public schools in Gyeonggi rotate 20% of their staff every year (100% change over 5 years) so comments from staff about last year may not pertain to this year.

After that, tell him to read the FAQs.

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[earthquakez]

So it's not that different from EPIK. Thanks, I'll pass it along and I will be able to tell him more.