Korean Job Discussion Forums

[charles demar]

I'm a former employee of Corem. I'm not being bitter or writing this out of spite. I'm just trying to share some information I wish I had when I was shopping for jobs last year.

This is a small chain of hagwons with one owner. Kinder starting at 9:45 in the morning, elementary in the afternoon, middle school/high school kids as late as 10pm. Here's what I know about the place.


The BAD:

Pay: 2.1 (down from 2.2 last year)
Vacations: short and few
Class load: 40 per week.......spread out between 10-15 different groups of kids


Due to mismanagement, poor curriculum, and a deteriorating reputation among parents (I've heard), enrollment is way down and they're having some trouble.

I know of at least 1 foreigner being layed off and not provided with return airfare or the pension refund. I've also spoken with a teacher who has to commute (at his own expense) between two locations. The hours tend to be pretty long, and there was occasionally unpaid overtime. Some former co-workers were recently asked to work Saturdays.

They tended to be behind on payments to the pension office. This was a big problem for another previous teacher, as the school didn't pay her pension until several months after she arrived back home in US.

All apartments are older and small. I've spoken with teachers living with broken plumbing and severe mold infestations.

Very disorganized management.

Teachers must give up several Saturdays throughout the year to attend field trips, kindergarten musicals, kindergarten graduation. Some of these were unpaid.



The GOOD:

Almost all of the people I worked with were really nice and helpful - both Korean and foreign.

I was always paid on time.

All managers (that I met) speak English.

They really want to do nice stuff for the kinders (if/when they can afford it). Sports day was fun, and there were 1 or 2 other pretty nice field trips.




It's not an absolute nightmare to work there, and maybe my experience was unusually bad. I don't know. Potential candidates should make sure to speak to ALL foreign teachers at the branch you're talking to. I was told this was discouraged, but be persistent.

[brooker]

I was curious which location you worked for? If you don't want to share that information publicly you can PM. I can't PM you because I did not post enough yet. I am looking into the Corem school in Geumjeong.