Korean Job Discussion Forums

[carnivalbeauty]

I've past my EPIK interview and am collating the rest of my documents, and should have them all to send by the end of next week, BUT according to the EPIK website my top 3 cities choices have already been filled! - is there any point for me to continue???

[BananaBan]

im no vet, but from what i have read and i apologize if u already know this, but if EPIK locates u in the periphery/towns, u can have an awful experience

[carnivalbeauty]

are you scaremongering?....

[koreatimes]

EPIK covers a lot of territory. If you get a job offer in a city that is more than 1 hour from a big(ger) city, just say you thought EPIK didn't need you and that you already signed a contract with a hagwon (private schools in Korea in case you don't know).

This way it won't seem like you are flat out rejecting the location (even though you are). Then, if possible, work with a recruiter that deals directly with EPIK to place you in another location.

[carnivalbeauty]

I'm going to have to look into this! - I'm a city girl, I'm happily travel and live all over the world, but in a city loool. I need the hustle and bustle....me and countryside wouldn't make for happy times

[jvalmer]

To Koreans, especially those from Seoul and area, anyplace with less than 1 million people would be considered rural. There are tons, and I mean tons, of towns with 250,000 to 1 million people. And they are compact, so they do have an urban feel to them.

However, if you're bent on having western amenities you'll be in trouble. And travel to the closest major city will be cheap, like in less than $5 dollars cheap.

[Ribena]

[wjf1]

When I was too late to get a decent placement in 2010 I just went the hagwon route. If you go for a hagwon you can probably pick any city you want, but you'll have less vacation time.

[Rutherford]

It's a crapshoot with EPIK because you might not know where you will be until the end of orientation. Will they tell you the name of the city before orientation or do they just say the province?

For instance if they tell you Gyeongsangnamdo, that could mean somewhere like Changwon that is very nice, modern, urban, and easy to reach Busan from. Or it could mean some village in the middle of nowhere.

There are plenty of nice smaller cities that aren't Seoul, Busan, or Daegu. Most of the smaller cities on the south coast are nice - Geoje, Tongyeong, Namhae, Yeosu. Smaller towns but urban enough and very close to nice islands and beaches.

[Skippy]

Nope not worth coming. Please stop now and let a poor SMOE hire or waygook in Korea fill the position.

Small towns can be okay and yes travelling is cheap, but not always quick or timely. A smallish city I lived in outside a bigger city. Still took about an hour to get into. Plus the bus stopped around 10:00. Throw in having to find a place to sleep - 30000 plus, Taxi fees, etc. Sometimes it was not that cheap.

So if you need the night life and western ammenties like shopping and goods. Lots of wayook friends who speak English. Then stay home.

[carnivalbeauty]

So basically what we are saying is, if you have passed your interview, but haven't got your documents in yet, it is very unlikely that one will be placed in a city? - and are we saying this from tangible knowledge/experience, or hersay/grapevine . - I just really really am keen to know what is what, and my overall position, all this ambiguity is killing me looooool

[cheezsteakwit]

[Julius]

[carnivalbeauty]

Does anyobody know what Gyeongbuk is like? ....that might be an option

[koreatimes]

I lived in Andong, not much there. I had to leave after 6 months. It's more ideal for couples and "established" people.