Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ruthdes]

Hi all,

I've searched the forums but all I come up with is 2 year old threads. I'm about to sign with GDOE to teach elementary school and I just have a couple of questions about conditions.

The two year old threads mention 6 weeks of vacation, but my contract is only for 4 (20 days). Is this standard now, or am I being fleeced?

As an in country new hire, how does the airfare work? The contract is a little ambiguous. I'm going to email the liaison about it before I sign, but I'd like to hear others' experiences. I think it says I get 700,000 won or a one-way ticket home when I complete my contract, but it's not clear if it applies only to out-of-country new-hires.

[soyoungmikey]

I worked for GDOE a while back and yes the 6-week vacation was standard. I have kept up with the posting for the job recently and I was surprised that it's now down to 4 weeks. I think they've changed their policy. As for the flight I got the 700,000 but I was an in country hire. Don't know if that helps you or not.

[Ruthdes]

Thanks for the reply soyoungmikey. It's good to hear about the airfare (I'm also an in-country hire). Shame about the vacation.

Anyone else know anything about the Gangnam DOE vacation policy?

Cheers.

[Slaps]

I have a friend working there and he said that the vacation entitlement has indeed been cut from 6 down to 4 weeks.

[sigmundsmith]

The reason why the vacation has been cut from 6 to 4 weeks is due to the elimination of Saturday teaching. Even though most NSET's (if not all) don't teach on Saturdays Gangnam District Office has decided to add an extra week of teaching for both teaching semesters. Thus, the reduction in vacation time.

[minos]

[Ruthdes]

Wow! That sucks! It's still a big improvement on my current situation overall, so 4 weeks it is I guess. Thanks for the info all

[alistaircandlin]

Don't you get six weeks if you renew your contract, and stay for more than one year?

When I was there elementary teachers got six weeks automatically, but at middle school we started on four weeks for the first year, and got an extra two if we stayed for a second.

[Ruthdes]

I read that somewhere too, but all the other threads about Gangnam schools are at least 2 years old. Can anyone who works there now confirm this?

[alistaircandlin]

Ruthdes - I left at the end of May this year, and that was still the case when I left. I got 6 weeks vacation in the year from Sep. 11 to Sep. 12, because it was my second year. (Or I would have, if I hadn't left before my contract was up.)

I hadn't heard anything from Gangnam Gu Office about reduced vacation time for the next contract, as of May 31st. Although, if we'd been informed of this at the last minute, just before re-signing, it would have been no big surprise.

You could phone the admin. staff at Gangnam Gu Chong, and ask if you still get six weeks in your second year.

P.S. When I started, in Sep. 2010, the guys working elementary schools got 6 weeks straight off - they didn't have to wait for the second year to get this. It sucks if they've reduced it. The Korean staff don't lose any holidays - in fact they get more time off, because they no longer work alternate Saturdays - but native speakers' holidays are cut? Nice one! Good way to attract qualified teachers and entice them to stay on, I would have thought.

[Ruthdes]

Thanks for the reply alistaircandlin. I did email the lady at Gangnam Office about the vacation and this was her reply:

[dkteachlife]

Current Gangnam Teachers

How far behind do you think Gangnam is from SMOE in Job cuts?

2013, 2014, 2015?

[shostahoosier]

[Weigookin74]

How do you apply to them? Is it a lengthy process like SMOE or EPIK?