Korean Job Discussion Forums

thebektionary · Joined: 11 May 2011

I have been helping a girl who just graduated from my university look for a decent hagwon job (she doesn't want to wait until February for a public school job), and today I emailed a school called Phillips Academy in Mapo that is offering 2.3 million.

They offered her the job, asked her what her departure city is, told her what her apartment number was, and told her she has to do a visa run to Japan and come here on a tourist visa so she can start ASAP before even interviewing her.

It seems a little too good to be true. She doesn't have any teaching qualifications or certifications or anything, so I'm thinking that this guy just REALLY needs someone fast and she is willing and able with her documents ready.

I don't get a bad feeling from him (I talked to him on the phone) or the school, but I can't help but ask about it given the situation.

Has anyone ever heard of it? What do you think? She's really excited so I'm just praying that everything is okay with this school. The location and pay are fantastic, the boss speaks English, and there are 5 other native teachers at the school. It's not kindie either and the working hours are pretty decent.

Please tell me if you know anything! Thanks!

earthquakez · Joined: 10 Nov 2010

I had some correspondence with a poster here called imoscardotcom back in 2010. They either worked for Phillips Academy in Mapo or backed out from it.

From the pms I got, it seems the place is bad. Do a poster search for imoscardotcom and find out information. I recall he/she called the owners 'idiots'. Exclamation

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

I like living in the area though Very Happy

thebektionary · Joined: 11 May 2011

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it a lot. The girl I'm helping is really eager and a bit impatient to get here (understandably... she is still living in our uni town and wants to get out ASAP) so she really wants this to work out but I keep telling her not to jump on the first few jobs she gets just because they're offered to her...

It's hard to explain the deal with Korean hagwons to someone who has never experienced it. It's as if they don't believe you completely or something. I think they think "How could a workplace be THAT bad?"

But, erm, it REALLY can be.