Korean Job Discussion Forums

Examfreaker · Joined: 12 Feb 2006

Just been told by a friend that all Public School (well, High School definitely, not so sure about Middle and Elem.) teachers on Level 1 (the highest) will get a 100,000w. increase from next Sept. (from 2.2 - 2.3m).

Can anyone else confirm this for me?

Or is my leg being ripped-off at the hip?

Any ideas? Confused

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

In your school district? With EPIK? With gepik? It couldn't possibly be a Korea-wide thing.

Examfreaker · Joined: 12 Feb 2006

Yeah, that's what I'm concerned about.

My friend is in Jeollabukdo, i'm in Gyeonggido and neither of us teach EPIK or GEPIK or anything other than the standard HS contract for the Provincial education offices.

My friend reckons it's nation-wide, as there's an additional 100,000w for people working in rural areas also (bringing them up to 2.4!)

I'm dubious. Sounds way too good to be true....

Maybe someone else can confirm?!

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Well, public school teachers with GEPIK on level 1, already make 2.3 million a month. So, it looks like they are just bringing you up to par. That goes for elem., middle, and high schools.

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

Sounds good to me!!!! Let's cross our fingers (a petition won't work...).

But there is a level above Level 1. "A" level, that's what I am labeled.....in Seoul anyways...

DD

Unreal · Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Location: Jeollabuk-do

I'm not officially on EPIK although my contract is a modified EPIK contract. I'm at level 2 and was told (by an official at the provincial office of education) that I'd be getting another 100,000 as of Sept.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

EPIK base rates are going up 100,000 this september for all levels. There are 2 extra allowances also available: 100,000 if youre not in a metropolitan area, & a new additional 100,000 if your placement is deemed rural. After two years at level 1 you get a further 200,000 raise. Payscale details here: http://epik.knue.ac.kr/sub2/sub2_3_1.asp

Now thats just EPIK, but in the past other public programs seem to have echoed the EPIK contract & payscale quite closely.

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

great link schwa.... Laughing

YOU MUST BE CRAZY EPIK!)@(*@!()*!()*

Have you guys read their "sample" 2006 contract? Who in their crazy little world would agree to:

-The employer can force you to do overtime
-You work 40 hours a week (YOU HAVE TO BE THERE)
-Employer decides whether or not to house you..LOLOL. So if you are a newbie and know diddly squat about key money, lol, you are up the creek if you didn't have a good chunk of change upon arriving to Korea.
-You have to ask permission to take vacation? What if they say no? Then you'll never be able to take it. lol. Laughing

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Thats much the same contract I've been working with for coming up 5 years & its been an excellent run. Yeh, the 40-hour week is semi-standard, but some supervisors are lax about it. No one I know in the program has ever been compelled to cough up housing money unwillingly & provided apartments seem reasonable. I dont know anyone doing forced overtime, but sometimes voluntary & well-rewarded extra options come up. Good vacation times can be worked out. The contract says 14 (working) days during the contract & 2 more paid weeks (10 working days) between contracts. With weekends those can turn into nice breaks.

Daves forums (courtesy of Grotto especially) have turned into a contract nitpicker's delight but its not all about whats written on the paper.

Actually I notice a nice new wrinkle in that sample contract. Used to be your annual free return air ticket was limited to going home, but now you can use it for a vacation trip instead.

Francis-Pax · Joined: 20 Nov 2005

I am in the GEPIK program. I am currently at Level 2 which pays 2 million won. Next year, if I renew, I will be moved up to Level 1 which pays 2.3 million won. 2.3 million won has been the standard base pay for Level 1 GEPIK teachers for at least a year.

I think that the public school jobs can be very good as long as you have co-teachers that you can work well with and a good adminstration. I couldn't imagine my school screwing me out of vacation time or forcing me to work a lot of overtime without my consent. I think that the EPIK/GEPIK experience really depends on your school. The contract is only one part of the greater picture. That comes from two years of experience teaching at public school in Seoul and Kyounggido.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Schwa wrote:

ontheway · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject:

Grotto's right about WHEN you should nitpick over your contract, that is, BEFORE you sign it. Afterwards it's a done deal and if you're screwed because you didn't read over your own contract in detail, then you did it to yourself.

The other important things are the relationship and understanding what you're getting into, ahead of time. If you have a good relationship with the bosses and a good understanding of the job, the living conditions and working conditions and have hammered out, negotiated or lucked into a good contract, then that contract becomes a dusty archive that you only refer to as a reference or at renewal time.

So, get a feeling for the managers and owners (go with your gut feeling),
talk to other foreign workers there,
and NITPICK that contract.

You might not agree with others' advice about the contract terms. Just make sure that YOU know what they are and can live with them.

Francis-Pax · Joined: 20 Nov 2005

This is my belief: The contract is important. More importantly, however, is your boss and culture of your workplace. The contract is only a starting point. This is from my experience.