Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ellamarie]

I know that during the year I can generally expect something like 10 days vacation plus Korean national holidays. What I really need to know is how much of that is really going to benefit me and how often I can expect to have travel time. A 3 day weekend is great but it won't allow for much travel. I know this may vary by school but does anyone know, in general, how often I will be able to go home or travel outside Korea? Also, if I decide to stay after my first year, is it common to have vacation time in between contracts? Ideally I would like to have at least a month to go home for a visit or do some traveling in another country. Is this at all feasible?

[princess]

Many Asians don't believe in time off. Most schools make you go right into your second contract and even third, in some cases. If you want major time off, chance are you will have to be unemployed. Just like in the states or Canada, what job is going to give you a month or longer off?

[whitebeagle]

Short answer is bugger all.
Best thing to do is enjoy the korean holidays in korea and do a bit of travelling at the end of your contract for a month or so. If you want to stay on at your school and they value you as a teacher, theyll let you start your second contract after the break. If not, get a job elsewhere, there are always jobs available and youll be better placed to judge jobs/areas you want to live in by then anyway.

[OiGirl]

[sadsac]

That will depend on your employer. If there are other teachers to cover for you, it may be okay. If you are the only teacher, buckleys. Most employers won't want you to have that long a period off. They have no clue as to why you would need a holiday between contracts.

[princess]

[princess]

[sheba]

The teacher I replaced got 2 weeks when he re-signed. I am getting 4 weeks (I am the only teacher at my hagwon). My friend at another hagwon got 6 weeks, but they had another foreign teacher come in and teach her classes while she was away.

I told my hagwon I needed a minimum of 4 weeks and they were reasonable about it. I still get my 2 paid weeks vacation during the year, and I still got a pay raise for re-signing and they paid my return airfare.

It will be far better for them to cover classes for a few weeks and have you return, than risk going without a teacher at all for a longer period. Its also better to give you a break now between contracts, than to risk having you quit later because you need a break.

Id say 2 weeks is pretty standard with the people I talked to when I was asking the same question. Weigh it up - how important is your job? Are you willing to take the chance of losing your job for a break? Its a small chance but a possibility. Tell them youd like to stay, but you really need a couple of weeks break.

[cypher]

Make sure it is written in your contract that those ten days are for 2 periods of 5 consecutive days, monday to friday, including the weekends on either end, or you will likely find that it's a day here and a day there. This is something I neglected at my current school and regret.

As for getting time off between contracts, the school may work with you but be prepared for maybe having to change jobs.

[Pak Yu Man]