Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hyosung650]

...As opposed to Mokpo National University. They are two unrelated institutions.

Anybody got any information on the maritime one? Anyone worked there or know someone who has? I can't find a single post on here that has ever mentioned the place before which is unusual.

Thanks for any info that comes my way.

[jinks]

My friend and colleague has just been offered a job there.
I'm sure he'll drop in on this thread soon with some info.

[Hyosung650]

I'm in the same situation as your friend so I'm really looking for some more backgroud info before I sign with them.
Perhaps your friend knows more than I do, it'd be cool if you could get him/her to pm me.h

[palkorea]

I actually taught there for a couple of semesters. They have never had their own foreign teacher. I was sent there by my school to teach 2 classes a semester. I guess I did that for about 3 years.
I would think that it would be a great place to teach full time. If I didn't already have a job lined up, I'd for sure try for that one. The students are pretty good. While you would expect them to be super disciplined, they are still normal kids...but I had a lot of fun with them.
I would say the bigger question to consider is can you live in Mokpo? I have lived there for a number of years and love it, but I know it's not for everyone. It's a smaller city, with not as much to offer as Seoul, but definately has its charm.
If you're up for an adventure in small town Korea, go for it! It's a beautiful campus right on the water. You'll die each evening as you watch the sunset...with the sea in front of you and the mountain behind you. Very nice.

You now have my two cents worth...

Good luck!

[PMJ]

I was based in and around Mokpo for 2 years, 97-99 and knew someone who liked teaching at the maritime university. It wasn't as academic as a 'proper' uni, but still OK. Things may have changed since then of course. As for Mokpo, those two years were the best of my life so far. It's big enough to have a few bars worth going to (OK, it's not London or Seoul, but...) including a pretty good jazz bar. But as palkorea mentioned, it's also a great natural location - lots of mountains around and small islands, towns and temples to visit. And jump on a plane - you're only an hour from Seoul - we used to jet up often (or the train is OK), back to school (EPIK Programme) late on Sunday. Great times! Go Mokpo......!!

[Hyosung650]

Cheers guys,

Sounds like the uni hasn't had a particularly structured system for employing foreigners up till now - not that that has to be a bad thing necessarily.

As for living in Mokpo, that doesn't bother me at all. I live in small to mid town Korea already (Gumi) and wouldn't want to move anywhere too big, and I've always had half an eye on Jeollanam as a place to explore so it's all looking pretty good.

[jinks]

Sorry, I got it wrong about my mate. He is going to the Naval Academy on the Gyeongnam side of Mokpo.
Hope you enjoy yourself down there - it's got to be better than Gloomy / Gumi, eh?