Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lost_seoul]

Hey,

Newbie here on Daves, but have been reading for years. I taught in Korea before in a hagwan. I'm going back to teach in public school.

My question is for those working with SMOE board, how is your apartment that they provided for you?

I have no idea what type of apt I'll get. The one I had with the hogwan was okay, and I've heard people that work in public schools get nicer apartments. I just want a clean, reasonable livable (my hagwon was a shoebox hole) place to be comfortable in.

Another thing I wonder about is if SMOE left anything for you to get started like pots and pans, toaster oven, bed sheets, tv, dvd etc..

Any comments will be helpful. I really don't know what to expect. I think I'll be teaching in Seocho-gu area.

[livinginkunsan]

Well, my public school supplied housing is much better than my previous hogwans. I am in Gyunggido though, but most I know of have officetels.

[Curious George]

I work for Uiwang city schools at a small elementary school and they gave me a very nice officetel apartment with all new appliances and furniture and a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. They also gave me 100,000 won to buy eating utensils, pots and pans etc.

I have talked with several of the other teachers and some of them have nice apartments like mine and a few of the others say they have older apartments.

It really depends on the school you work at. But for the most part you should get an apartment with all the necessary appliances that work. I think for the most part, government schools will treat you fairly. If you have an issue with anything in the apartment just bring it up to them and they should fix it.

Also, if you went thru a recruiter, you can simply ask them what the apartment is like that you will be getting. I actually got to see my apartment before I accepted the job, but I was already in Korea.