Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rick9033 · Joined: 07 Mar 2007

I was hoping some people could help me. I will be getting married this year and returning to Korea in August. I've been working in Korea for two years for the same school, but now that I'm getting married I need a better apartment. I know there are some pretty amazing schools out there that offer really nice apartments. A friend of mine just got a job at a school near Children's Grand Park and his apartment is brand new and unbelievable. I was hoping people could tell me the name of schools that they may have heard about that offer really great apartments. I have a lot of teaching experience, both in Korea and in America, so I'm not worried about qualifications. I just want to start looking for amazing schools and I know 5 months is too early to have schools looking for me.

Also, I was wondering if anyone here is married and found a job that accomodates married couples?

Thanks again for any help!

-Rick

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

Get your own. Thers nothing like having your own place and having secure housing. if you lose your job or quit you still have a home. This goes quadruple for married people.

Rick9033 · Joined: 07 Mar 2007

I don't care about signing a contract ... I just want one of those jobs we all hear about. Great school, higher than average pay, amazing apartment and low working hours. I'm just looking for really good schools and hoping someone knows some names.

DCJames · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

I think some universities offer decent housing for married couples. I know the university I work for puts up the married folks in nice apartments.

ms.djinn · Joined: 25 Jan 2007

I need more information before I could make any recommendations:

Is your spouse Korean or foreign? Is your spouse also a teacher, and if yes would you want to work at the same school?

What qualifications do you have? There are some really great jobs out there that require more than a Bachelors degree in an unrelated field. If you've got qualifications to make schools really interested you can demand/expect more.

Based on that information people might be able to help more with actual school names etc.

(Although I would second the comment about getting your own housing. I finally moved out of school housing a couple months ago and I feel so much better about life and Korea. If you've got the key money it is so worth it!)

Homer · Guest

We have our own place (bought it a couple of years back now).

Before that we always managed to get a decent 2 bedroom place from my employer.

As Tom said government contracts will be more open to this. Some universties will too (SNU does) and some Hakwons as well.

You can also request a Housing Allowance instead of accomodations and find your own place.

Good luck.

lover.asian · Joined: 30 Jan 2006

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I don't know any married teachers who rely on free school housing. You may want to look into getting your own place.

white tiger · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

jinju is right; why would you want provided housing? get your own. just got my first place, and despite minor issues, overall it is a way better option. Just get that housing allowance.
HOWEVER, housing allowance is often quite low; 300-400,000w. if you're single, it's sometimes preferred to take the housing, cuz they are likely paying more than that for it (unless they put a huge deposit) but if there's two of you, and you're each getting it, then that 700-800,000w pays for a really decent place.

unless of course, you are planning on doing a 6-month run. ;)

Novernae · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I will jump on the 'get your own place' bandwagon here too.

I got my own place in my 2nd year here, and I will never ever ever go back to provided housing.

Unless you just can't do it economically, then I totally understand.

lowpo · Joined: 01 Mar 2007

I work in Gangwon-do at a public school and i'm married. The school have us a realy nice apartment with a beautiful view of the mountains.
They are also try to find ways for me to make extra money, since my wife is a non-native speaker.
I also work less than 20 hours a week. I have 4 weeks during the year of vacation time, 2 weeks in summer and 2 weeks in winter. Plus, I didn't have to work in the month of Febuary.

-Rick[/quote]

Rick9033 · Joined: 07 Mar 2007

Iowpo ... could you give me the name of the school?

I agree with everyone about getting our own place, and we intend on doing so, but I just want one more year of free housing.

I'm getting married to a Korean woman and we plan on living in Korea permenantly. A year and a half from now I will be opening running a new school, but until that time I just want a nice apartment and low working hours. I can speak so-so Korean, but I want to spend the next year studying more formaly so I can speak more with her family.

I studied secondary English education in college and I have experience both in the States and here. Again, if anyone can recommend a specific school or schools to look into I would really appreciate it!

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

They do treat you differently if you have your own house.

With that said, I don't think anyone here will be telling you about any "good" jobs specifically. Those go to friends, and people who know people. Usually. Never hurts to ask, I suppose.

Will your wife be working? Not sure we'll marry or not (problems recently) but my gf makes enough that we could rent a really big place. Our plan would be to live here, though (I have a 2BR with a 3rd for storage on the roof) and save up for a while. Then we'd be on our way to buying something in the suburbs.