Korean Job Discussion Forums

[applesandshanana]

My boyfriend and I are planning on going to Korea in summer 2008. While I've read several job postings that mention couples getting hired and being able to live together while teaching, is this common? Will it matter that I am a current certified teacher here in the states and he will just have gotten his degree at the time we leave?

I'm just curious what some of the experiences have been regarding traveling together, either with a spouse or friend.

[piscin]

I came here with my boyfriend. We're finished our contract in 7 weeks time. The only problem we had (in this respect) was at the very beginning; the night before we were due to arrive in Korea I called the recruiter to make sure everything was ok, and that he'd be there to meet us in the airport.

He said, "Oh yes. Everyting is fine except that you'll have to move into separate apartments". Naturally, we hit the roof. We wanted to live together, and one of the deciding factors of choosing this job was that they would provide us with a double apartment.

We told him it wasn't good enough, and his response was, "It's no problem". We were pretty upset, and told him it WAS a problem!! With 11 hours before our flight, we actually looked into cancellations etc, but decided to fly in the end.

Long story short, we arrived, he was an hour late to meet us, but had miraculously discovered a suitable double apartment in the 24 hours since we'd spoken. I'm so glad now that we were vocal about it. I know that if we'd moved into two single ones for "the timebeing", we'd still be there now.

In retrospect now though, it wasn't a good sign that our school would break our contract, before we'd even started the job, and without contacting us to inform us. If I'd known then what I know now......

Anyway Apple, hope you find somewhere accomodating....

Piscin

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If the idea of being more of an edutainer than educator appeals to you, you may wish to look into one of the many English villages / camps springing up all over the place. Most aren't real teaching jobs (though a few are), but it would be a pretty easy introduction into Korea.

The fact that you have a teaching certificate and your bf doesn't will probably mean squat. If you're blond and attractive that will probably be a much bigger asset.

[RedRob]

I would think carefully about working together, me 'n' Mrs RedRob worked together in a tiny country skool for about 6 months. We lived in the same appt, walked to school together, had lunch together, and taught in rooms that were so thinly partitioned that we could literally hear what each other were saying all day.

So when you get home, Q..."what did you do today Mr RedRob?"
A ...." Jesus, we were 5 meters apart all day! What do ya think I did? Same as you!"

I would recommend living together, and working in a city big enuff for you to work at diff. skools. Twice the experience, twice the fun.

Just my 2 cents.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Pak Yu Man]

Depends if you can handle it or not. Before we were married...the future Mrs. pak yu man and myself worked together all day and lived together. We were always together.

There is a trick though. You can be together and not be together at the same time. My wife loves the K-dramas. No way I'm watching that crap. I can play PS2 or computer and be close to her, right next to here with the PS2 and extra TV, but do my own thing.

It doesn't matter if your really close or not. you must be able to do your own thing or you're going to go nuts.

[Bibbitybop]

Public schools will accomidate you as long as you both are qualified.

[Milwaukiedave]

I love how people refer to their spouses as Ms. (insert screen name) and Mr. (insert screen name). It's kind of cute.

[Mosley]

I've known couples on EPIK that managed to get placed together.

[The_Conservative]

[faster]

[MANDRL]

My fiancee and I moved here together. We applied to all of our potential employers with the caveat that we had to live together. When you get hired, tell them you want to share an apartment and you want to receive the money they would have spent on the second apartment. I think it is quite common for couples to get hired together, so don't sweat it. By the way, we work at a hagwon, not a public.

[applesandshanana]

Thanks for all the replies! It's been really helpful. I've been trying to get filled in by a co-worker who worked at a public school for several years, but I still have a ton of questions.

In general, does it seem like hagwons or public schools are more accommodating to couples?