Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Sinchon, Ehwa, Hongik University Area (in Seoul)
This is where i live. It is a popular area for shopping and for a night out (since it is a student area). I discover something new here every week, there are many many little shops to explore, various department stores and cinema complexes... definitely worth a visit:
Gothic, Metal, Doom and Gloom
If you like alternative music, you might want to look at the following links:
a) Asia Metal Festival 2011 (25 June)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142947189106139¬if_t=event_invite
b) Goth Korea
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000637164367
c)The Goth Korea it starts with the internet community based festival, Blood Red Halo. we have once or twice formal party in Holloween or in Christmas day.
The sapiens 7 club is one of the places offering the concerts around Hong Dae area. Mostly the bands perform in Sapiens 7 are formally from Jusin Production and Sapiens 7 entertainment. But the club tour also exist, you can meet another band in sapiens 7 also in other places. The Big concerts like Asia Metal Festival are performed in V-hall or in sangsang madang around that area.
http://www.sangsangmadang.com/
http://www.sangsangmadang.com/magazine/sketch/news_guide.asp?ct&cg&ci&cc&mSeri=0&mCate=60&Mall&bSopt&bOrder=1D&bSstr&bCmd=V&bPage=1&bSeq=1733
d) And of cause, you can listen to me and my little one-man-band at: www.soundcloud.com/thegothel :))))
a) Asia Metal Festival 2011 (25 June)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142947189106139¬if_t=event_invite
b) Goth Korea
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000637164367
c)The Goth Korea it starts with the internet community based festival, Blood Red Halo. we have once or twice formal party in Holloween or in Christmas day.
The sapiens 7 club is one of the places offering the concerts around Hong Dae area. Mostly the bands perform in Sapiens 7 are formally from Jusin Production and Sapiens 7 entertainment. But the club tour also exist, you can meet another band in sapiens 7 also in other places. The Big concerts like Asia Metal Festival are performed in V-hall or in sangsang madang around that area.
http://www.sangsangmadang.com/
http://www.sangsangmadang.com/magazine/sketch/news_guide.asp?ct&cg&ci&cc&mSeri=0&mCate=60&Mall&bSopt&bOrder=1D&bSstr&bCmd=V&bPage=1&bSeq=1733
d) And of cause, you can listen to me and my little one-man-band at: www.soundcloud.com/thegothel :))))
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Getting a mobile phone in Korea
Getting your South African phone to work in Korea:
Get ready to pull your hair out, if you have any hair that is. Getting a phone in Korea can be quite a tricky business, primarly due to the fact that information in English is very limited. Also, the network system here is different to the one we have in South Africa (and the rest of the world). For example, you will not be able to bring your South African phone to Korea, and just insert a local simcard. It doesn't work that way unfortunately. I have a South African Nokia smarthphone, and except for the wifi, i have no reception in Korea, even though I requested roaming through Vodacom before I left. I went to a local SHOW store (they sell Kt phones), and was told that I might be able to use my phone here, but it will set me back 300,000 won to register it. Now for that price, I might as well buy a new phone here. To understand all the confusion one have to first realize that Korea has been fairly constricted in terms of what phones they sell here. As far as I can tell, until recently, only locally produced phones (such as Samsung and LG) were sold in stores. It is only fairly recently that phones such as Iphone has made it into the market. These Korean phones use a different signal frequency, compared to the rest of the world, and therefore, many phones do not work here. I have read stories of people that were able to use their iphones bough in the states and other countries in Korea, so it does seem like things are improving slightly. Also, many phones here, do not use simcards as we know them in SA. Instead, the phones have build in chips. This means, you cannot just simply go buy a simcard at a local store, and pop it into your phone. But even this is improving it seems. After about 4 hours of walking today, I, with the help of a co-worker, were able to get my SA phone working on the KT network. We started in a SK shop, where we were informed that as a foreigner, I am not illegible to get a free smartphone on a monthly contract (unless i pay in 600,000 - 800,000won). SK does do pre-paid (i.e., pay-as-you-go), and for 30,000won, they will provide me with a basic phone, after which I can buy 10,000won vouchers as required. Problem with this is, the phone is very very basic, and as I understand it, cannot take sms's longer than 80 characters, and there is no internet on these. The short sms's is one thing, but I am tired of getting lost in Korea, hence, internet for the map application on my phone is essential. Besides, most of the messages that I receive is via email and facebook, so internet is rather important. OK, so after visiting a host of other SK shops, we were informed that SK does not deal with Nokia phones, and that we instead had to try KT. Two KT shops later, and we were referred to the KT head office for the area, at the Hongik University station (come out of exit 5, and turn left into the first road,,,,you will see a "Technical KT" sign across the road). Alas, not even the regional headoffice could help us, but they referred us to another SHOW shop, 8min walk up the road (in the direction of the university). Anyway, long story short, the assistant in this SHOW room said that I might be able to get my phone registered, but that there were several stages that we had to go through before I might be able to use my phone in Korea. They wanted to know whether my phone was locked to the SA network, and after confirming that it wasnt, the process started. I could not understand what exactly they had to confirm, but the assistant made various calls to various people, and looked very busy. All in all, this took about a hour, after which I was asked for my ARC, and had to choose a mobile phone package. Here another problem presented itself, KT doesn't do prepaid packages (i was told), so my only option was to apply for a monthly contract. The base fee, regardless of what package I choose, was 12,000won. For 55,000, one can have some free call time, sms, and unlimited data. At the end, i opted for a 1Gb option (for 15,000won on top of the base fee), with the option to move to the unlimited data plan if i wanted to at a later stage. I was not particularly amused about this to be honest, because a friend were able to get a Samsung smartphone with the help of a co-worker for 55,000won/pm, how that was possible, I still do not know, because all 20 shops I visited said I would need to buy the phone in cash. But at that stage I was just so tired of the whole process, and was actually quite willing to pay much more just so that i can have some sort of connection. 20min later, and the assistant seemed satisfied that i have passed all the requirements, and it was time to test out the simcard in my phone. I was able to call out, but couldnt receive calls for some strange reason. The sim was removed again, and after doing "something" to it, it was inserted back in the phone, and i was able to receive calls. However, the internet didn't work, and the assistant was unable to setup the APN (access point - number settings). This is usually not a difficult process, so I just asked the assistant to write down the APN, so that i could set the phone up at home (which i was able to do a few hours later). So after all that i am happy to report that my SA phone now indeed is working in Korea. But it was one hell of a mission, why they make it so difficult, i cannot tell you, and unless you are lucky, and find this specific store (or another similar store like it), you are likely to find it difficult as well to register your phone. Oh yes, there was also a 25,000 registration fee (8,000 won will be deducted from my bank account over 3 months), and additional, once off charge of 5,000won for the sim.
There are three main mobile operators in Korea, namely: SK, KT, and LG. A fourth operator might be introduced into Korea as well in the next few months according to some reports.
LG Monthly plans (From Mstrum's blog):
http://www.mstrum.com/onmywaytokorea/2010/02/23/cellphone-options-in-korea/
SK (Pre-paid)
http://www.tworld.co.kr/foreigner/
Mobile VOIP and Skype:
It also seems like you may not be able to use Skype on your smartphone here. One article reported that it is completely non-functional (blocked) on the LG network, whereas with SK and KT, it may be possible to use on the higher paying unlimited data packages (if at all). This from a Korea Times Article:
"Since August, SK Telecom, the local wireless kingpin that controls more than half of the country’s mobile-phone users, have been preventing customers signed to monthly fixed-rate plans of 45,000 won (about $39) or cheaper from using VoIP apps on its cellular network. The carrier is intent on allowing only high-volume users paying more than 55,000 won a month to use VoIP on 3G phones. KT, the No. 2 carrier and exclusive provider of the Apple iPhones here, is now mimicking its rival, allowing only customers paying more than 55,000 won a month to use the VoIP apps on its network. LG Uplus, the country’s smallest carrier, is disconnecting VoIP apps from its cellular network entirely. " (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2011/03/129_78068.html)
Secondhand Phones:
If you are looking for a cheap, secondhand phone, Gmarket is a very good option, since they also sell secondhand phones. Craigs List, and even Daves ESL, also have Forums where one can buy and sell secondhand phones and other things.
Get ready to pull your hair out, if you have any hair that is. Getting a phone in Korea can be quite a tricky business, primarly due to the fact that information in English is very limited. Also, the network system here is different to the one we have in South Africa (and the rest of the world). For example, you will not be able to bring your South African phone to Korea, and just insert a local simcard. It doesn't work that way unfortunately. I have a South African Nokia smarthphone, and except for the wifi, i have no reception in Korea, even though I requested roaming through Vodacom before I left. I went to a local SHOW store (they sell Kt phones), and was told that I might be able to use my phone here, but it will set me back 300,000 won to register it. Now for that price, I might as well buy a new phone here. To understand all the confusion one have to first realize that Korea has been fairly constricted in terms of what phones they sell here. As far as I can tell, until recently, only locally produced phones (such as Samsung and LG) were sold in stores. It is only fairly recently that phones such as Iphone has made it into the market. These Korean phones use a different signal frequency, compared to the rest of the world, and therefore, many phones do not work here. I have read stories of people that were able to use their iphones bough in the states and other countries in Korea, so it does seem like things are improving slightly. Also, many phones here, do not use simcards as we know them in SA. Instead, the phones have build in chips. This means, you cannot just simply go buy a simcard at a local store, and pop it into your phone. But even this is improving it seems. After about 4 hours of walking today, I, with the help of a co-worker, were able to get my SA phone working on the KT network. We started in a SK shop, where we were informed that as a foreigner, I am not illegible to get a free smartphone on a monthly contract (unless i pay in 600,000 - 800,000won). SK does do pre-paid (i.e., pay-as-you-go), and for 30,000won, they will provide me with a basic phone, after which I can buy 10,000won vouchers as required. Problem with this is, the phone is very very basic, and as I understand it, cannot take sms's longer than 80 characters, and there is no internet on these. The short sms's is one thing, but I am tired of getting lost in Korea, hence, internet for the map application on my phone is essential. Besides, most of the messages that I receive is via email and facebook, so internet is rather important. OK, so after visiting a host of other SK shops, we were informed that SK does not deal with Nokia phones, and that we instead had to try KT. Two KT shops later, and we were referred to the KT head office for the area, at the Hongik University station (come out of exit 5, and turn left into the first road,,,,you will see a "Technical KT" sign across the road). Alas, not even the regional headoffice could help us, but they referred us to another SHOW shop, 8min walk up the road (in the direction of the university). Anyway, long story short, the assistant in this SHOW room said that I might be able to get my phone registered, but that there were several stages that we had to go through before I might be able to use my phone in Korea. They wanted to know whether my phone was locked to the SA network, and after confirming that it wasnt, the process started. I could not understand what exactly they had to confirm, but the assistant made various calls to various people, and looked very busy. All in all, this took about a hour, after which I was asked for my ARC, and had to choose a mobile phone package. Here another problem presented itself, KT doesn't do prepaid packages (i was told), so my only option was to apply for a monthly contract. The base fee, regardless of what package I choose, was 12,000won. For 55,000, one can have some free call time, sms, and unlimited data. At the end, i opted for a 1Gb option (for 15,000won on top of the base fee), with the option to move to the unlimited data plan if i wanted to at a later stage. I was not particularly amused about this to be honest, because a friend were able to get a Samsung smartphone with the help of a co-worker for 55,000won/pm, how that was possible, I still do not know, because all 20 shops I visited said I would need to buy the phone in cash. But at that stage I was just so tired of the whole process, and was actually quite willing to pay much more just so that i can have some sort of connection. 20min later, and the assistant seemed satisfied that i have passed all the requirements, and it was time to test out the simcard in my phone. I was able to call out, but couldnt receive calls for some strange reason. The sim was removed again, and after doing "something" to it, it was inserted back in the phone, and i was able to receive calls. However, the internet didn't work, and the assistant was unable to setup the APN (access point - number settings). This is usually not a difficult process, so I just asked the assistant to write down the APN, so that i could set the phone up at home (which i was able to do a few hours later). So after all that i am happy to report that my SA phone now indeed is working in Korea. But it was one hell of a mission, why they make it so difficult, i cannot tell you, and unless you are lucky, and find this specific store (or another similar store like it), you are likely to find it difficult as well to register your phone. Oh yes, there was also a 25,000 registration fee (8,000 won will be deducted from my bank account over 3 months), and additional, once off charge of 5,000won for the sim.
There are three main mobile operators in Korea, namely: SK, KT, and LG. A fourth operator might be introduced into Korea as well in the next few months according to some reports.
LG Monthly plans (From Mstrum's blog):
http://www.mstrum.com/onmywaytokorea/2010/02/23/cellphone-options-in-korea/
SK (Pre-paid)
http://www.tworld.co.kr/foreigner/
Mobile VOIP and Skype:
It also seems like you may not be able to use Skype on your smartphone here. One article reported that it is completely non-functional (blocked) on the LG network, whereas with SK and KT, it may be possible to use on the higher paying unlimited data packages (if at all). This from a Korea Times Article:
"Since August, SK Telecom, the local wireless kingpin that controls more than half of the country’s mobile-phone users, have been preventing customers signed to monthly fixed-rate plans of 45,000 won (about $39) or cheaper from using VoIP apps on its cellular network. The carrier is intent on allowing only high-volume users paying more than 55,000 won a month to use VoIP on 3G phones. KT, the No. 2 carrier and exclusive provider of the Apple iPhones here, is now mimicking its rival, allowing only customers paying more than 55,000 won a month to use the VoIP apps on its network. LG Uplus, the country’s smallest carrier, is disconnecting VoIP apps from its cellular network entirely. " (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2011/03/129_78068.html)
Secondhand Phones:
If you are looking for a cheap, secondhand phone, Gmarket is a very good option, since they also sell secondhand phones. Craigs List, and even Daves ESL, also have Forums where one can buy and sell secondhand phones and other things.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tax and other deductions
It seems that South Africans do not get a refund on the pension paid here in Korea once we leave. Besides paying for other living costs such as gas, electricity, and water, your school will also deduct various things from your salary.
An example of deductions on your pay cheque:
Health - 75,140 won
Pension - 110, 000 won
Tax - 45,000 won
School lunches - 62,000 won
Housing Maintenance - 65,000 won.
these deductions will vary from person to person, but the above give you a rough idea what to expect. At least 200,000 to 300,000 won will be deducted from your salary every month.
Paying SARS from Korea:
http://www.southafrica-embassy.or.kr/dboard/dboard.php?id=community¬ice_id=&s=&tot=&search=&search_cond=&no=70&print_no=2&exec=view&npop=&sort=&desc=&search_cat_no=#
An example of deductions on your pay cheque:
Health - 75,140 won
Pension - 110, 000 won
Tax - 45,000 won
School lunches - 62,000 won
Housing Maintenance - 65,000 won.
these deductions will vary from person to person, but the above give you a rough idea what to expect. At least 200,000 to 300,000 won will be deducted from your salary every month.
Paying SARS from Korea:
http://www.southafrica-embassy.or.kr/dboard/dboard.php?id=community¬ice_id=&s=&tot=&search=&search_cond=&no=70&print_no=2&exec=view&npop=&sort=&desc=&search_cat_no=#
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Nightlife
1) Jazz
a) Tokyo Jazz - Live Jazz Bar
Location: Apgujeong/Chungdam-dong
Address: 153-44 Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Phone: 011-365-1770
How to get there: Subway line no. 2, Samseong Station, exit 5, walk 10 min.
--> If you like jazz or cabaret, then this is definitely worth visiting.
2) An huge list of gigs and other music related events in Seoul: (if your web browser support auto-translate, i suggest you switch it on for this site! :)
http://www.jagermeister.co.kr/tag/인디공연
a) Tokyo Jazz - Live Jazz Bar
Location: Apgujeong/Chungdam-dong
Address: 153-44 Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Phone: 011-365-1770
How to get there: Subway line no. 2, Samseong Station, exit 5, walk 10 min.
--> If you like jazz or cabaret, then this is definitely worth visiting.
2) An huge list of gigs and other music related events in Seoul: (if your web browser support auto-translate, i suggest you switch it on for this site! :)
http://www.jagermeister.co.kr/tag/인디공연
Korean Blogs and Other helpful websites
1) Craigs List
http://seoul.craigslist.co.kr/
--> Similar to Gumtree in South Africa.
2) Chris in Korea
http://www.chrisinsouthkorea.com/
--> Probably the best blog there is on Korea.
3) Eat Your Kimchi
http://www.eatyourkimchi.com/
--> Another blog with interesting articles.
4) MeetUp
http://www.meetup.com/
--> Join a myriad societies and make new friends.
5) Korea - Be inspired
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/index.kto
--> Travel advice, events calender, sightseeing info, learn Korean, etc.
6) Gmarket
http://english.gmarket.co.kr/
--> On-line shopping in Korea, partly in English (but with an additional translation function).
7) Seoul Interactive Subway map
http://smrt.co.kr/Train/Subwaymap/Eng/Subwaymap.jsp
http://smrt.co.kr/Eng/index.jsp
--> The websites calculates the best/quickest route from point A to B, the fare, and time.
8) Seoul
http://www.shenzhenair.com/module/bzhzx/html/Seoul.html
--> A long list of things to do and places to visit in Seoul, compiled by Shenzhenair.
9) Things to do in Seoul
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294197-Activities-Seoul.html
--> An extensive list of reviews of all the top things that there are to do in Seoul/Korea.
10) Korea Gig Guide
http://www.koreagigguide.com/concert-calendar/
11) Seoul Global Center:
http://global.seoul.go.kr/
12) Korea for expats:
http://www.korea4expats.com/
http://www.korea4expats.com/event.php
13) Korean news for expats:
http://asiancorrespondent.com/author/nschwartzman/
14) Korean food/restaurant reviews:
http://www.zenkimchi.com/dining/
15) Korean Herald newspaper:
http://www.koreaherald.com/
16) Korea Times Newspaper:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/index.asp
17) Find attractions and restaurants in Seoul (with simple filter settings):
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/m/article/article.do?_method=list&searchTheme=0002000001003&p=02&m=1003001002022
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/m/article/article.do?_method=list&searchTheme=0002000001001&p=02&m=1003001002023
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/m/tour/subway.do?_method=list&p=01&m=1003001001004
18) Discover Korea:
http://discoveringkorea.com/2009/03/24/jinhaes-cherry-blossoms/
http://discoveringkorea.com/2009/04/10/brunch-in-seoul/ (food)
http://seoul.craigslist.co.kr/
--> Similar to Gumtree in South Africa.
2) Chris in Korea
http://www.chrisinsouthkorea.com/
--> Probably the best blog there is on Korea.
3) Eat Your Kimchi
http://www.eatyourkimchi.com/
--> Another blog with interesting articles.
4) MeetUp
http://www.meetup.com/
--> Join a myriad societies and make new friends.
5) Korea - Be inspired
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/index.kto
--> Travel advice, events calender, sightseeing info, learn Korean, etc.
6) Gmarket
http://english.gmarket.co.kr/
--> On-line shopping in Korea, partly in English (but with an additional translation function).
7) Seoul Interactive Subway map
http://smrt.co.kr/Train/Subwaymap/Eng/Subwaymap.jsp
http://smrt.co.kr/Eng/index.jsp
--> The websites calculates the best/quickest route from point A to B, the fare, and time.
8) Seoul
http://www.shenzhenair.com/module/bzhzx/html/Seoul.html
--> A long list of things to do and places to visit in Seoul, compiled by Shenzhenair.
9) Things to do in Seoul
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g294197-Activities-Seoul.html
--> An extensive list of reviews of all the top things that there are to do in Seoul/Korea.
10) Korea Gig Guide
http://www.koreagigguide.com/concert-calendar/
11) Seoul Global Center:
http://global.seoul.go.kr/
12) Korea for expats:
http://www.korea4expats.com/
http://www.korea4expats.com/event.php
13) Korean news for expats:
http://asiancorrespondent.com/author/nschwartzman/
14) Korean food/restaurant reviews:
http://www.zenkimchi.com/dining/
15) Korean Herald newspaper:
http://www.koreaherald.com/
16) Korea Times Newspaper:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/index.asp
17) Find attractions and restaurants in Seoul (with simple filter settings):
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/m/article/article.do?_method=list&searchTheme=0002000001003&p=02&m=1003001002022
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/m/article/article.do?_method=list&searchTheme=0002000001001&p=02&m=1003001002023
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/m/tour/subway.do?_method=list&p=01&m=1003001001004
18) Discover Korea:
http://discoveringkorea.com/2009/03/24/jinhaes-cherry-blossoms/
http://discoveringkorea.com/2009/04/10/brunch-in-seoul/ (food)
Shopping in Seoul
Ewha
Ewha may take a little getting used to. You'll need to familiarize yourself as there are many backstreets and narrow alleyways lined with outdoor stalls and racks of clothing. But it’s worth the effort. With all the students, prices are kept relatively low as shopkeepers realize many are on shoestring budgets. Aesthetically, the area got a face lift in 2005. Streets were newly paved and trees were planted to give it a more European feel. Favored items include shoes, vintage wear and, above all, accessories.
Getting there: Subway Line 2 straight to Ewha Station. Walk out exit 1.
Hongdae Street
The highest concentration of clothing stalls and vintage shops can be found along the main passageway, Eo Ulmadang-gil, minutes away from the subway station. There’s also a weekly market called Art Free Market that runs from March through November between 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Many surrounding shops cater strongly to females, but men can find a good assortment of vintage designs here too, including t-shirts, man bags and a variety of hats.
Musicians perform for shoppers and passersby. When the evening kicks in, the nightlife steps up. Give Café aA a try before heading over to Club Mansion.
Getting there: Subway Line 2 to Hongik Station. Take exit 5.
(By Gregory Curley, http://sg.travel.yahoo.com/inspirations/160-seouls-ewha-and-hongdae-fashion-friendly-buys-at-student-friendly-prices)
Ewha may take a little getting used to. You'll need to familiarize yourself as there are many backstreets and narrow alleyways lined with outdoor stalls and racks of clothing. But it’s worth the effort. With all the students, prices are kept relatively low as shopkeepers realize many are on shoestring budgets. Aesthetically, the area got a face lift in 2005. Streets were newly paved and trees were planted to give it a more European feel. Favored items include shoes, vintage wear and, above all, accessories.
Getting there: Subway Line 2 straight to Ewha Station. Walk out exit 1.
Hongdae Street
The highest concentration of clothing stalls and vintage shops can be found along the main passageway, Eo Ulmadang-gil, minutes away from the subway station. There’s also a weekly market called Art Free Market that runs from March through November between 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Many surrounding shops cater strongly to females, but men can find a good assortment of vintage designs here too, including t-shirts, man bags and a variety of hats.
Musicians perform for shoppers and passersby. When the evening kicks in, the nightlife steps up. Give Café aA a try before heading over to Club Mansion.
Getting there: Subway Line 2 to Hongik Station. Take exit 5.
(By Gregory Curley, http://sg.travel.yahoo.com/inspirations/160-seouls-ewha-and-hongdae-fashion-friendly-buys-at-student-friendly-prices)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Taxi's
As far as I can tell, taxi's here charge either per distance, per journey time, or both (for example, if you are stuck in traffic, the meter will still roll, even though you are not moving...and as soon as you start moving, the distance meter kicks in again). Taxi's are very very cheap in Korea, and usually the only problem is getting the driver to understand where it is you want to go to. For example, one taxi driver tried to drive me all the way to Itaewon (quite a distance from my house), because i said the place that i was looking for, "Eeeewha", slightly differently to how a native would pronounce it ("Ewha") (the whole potato or tomato pronunciation debate comes to mind). Taxi's charge a base fee of around 1400 won, regardless where you travel to, but as with most other things in Korea, you do not have to tip. It is not unheard of for taxi drivers to charge foreigners more than the locals, since we often do not know what the correct fee should be.
You may also find that taxi drivers are very very grumpy here quite often... it almost feels sometimes like they actually had something better to do than drive you around, and actually is doing you a huge favour. On the other hand, there are some very friend and helpful drivers too..
It is always a good idea to have something with your flat and school address written in Korean on you at all times.
You may also find that taxi drivers are very very grumpy here quite often... it almost feels sometimes like they actually had something better to do than drive you around, and actually is doing you a huge favour. On the other hand, there are some very friend and helpful drivers too..
It is always a good idea to have something with your flat and school address written in Korean on you at all times.
Making Friends in Korea
There are several websites that may help you in broadening your friendship circle in Korea.
1) Meetup - www.meetup.com. This website has many different groups that organise events in various cities around the world, and it is excellent in making new friends. Just join a group that you find interesting, and attend a meet up.
2) Facebook - Of cause FB is great as a way to stay in contact with friends and family back in South Africa, however, there are also groups and societies on there, such as Saffas in Korea and others, that may or may not organize meet ups and events in Korea for South Africans:
Saffas in Korea (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127544466273).
South Africans in South Korea - General stuff, you can ask questions or just say hi and what not. http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=2309967428
Sakornet - they often organize some big events (and braai's) for Saffas in Korea
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/SAKORNET/129327702024
1) Meetup - www.meetup.com. This website has many different groups that organise events in various cities around the world, and it is excellent in making new friends. Just join a group that you find interesting, and attend a meet up.
2) Facebook - Of cause FB is great as a way to stay in contact with friends and family back in South Africa, however, there are also groups and societies on there, such as Saffas in Korea and others, that may or may not organize meet ups and events in Korea for South Africans:
Saffas in Korea (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127544466273).
South Africans in South Korea - General stuff, you can ask questions or just say hi and what not. http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=2309967428
Sakornet - they often organize some big events (and braai's) for Saffas in Korea
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/SAKORNET/129327702024
Web browsers in Korea
Doing a web search, or using a computer for that matter, can be frustrating in Korea if you do not speak the language. Most pc's here have either the Korean version of Microsoft XP, or every now and then a Vista, installed on them. You would think that your English computer/laptop will work as well as in your own country, but alas, web browsers have the rather annoying feature where they change the language of the browser into Korean. This means that your favourite Google search engine will decide all on its own, that it is time for you to learn Korean, and the page will be displayed in Korean. I am sure there are ways around it, but I had to change from Google Chrome, to Opera, just because the browser refuses to "remember" to stay in English, even when you fiddle around with the language preferences. There are ways of dealing with this problem, which involves going into the change log of the web browser, and all kinds of other technical things, but i found it easier just to change over the Opera, and to use a less well known search engine such as www.dogpile.com. Never heard of it? I am not surprised.. this browser after some absence only fairly recently were updated again, and is rather handy in that it takes the top results from other search engines such as Google and Bing. Which means that in theory you get the best results on the web. It is not as cluttered as many other web browsers, unfortunately not as visually appealing as Google, but at least it stays in English.
Most Koreans do not use Google it seems, but instead use www.naver.com. It is unfortunately in Korean.
Most Koreans do not use Google it seems, but instead use www.naver.com. It is unfortunately in Korean.
Transport
1) Seoul Subway - Interactive maps:
a) Seoul Metro - http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/station/eng/linemap.action
b) Seoul Metropolitan - http://www.smrt.co.kr/english_smrt/index.jsp
c) Standard KTX tickets (http://www.korail.com/en/rv/pr21100/w_pr21110.jsp) - This is the second quickest option to get to places like Busan from Seoul, after flying. A standard KTX (non-business class ticket) is also roughly 30,000 won cheaper than a flight ticket (+-55,000 won), but it takes 2 to 3 hours longer to reach your destination. On the plus side, the KTX drops you off right in the middle of Busan, with direct access to the Busan subway, whereas if you fly to Busan, you will have to take a Shuttle bus, or taxi from the airport to get to the center of Busan (which can actually take quite a long time if you travel over busy peak times, so this is worth keeping in mind if you want to get to somewhere in the middle of Busan quickly). As with flight tickets, you can just arrive at the station to book an available seat, but be advised that KTX tickets sell quickly over busy periods such as weekends (especially if the weather is great). The KTX also offers additional services such as a movie carriage. Check before you book this carriage (for about 65,000 won), since not all the movies are in English.
Korea Rail Pass (for foreigners) (http://www.korail.com/kr_pass.jsp)- This is a very good option if you are planning to travel to another city for a short gettaway, or want to travel extensively over a period of 10 days. You require a creditcard, a passport, and can book a ticket online (or through certain travel agents). For about 85,000won, you can make use of the KTX and other rail services, as much as you want over a period of 3 days for example. Considering that a single train ticket from Seoul to Busan can be 55,000 and up, and a flight about 80,000, this is not a bad deal at all. The great thing about the ticket is that you can book it in advance, and if you do not use it (i.e., exchange your eticket for a real one), then you wont get charged. So it is an excellent backup to have, for in case you might want to travel.
d) Bus Shuttle (http://english.visitkoreayear.com/english/benefit/benefit_07_01_01.asp) - If you plan to travel between Seoul and Busan, the cheapest way to get there is via this service, since it is free. :)) The only downside is that you apply for a ticket, and your name then goes into a draw, which means, that only if you feel lucky punk, you might get a ticket. Also it is a bus, it will take you quite a few hours to get to Busan (5 hours and longer if i remember correctly)...but still, it is free.
e) Domestic flights with Korean Air (http://www.koreanair.com/) - Flying from Gimpo International Airport to Busan, is pretty much the same as flying from Cape town to Johannesburg. It takes roughly a hour to fly between the two cities, but add more time for checking in, etc. Over non-peak periods you can just arrive at the airport, and buy a ticket for around 80,000 won... however, over weekends, you might have to wait a few hours before you can get an available seat. You can book/reserve a ticket online in advance (which is advisable), but you will require a credit card to do so.
f) Interactive bus map:
http://bus.congnamul.com/SeoulRouteWebApp/view_english/map.jsp
a) Seoul Metro - http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/station/eng/linemap.action
b) Seoul Metropolitan - http://www.smrt.co.kr/english_smrt/index.jsp
c) Standard KTX tickets (http://www.korail.com/en/rv/pr21100/w_pr21110.jsp) - This is the second quickest option to get to places like Busan from Seoul, after flying. A standard KTX (non-business class ticket) is also roughly 30,000 won cheaper than a flight ticket (+-55,000 won), but it takes 2 to 3 hours longer to reach your destination. On the plus side, the KTX drops you off right in the middle of Busan, with direct access to the Busan subway, whereas if you fly to Busan, you will have to take a Shuttle bus, or taxi from the airport to get to the center of Busan (which can actually take quite a long time if you travel over busy peak times, so this is worth keeping in mind if you want to get to somewhere in the middle of Busan quickly). As with flight tickets, you can just arrive at the station to book an available seat, but be advised that KTX tickets sell quickly over busy periods such as weekends (especially if the weather is great). The KTX also offers additional services such as a movie carriage. Check before you book this carriage (for about 65,000 won), since not all the movies are in English.
Korea Rail Pass (for foreigners) (http://www.korail.com/kr_pass.jsp)- This is a very good option if you are planning to travel to another city for a short gettaway, or want to travel extensively over a period of 10 days. You require a creditcard, a passport, and can book a ticket online (or through certain travel agents). For about 85,000won, you can make use of the KTX and other rail services, as much as you want over a period of 3 days for example. Considering that a single train ticket from Seoul to Busan can be 55,000 and up, and a flight about 80,000, this is not a bad deal at all. The great thing about the ticket is that you can book it in advance, and if you do not use it (i.e., exchange your eticket for a real one), then you wont get charged. So it is an excellent backup to have, for in case you might want to travel.
d) Bus Shuttle (http://english.visitkoreayear.com/english/benefit/benefit_07_01_01.asp) - If you plan to travel between Seoul and Busan, the cheapest way to get there is via this service, since it is free. :)) The only downside is that you apply for a ticket, and your name then goes into a draw, which means, that only if you feel lucky punk, you might get a ticket. Also it is a bus, it will take you quite a few hours to get to Busan (5 hours and longer if i remember correctly)...but still, it is free.
e) Domestic flights with Korean Air (http://www.koreanair.com/) - Flying from Gimpo International Airport to Busan, is pretty much the same as flying from Cape town to Johannesburg. It takes roughly a hour to fly between the two cities, but add more time for checking in, etc. Over non-peak periods you can just arrive at the airport, and buy a ticket for around 80,000 won... however, over weekends, you might have to wait a few hours before you can get an available seat. You can book/reserve a ticket online in advance (which is advisable), but you will require a credit card to do so.
f) Interactive bus map:
http://bus.congnamul.com/SeoulRouteWebApp/view_english/map.jsp
Shopping
1) Music Instrument Shops can be found in/at:
a) Nakwon arcade in Seoul. There are several of music shops in just one block.
2) Shopping Malls:
a) COEX, Samseong Station on Seoul Metro Line 2 (at the intersection of Teheranno and Yeongdong Dae-ro). http://www.coexmall.com/eng/index.asp.
b) Lotte Mart - Seoul Station (walk out of the station, and instead of going down the stairs to the main road, turn left). I found some South African wine here, not a large selection, but I was rather pleased with my bottle of Nederburg for 10,000won. There was also a cheaper version available (cant remember the name now), for 6,000won.
c) If you are confused as I am most of the time, and cant find a shopping mall in your area, the following website is a must see:
Info about Malls:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=682553#a02
Search shop location:
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SH/SH_EN_6_2.jsp?category=A04010300#selectBox
3) Internet Shopping:
a) Gmarket - http://english.gmarket.co.kr/. This is one of the few websites in Korea that attempts to have some English as well. It has a rather handy "translate" function beneath every product post, which helps a lot. Even if you are not keen on Internet shopping, and before hitting the malls, it is worth doing some search here as to get an idea of the cost of a product (yes, foreigners do get ripped off sometimes - just like everywhere else in the world).
4) Clothes:
a) Itaewon is the place to be, especially if you are very tall, or on the cuddly side.
5) Getting hold of SA products in Korea:
a) SA Spaza shop - anything from Ina Paarman spices to Salt and Vinegar chips and Grandpa's!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=103197189734051
b) Ordering some goooood braai meat and/or biltong products:
The biltong guy:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=8391257764
or Bielie van die bosveld:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bielie-van-die-Bosveld/172633707277
c) From the South African Embassy in Korea the following products:
http://www.southafrica-embassy.or.kr/eng/sankorea/bilateral_02_3.php?PHPSESSID=6556ff2318a1101b18605ac1affbf1d1
a) Nakwon arcade in Seoul. There are several of music shops in just one block.
2) Shopping Malls:
a) COEX, Samseong Station on Seoul Metro Line 2 (at the intersection of Teheranno and Yeongdong Dae-ro). http://www.coexmall.com/eng/index.asp.
b) Lotte Mart - Seoul Station (walk out of the station, and instead of going down the stairs to the main road, turn left). I found some South African wine here, not a large selection, but I was rather pleased with my bottle of Nederburg for 10,000won. There was also a cheaper version available (cant remember the name now), for 6,000won.
c) If you are confused as I am most of the time, and cant find a shopping mall in your area, the following website is a must see:
Info about Malls:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=682553#a02
Search shop location:
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SH/SH_EN_6_2.jsp?category=A04010300#selectBox
3) Internet Shopping:
a) Gmarket - http://english.gmarket.co.kr/. This is one of the few websites in Korea that attempts to have some English as well. It has a rather handy "translate" function beneath every product post, which helps a lot. Even if you are not keen on Internet shopping, and before hitting the malls, it is worth doing some search here as to get an idea of the cost of a product (yes, foreigners do get ripped off sometimes - just like everywhere else in the world).
4) Clothes:
a) Itaewon is the place to be, especially if you are very tall, or on the cuddly side.
5) Getting hold of SA products in Korea:
a) SA Spaza shop - anything from Ina Paarman spices to Salt and Vinegar chips and Grandpa's!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=103197189734051
b) Ordering some goooood braai meat and/or biltong products:
The biltong guy:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=8391257764
or Bielie van die bosveld:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bielie-van-die-Bosveld/172633707277
c) From the South African Embassy in Korea the following products:
http://www.southafrica-embassy.or.kr/eng/sankorea/bilateral_02_3.php?PHPSESSID=6556ff2318a1101b18605ac1affbf1d1
Banking
Credit cards:
It is becoming harder for foreigners to obtain credit cards. However, it is still possible, more so it seems if you are employed in a public school, or if you have stayed in Korea for some time. Stores like Lotte might also offer credit cards, it all depends where you go to. It also depends on what kind of credit card you want. KEB according to some reports online still help foreign teachers.In general there seems to be the following types of card available from a bank like KEB to foreigners:
A "Global" Debit Card- This works almost like a debit card from back home. It's a Visa and free. You can withdraw money from any ATM in the world and use it to shop online, but only from Korean websites (G-Market etc...)
A Secured Credit Card. Chances are this is what every bank manager wants to sell you. You have to make a deposit of around 2.0 mil into a special account. 90% of your deposit is your credit limit. It is kind of a bad deal, but you get a credit card that you can use in the rest of the world.
An Unsecured Credit Card- These are the riskiest for banks so they tend not to give them out. KEB will give you one if you are a public school teacher who has been in Korea for more than a year. You have to apply in person and you should bring your contract if you don't bank with them. You get to pick your card type. I selected the E-Pass because I live in Seoul and not having to refill my T-Money is a godsend. There is no annual fee for mine and they delivered it to my school (you have to sign for it)
Credit Cards work differently in Korea than the US. There are two ways to use it, one is free and the other cost an arm and a leg. The free way works like an American Express. You have a limit and once a month your bill is settled from your bank account automatically. I went with the 25th for obvious reasons. You have no interest charges as long as you pay on time.
The expensive way is to turn it into a revolving account. This is similar to US credit cards where you only have to pay a percent each month. This is where the high interest rates hit you, around 22%-25%.
Having a real credit card here has certainly made my life a little easier when it comes to travel or buying things overseas. (Thanks to Mdarino for this post on: http://waygook.org/index.php/topic,8813.msg0/topicseen.html#new)
It is becoming harder for foreigners to obtain credit cards. However, it is still possible, more so it seems if you are employed in a public school, or if you have stayed in Korea for some time. Stores like Lotte might also offer credit cards, it all depends where you go to. It also depends on what kind of credit card you want. KEB according to some reports online still help foreign teachers.In general there seems to be the following types of card available from a bank like KEB to foreigners:
A "Global" Debit Card- This works almost like a debit card from back home. It's a Visa and free. You can withdraw money from any ATM in the world and use it to shop online, but only from Korean websites (G-Market etc...)
A Secured Credit Card. Chances are this is what every bank manager wants to sell you. You have to make a deposit of around 2.0 mil into a special account. 90% of your deposit is your credit limit. It is kind of a bad deal, but you get a credit card that you can use in the rest of the world.
An Unsecured Credit Card- These are the riskiest for banks so they tend not to give them out. KEB will give you one if you are a public school teacher who has been in Korea for more than a year. You have to apply in person and you should bring your contract if you don't bank with them. You get to pick your card type. I selected the E-Pass because I live in Seoul and not having to refill my T-Money is a godsend. There is no annual fee for mine and they delivered it to my school (you have to sign for it)
Credit Cards work differently in Korea than the US. There are two ways to use it, one is free and the other cost an arm and a leg. The free way works like an American Express. You have a limit and once a month your bill is settled from your bank account automatically. I went with the 25th for obvious reasons. You have no interest charges as long as you pay on time.
The expensive way is to turn it into a revolving account. This is similar to US credit cards where you only have to pay a percent each month. This is where the high interest rates hit you, around 22%-25%.
Having a real credit card here has certainly made my life a little easier when it comes to travel or buying things overseas. (Thanks to Mdarino for this post on: http://waygook.org/index.php/topic,8813.msg0/topicseen.html#new)
Travel and Tourist information
Websites:
General information about Korea/Seoul, and tourist attractions:
Visit Korea: http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/index.kto
General information about Korea/Seoul, and tourist attractions:
Visit Korea: http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/index.kto
Teaching English in Korea - Job application
Introduction:
First thing to consider when applying for work in Korea is that the whole process can be a costly. Courier services are expensive, and unless you live close to Pretoria, you will have to use them several times, or drive up and down when needed. Depending on the type of school you want to work in, and your preferred location, you may get a offer very quickly after you send out your first CV. More about this later. A more practical question worth answer straight away is whether you are ready to pack up and leave everything behind tomorrow if you get an job offer? Maybe you are in a serous relationship, have a car-loan, a lease for another 6 months, can you in all seriousness leave your family and friends for perhaps a year? Do you have enough money to pay for all the visa fees, postal charges, and flight tickets, and will you have enough left after all that to survive for at least a month in a foreign country? And yes, some job advertisements might tell you that they pay for your flight to Korea, but did they tell you WHEN they will pay it? Often it is a month or two AFTER you've arrived in Korea (this is to stop those who want to come over on a free ticket, have a holiday, and then go back home). Do you have the right qualifications? How good is your English (a very strong accent will not count in your favour, no matter how good you are). These are all things to consider before you start the process.
Where to look for work?
There are several options available to you in terms of looking for work in South Korea. The two obvious, and most well known websites with many job post on a daily basis is: Daves ESL (http://www.eslcafe.com/), and Craigs List (http://seoul.craigslist.co.kr/). Personally I had a hard time finding work on the popular Daves ESL, since many companies on there prefer teachers with an American accent. Perhaps I should rephrase that, the agencies on there had work for me, but in less popular areas in the country side. The popular destinations they seem to keep for the North Americans (Koreans prefer the American accents, and they understand them better as well). On the other hand, the agencies on Craigs List were much more open to employing people from South Africa in places like Seoul and Busan, and I for example had a work offer for a winter camp a day after I send out my first CV on their website. Again, I am mindful of saying that this is the norm, but this was my experience with these two websites. There are other websites as well, but some just ended up spamming up my mailbox.
Public or Private?
In terms of work types, you have two main choices: Public or private schools. Public schools are like you would expect in South Africa, however, the private schools here are comparable to day-care centres in SA almost, in other words, it is school, after school (so to speak). These private institutions are called Hagwons. There are many websites and blogs that will try to convince you as to the pro's and cons of working in Hagwons, as supposed to private schools, but as far as I can tell, it all depends where you end up at. There are good and bad public school and Hagwons. The good thing about public schools is that you are a little more safe and secure in terms of your salary and benefits, whereas with the Hagwons you sometimes hear horror stories (at least online) about people not being paid on time, or at all, etc. Keep in mind that a Hagwon is a business, and if the students are not happy with you, or if the parents feel you are not giving their children their money's worth (they pay quite a lot every month for classes), then obviously the hagwon will lose money, since the students might go one of the other million hagwons in Korea. In public schools you do not have that stress so much about that, on the other hand, you are not as free in terms of what you can teach necessarily (and may or may not teach from a set textbook), and I am sure it can be much more "fun" to teach in the more relaxed setting of a Hagwon. In public schools you also have to co-teach with a Korean teacher (it is illegal for you to teach alone in public schools since you technically aren't a real teacher), and as with any relationship, you may love or hate (or both) the people you have to teach with. This means that if you do not get along with your co-teacher, your life at the school can become a little miserable. On the plus side, good co-teachers can make life easier for you, and can help you with adapting to life in Korea.
University:
There is actually also a third option available to you if you hold a Masters degree or higher. Probably the most sought after positions are at universities. They pay well, often provide long holidays, and are more prestigious. Often job applications will say that the applicant MUST have a Masters, but you might be lucky to get a position anyway. It all depends on your qualifications, and how much you can impress with your CV and photo.
Photos:
On the subject of photos. Photos usually do not form part of your job application in South Africa. However, in Korea, your CV/job application must almost always have a photo attached to it. Yes, and you will be judged in all probability based on how you look, so it might be with your while to get professional looking pictures taken, and a little bit of touching up with photoshop might not altogether be a bad idea. You will need quite a lot photos, several for job applications, and a few more for visa's and work permits. Get at least 6 - 8 passport photos.
Postal Matters:
Sending documents to Korea can be rather expensive process. There are rather interesting postal charges when it comes to sending various types of documents to Korea. For example, one postnet branch tried to charge me in the region of R900 to send my work application forms to Korea. It was supposed to be (about R450)(i cant remember the exact amounts now), but the person behind the counter saw that there was a passport photo attached to the application form, and decided that I was trying to send photos to Korea, and according to the little book that he pulled out, photos are supposed to be charged at a higher courier rate to Korea. A trip to another postnet office saved me R450. Make use of one of the internationally recognised courier services, since not all courier companies necessarily have branches in Korea, which means that your letter to Korea might take longer than with other courier companies, and tracking might also only be possible up to a point.
Your choices:
So what are your options in terms of public schools? You have three main options: Seoul (SMOE), Gyeonggido province (GEPIK) and everything outside of Gyeonggido province (EPIK). The only difference between SMOE and EPIK is that if you are chosen for SMOE, you will work in Seoul, whereas with EPIK you could end up anywhere in Korea that doesnt include the GEPIK area. So if you want to go to Busanor Jeju island, you apply to EPIK for example. EPIK and SMOE work closely together, and you will find that the application form for both are the same, but there are a set of additional forms that you need to complete if you want to teach in Seoul. There is much more competition for Seoul, and the requirements are therefore a bit higher than with any of the other two options. If you struggle to find work, apply to GEPIK. You will not end up in any of the popular distinations in Korea, but the chances of finding work is very good.
It is also worth looking into the JET program offered by Japan. It is similar to EPIK, and it might be a good idea to apply to both EPIK and JET if you are looking for work in Asia.
Required Document for EPIK application
EPIK:
1. Application form
Applicant must fill in EPIK application including personal essay and self medical check form. Personal Essay must be more than 300 words and TEIK recommends that you to write this essay briefly about why you would be an outstanding teacher in the EPIK program.
2. Formal Resume (cover letter)
Resume must be formal and appropriate for applying at a public school teaching job. Highlight one's education background and full time/part-time/volunteer teaching experience must be clearly stated on your resume and a cover letter must be included as well.
3. BA and MA Diploma (notarized copy only)
EPIK applicant must have a 3~4 years BA qualification or above and applicants must provide a notarized (Apostilled) copy of their BA and MA diploma(s). Do not send the original.
4. Official Sealed Transcripts (BA and MA)
Officially Sealed Academic Transcripts must be provided and the applicant must provide MA or Doctorate transcripts as well (if it is applicable).
*Note: Statewide CBC (Criminal Background Check) clearance is only acceptable.
5. A clear copy of Passport (Photo page only)
Photocopy of one's passport needs to be submitted and notarization is not necessary.
6. Criminal Record Check(Photo page only)
Notarized (Apostilled) CBC (CRC same as CBC) criminal background check. Criminal record check is only valid up to 6 months after it is issued.
l CBC/CRC Web Search Results by a private company are not acceptable and the CRC must clearly state that "No criminal record" or "No criminal record found" on the statement.
7. Two sealed reference (recommendation) letters
Recommendation letters must be sealed and the EPIK office will open these documents when they screen applicant's documents. A friend or close relative can't issue this reference letter. An academic professor or former/current employer should issue this letter and the letters must have a letter head and contact information with a signature on it.
8. Teaching Certification or Language Certificate (TEFL, TESOL or CELTA)
Certified teachers must provide notarized copies of teaching certifications and or Language certificates such as CELTA, TESOL or TEFL and these courses must be more than 100 hrs to receive credit otherwise it won't positively affect your salary level (certificate holders can have a higher salary).
9. Three passport size photos
You need to prepare several passport photos because you will need one also after you arrive in South Korea for your alien registration card. You need to paste one of your passport size photos onto your application and send two to Korea with your documents.
10. Letter of full-time teaching experience.
Applicants must provide an official letter from their previous employers in order to prove an applicant's full-time teaching experience. A copy of your previous E2 visa or a copy of your previous contract(s) will not be acceptable and the period of employment and "full-time employee" should be stated in your letter.
l Only one full year of experience will be considered as a full time teaching experience, so less than that will not be considered for higher pay (for better salary criteria).
First thing to consider when applying for work in Korea is that the whole process can be a costly. Courier services are expensive, and unless you live close to Pretoria, you will have to use them several times, or drive up and down when needed. Depending on the type of school you want to work in, and your preferred location, you may get a offer very quickly after you send out your first CV. More about this later. A more practical question worth answer straight away is whether you are ready to pack up and leave everything behind tomorrow if you get an job offer? Maybe you are in a serous relationship, have a car-loan, a lease for another 6 months, can you in all seriousness leave your family and friends for perhaps a year? Do you have enough money to pay for all the visa fees, postal charges, and flight tickets, and will you have enough left after all that to survive for at least a month in a foreign country? And yes, some job advertisements might tell you that they pay for your flight to Korea, but did they tell you WHEN they will pay it? Often it is a month or two AFTER you've arrived in Korea (this is to stop those who want to come over on a free ticket, have a holiday, and then go back home). Do you have the right qualifications? How good is your English (a very strong accent will not count in your favour, no matter how good you are). These are all things to consider before you start the process.
Where to look for work?
There are several options available to you in terms of looking for work in South Korea. The two obvious, and most well known websites with many job post on a daily basis is: Daves ESL (http://www.eslcafe.com/), and Craigs List (http://seoul.craigslist.co.kr/). Personally I had a hard time finding work on the popular Daves ESL, since many companies on there prefer teachers with an American accent. Perhaps I should rephrase that, the agencies on there had work for me, but in less popular areas in the country side. The popular destinations they seem to keep for the North Americans (Koreans prefer the American accents, and they understand them better as well). On the other hand, the agencies on Craigs List were much more open to employing people from South Africa in places like Seoul and Busan, and I for example had a work offer for a winter camp a day after I send out my first CV on their website. Again, I am mindful of saying that this is the norm, but this was my experience with these two websites. There are other websites as well, but some just ended up spamming up my mailbox.
Public or Private?
In terms of work types, you have two main choices: Public or private schools. Public schools are like you would expect in South Africa, however, the private schools here are comparable to day-care centres in SA almost, in other words, it is school, after school (so to speak). These private institutions are called Hagwons. There are many websites and blogs that will try to convince you as to the pro's and cons of working in Hagwons, as supposed to private schools, but as far as I can tell, it all depends where you end up at. There are good and bad public school and Hagwons. The good thing about public schools is that you are a little more safe and secure in terms of your salary and benefits, whereas with the Hagwons you sometimes hear horror stories (at least online) about people not being paid on time, or at all, etc. Keep in mind that a Hagwon is a business, and if the students are not happy with you, or if the parents feel you are not giving their children their money's worth (they pay quite a lot every month for classes), then obviously the hagwon will lose money, since the students might go one of the other million hagwons in Korea. In public schools you do not have that stress so much about that, on the other hand, you are not as free in terms of what you can teach necessarily (and may or may not teach from a set textbook), and I am sure it can be much more "fun" to teach in the more relaxed setting of a Hagwon. In public schools you also have to co-teach with a Korean teacher (it is illegal for you to teach alone in public schools since you technically aren't a real teacher), and as with any relationship, you may love or hate (or both) the people you have to teach with. This means that if you do not get along with your co-teacher, your life at the school can become a little miserable. On the plus side, good co-teachers can make life easier for you, and can help you with adapting to life in Korea.
University:
There is actually also a third option available to you if you hold a Masters degree or higher. Probably the most sought after positions are at universities. They pay well, often provide long holidays, and are more prestigious. Often job applications will say that the applicant MUST have a Masters, but you might be lucky to get a position anyway. It all depends on your qualifications, and how much you can impress with your CV and photo.
Photos:
On the subject of photos. Photos usually do not form part of your job application in South Africa. However, in Korea, your CV/job application must almost always have a photo attached to it. Yes, and you will be judged in all probability based on how you look, so it might be with your while to get professional looking pictures taken, and a little bit of touching up with photoshop might not altogether be a bad idea. You will need quite a lot photos, several for job applications, and a few more for visa's and work permits. Get at least 6 - 8 passport photos.
Postal Matters:
Sending documents to Korea can be rather expensive process. There are rather interesting postal charges when it comes to sending various types of documents to Korea. For example, one postnet branch tried to charge me in the region of R900 to send my work application forms to Korea. It was supposed to be (about R450)(i cant remember the exact amounts now), but the person behind the counter saw that there was a passport photo attached to the application form, and decided that I was trying to send photos to Korea, and according to the little book that he pulled out, photos are supposed to be charged at a higher courier rate to Korea. A trip to another postnet office saved me R450. Make use of one of the internationally recognised courier services, since not all courier companies necessarily have branches in Korea, which means that your letter to Korea might take longer than with other courier companies, and tracking might also only be possible up to a point.
Your choices:
So what are your options in terms of public schools? You have three main options: Seoul (SMOE), Gyeonggido province (GEPIK) and everything outside of Gyeonggido province (EPIK). The only difference between SMOE and EPIK is that if you are chosen for SMOE, you will work in Seoul, whereas with EPIK you could end up anywhere in Korea that doesnt include the GEPIK area. So if you want to go to Busanor Jeju island, you apply to EPIK for example. EPIK and SMOE work closely together, and you will find that the application form for both are the same, but there are a set of additional forms that you need to complete if you want to teach in Seoul. There is much more competition for Seoul, and the requirements are therefore a bit higher than with any of the other two options. If you struggle to find work, apply to GEPIK. You will not end up in any of the popular distinations in Korea, but the chances of finding work is very good.
It is also worth looking into the JET program offered by Japan. It is similar to EPIK, and it might be a good idea to apply to both EPIK and JET if you are looking for work in Asia.
Required Document for EPIK application
EPIK:
1. Application form
Applicant must fill in EPIK application including personal essay and self medical check form. Personal Essay must be more than 300 words and TEIK recommends that you to write this essay briefly about why you would be an outstanding teacher in the EPIK program.
2. Formal Resume (cover letter)
Resume must be formal and appropriate for applying at a public school teaching job. Highlight one's education background and full time/part-time/volunteer teaching experience must be clearly stated on your resume and a cover letter must be included as well.
3. BA and MA Diploma (notarized copy only)
EPIK applicant must have a 3~4 years BA qualification or above and applicants must provide a notarized (Apostilled) copy of their BA and MA diploma(s). Do not send the original.
4. Official Sealed Transcripts (BA and MA)
Officially Sealed Academic Transcripts must be provided and the applicant must provide MA or Doctorate transcripts as well (if it is applicable).
*Note: Statewide CBC (Criminal Background Check) clearance is only acceptable.
5. A clear copy of Passport (Photo page only)
Photocopy of one's passport needs to be submitted and notarization is not necessary.
6. Criminal Record Check(Photo page only)
Notarized (Apostilled) CBC (CRC same as CBC) criminal background check. Criminal record check is only valid up to 6 months after it is issued.
l CBC/CRC Web Search Results by a private company are not acceptable and the CRC must clearly state that "No criminal record" or "No criminal record found" on the statement.
7. Two sealed reference (recommendation) letters
Recommendation letters must be sealed and the EPIK office will open these documents when they screen applicant's documents. A friend or close relative can't issue this reference letter. An academic professor or former/current employer should issue this letter and the letters must have a letter head and contact information with a signature on it.
8. Teaching Certification or Language Certificate (TEFL, TESOL or CELTA)
Certified teachers must provide notarized copies of teaching certifications and or Language certificates such as CELTA, TESOL or TEFL and these courses must be more than 100 hrs to receive credit otherwise it won't positively affect your salary level (certificate holders can have a higher salary).
9. Three passport size photos
You need to prepare several passport photos because you will need one also after you arrive in South Korea for your alien registration card. You need to paste one of your passport size photos onto your application and send two to Korea with your documents.
10. Letter of full-time teaching experience.
Applicants must provide an official letter from their previous employers in order to prove an applicant's full-time teaching experience. A copy of your previous E2 visa or a copy of your previous contract(s) will not be acceptable and the period of employment and "full-time employee" should be stated in your letter.
l Only one full year of experience will be considered as a full time teaching experience, so less than that will not be considered for higher pay (for better salary criteria).
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Teaching English in Korea - South African Police Clearance and Apostille
If you are currently considering working outside South Africa, especially in the teaching profession, your first step should be to apply for a Police Criminal Record (CRC) certificate. This is a very simple process, that requires you to go to your nearest Police Station, with your ID/passport, application form, and R59 per CRC certificate. It however on average can take 2 months and longer for the Criminal Records Deparement to process your request, hence it is recommended that you apply for this immediately, even if you are still unsure about traveling abroad, or whether you have work or not. Many countries, including Korea, require you to have this CRC before you can apply for a work permit, hence if you find a position, but do not have a CRC, you will have to wait an additional 2 months. It technically is possible to get your CRC slightly sooner if you request that your CRC application must be "rushed" however, you will need to give a very good reason in the form of a written letter to the head of the Head of the South African Criminal Record Centre for this to take place, and in most cases this will not be granted. It is also recommended to apply for more than 1 CRC if you are thinking of applying to multiple organizations. EPIK (English Program in Korea) for example require you to send the original CRC in to them during the initial application process. Which means, that you cannot apply for any other positions, unless you have more than one CRC. Information about how to apply for a CRC can be found here: http://www.saps.gov.za/_dynamicModules/internetSite/faqBuild.asp?myURL=272.
You do not have to go to the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria in person, instead you can make use of courier services such as those offered by PostNet. This is very convenient, since they deliver and collect all the documents for you, it does however cost a bit more. For Korea, you also need to get your CRC (and qualifications) apostilled. This is free of charge, and can be done at a high court in your area. Alternatively, you can request that the PostNet courier take your CRC from the Criminal Record Centre directly to the high court in Pretoria. The apostille process can be completed within a hour.
The apostille certificate can be a confusing process, and I would recommend that you do your own research on this. In essence an apostille is the same as getting your photocopies notarized at a police station in South Africa (i.e., to certify that a photocopy is a real copy of the original document), it however is a little more official (a certificate of authenticity is attached to your photocopy), it is done at the courts (as supposed to the police office), and it conforms to international standards for notarization.
You do not have to go to the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria in person, instead you can make use of courier services such as those offered by PostNet. This is very convenient, since they deliver and collect all the documents for you, it does however cost a bit more. For Korea, you also need to get your CRC (and qualifications) apostilled. This is free of charge, and can be done at a high court in your area. Alternatively, you can request that the PostNet courier take your CRC from the Criminal Record Centre directly to the high court in Pretoria. The apostille process can be completed within a hour.
The apostille certificate can be a confusing process, and I would recommend that you do your own research on this. In essence an apostille is the same as getting your photocopies notarized at a police station in South Africa (i.e., to certify that a photocopy is a real copy of the original document), it however is a little more official (a certificate of authenticity is attached to your photocopy), it is done at the courts (as supposed to the police office), and it conforms to international standards for notarization.
Introduction
****UNDER CONSTRUCTION!**** :)
This blog is written from the perspective of a South African, with the aim to help those currently thinking of coming to Korea. General information and interesting facts about life in Korea will also be posted here.
This blog is written from the perspective of a South African, with the aim to help those currently thinking of coming to Korea. General information and interesting facts about life in Korea will also be posted here.
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