2 The Ministry of Education of Korea has plans to hire over 2500 native English-speaking teachers throughout the nation’s public schools starting this year (2009). English is the international language for commerce & industry and as a native speaker you can become an asset to educational establishments by improving the standard of English in Korea. Teaching English in Korea can be an excellent alternative to the traditional postgraduate employment path. Teaching is an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, while experiencing the rich culture of the Eastern world. Teaching English as a Second Language can be the start of a lucrative, professional career path as well as your chance to gain international experience! Teach Travel Asia will provide you with the proper assistance to make this exciting career jump to a foreign country a smooth transition.
Why Korea? - Annual salary of US $24-35K based on 30 hrs/wk (6 hours per day)
What you need to Qualify - Minimum of a Bachelors Degree from an accredited university in the U.S, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Great Britain or Ireland - Must be a citizen of one of the above mentioned countries - Must be a native English speaker - Must be in good physical and mental health - No criminal record (Check needed for visa purposes) - Must be between 21 and 40 (55 with teaching experience) - No experience necessary - You do not need to know any Korean
- Renewable 12-month contract
- Teaching certificate and experience preferred but not required
- Gain international experience while enriching students lives
- Any degree welcomed but preference given to education and English majors.
- Safe, modern country with the highest investment in private education in the world
- Positions are for one-year contracts, available on an ongoing basis.
- Intriguing language, rich culture and central location for continued travel in Asia - Great ongoing positions available year-round - FREE furnished housing, FREE round-trip airfare, paid holidays, health insurance coverage, etc. - Save up to $15K per year
Why Teach Travel Asia? - Our staff are completely bilingual & bicultural, to provide the most effective communication during the recruitment process - We are based in various cities in Asia, provide on-going support to teachers - Our high success rate in recruitment comes from careful screening of employers and applicants - Photos & Testimonials of teachers available on our website
Airfare Airfare is provided by your employer and travel arrangements will be made by Teach Travel Asia. Most employers will pay for your airfare up front, while some employers (i.e. Ministry of Education) will reimburse your airfare. Upon arrival, they will pay for either half of your round trip ticket and the remaining half at the end of your year contract. If you pay for only one-way, you will be reimbursed upon arrival and your return ticket will be provided for you at the end of your contract. For short-term employment (summer and winter camps) you will likely be responsible for your airfare. We highly recommend that you do not arrange your travel independently. It is important that we are fully aware of your travel plans and coordinate it carefully with the airport pick-up service and driver or bus schedule to your city, as well as the individual from your school that will be picking you up. As there is much room for complication, we strongly advise that you allow us to arrange your travel for a smooth transition.
3 Banking in Korea Opening an Account Opening a bank account in Korea is no problem as long as you have a working visa, passport, and alien registration card. Most banks will require photocopies of all three of these documents. We suggest dealing with a major Korean bank, such as, Foreign Exchange Bank, Citibank, Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, etc. Most of the well known banks have service representatives that speak some English. Once you open an account you will be given a bank card but keep in mind that this card is not a debit card, you cannot purchase anything with it. Your bank card is strictly for withdrawing money from bank machines. Bank Machines Bank machines are plentiful and easily found in Korea, but many of them close around 11pm, so try to remember you cannot take money out late at night. Bank cards from your home country will work, but only at global ATMs, which are not readily available. Sending Money Home Sending money home is quite easy when you have a Korean bank account. You can either transfer the money from your Korean account to your over-seas account, or you can opt for getting the bank to issue a check made out to your bank at home and send it through the mail. If you go with the first option, you will incur the cost of both banks fees, and the second will set you back the cost of a minimal service charge (approx. 15,000 Won) plus the mailing charge. Some banks limit the percentage of your wage that you can send home.
Cost of Living The cost of living in Korea is quite low, especially when you take into consideration that most schools and institutes will pay for your apartment each month. This factor means that you may be able to save more money in Korea than you would in countries such as Japan, Taiwan or Thailand. The cost of living is an important factor when deciding which country to work in. Because of the low cost of living here, there are many Australians, Canadians, Americans and South Africans working here and paying off their student loans. The cost of living in Korea enables them to live a comfortable life and save money. Rent in Korea Rent in Korea would be your biggest living expense. However, if you are working in Korea as a teacher then your school will provide you with an apartment free of charge. Utilities: Approx. 70,000 Won per month for electricity,
water, TV and gas although this can vary depending on your lifestyle. Internet connection is really fast and will set you back about 30,000 Won. Food All apartments in Korea come with a kitchen so cooking your own food is normally the cheapest option. If you eat at home everyday then expect to pay about 250,000 Won per month. Restaurants are fairly cheap in Korea and the food is fairly good. Expect to pay between 5,000 - 10,000 Won per person. Alternative Food If you have a craving for European food there are very few options in the smaller cities though the bigger cities normally have the usual array of fast food restaurants. A Big Mac meal in Mc Donald’s will cost about 4,500 Won and a Twister meal at KFC will also cost about 4500 Won. Koreans enjoy eating spaghetti and pizza so even the smaller towns will have restaurants the serve these dishes, Most small towns will have a Mr Pizza delivery store. They make good quality food and are also cheaper than Pizza Hut. Expect to pay 5-7,000 Won for a plate of spaghetti and 12,000 Won for a large pizza. In Seoul there are many foreign food restaurants (especially in Itae). These meals are normally over-priced and the quality of the food is not that great. You are better off cooking at home. Drinks Soft Drinks - from 400/700 Won for a can in a shop, up to 3,000 Won a glass or more in an expensive bar or restaurant. Beer - ranges from 1,500 to 1,800 Won for a large bottle of Korean beer in supermarkets (depending on brand). In a restaurant or bar expect to pay from 2,000 to 3,000 Won for a large bottle and in more up-market places anything from 5,000 Won for a small bottle of beer upwards. Imported beers can be really expensive. In Itae a bottle of imported beer will cost you about 5,000 Won. Some beers will cost as much as 12,000 Won. Spirits - A bottle of Chivas Regal will cost you 42,000 Won for a big bottle (750ml) from a supermarket. In a bar it will cost between 70,000 and 260,000 Won. A bottle of Soju from a supermarket will cost you 800-1000 Won for a small bottle. In a bar, it will cast you about 3,000 Won. Wine - A bottle of wine in a supermarket will cost 5,000 Won upwards depending on whether it is Korean or imported. Koreans don’t often drink western wines so they are really expensive. Transport Buses - The bus system in the cities is pretty good. Expect to pay about 700-900 Won for a 20 minute journey. In Seoul there are two types of buses. Local buses and long distance buses. Local buses cost about 450 Won for a
4 journey and long distance buses within the city will cost you about 700-900 Won. When you pay for either type of bus, the cost is the same no matter what distance you go. For example, if you go one stop away or 20 stops away you will pay the same price. Taxis - flag fall is between 1,300-1,600 Won and then about 500 for every km after that. If you have any problems with a taxi driver then ask them for a receipt, this contains all of their details, ask Korean friends to complain and they will be able to do so with all of the information needed. Subway - There are subway systems in Seoul, Pusan and Daegu. The one in Seoul is very good and effective. The price is 800 Won for most distances but if you travel to one of Seoul’s outer cities it could cost you as much as 1400 Won. When planning your trip on the subway it is useful to know that it takes about 2 minutes to travel between each stop. Clothing Again, a wide range of makes, both local and imported are available with prices often relative to quality and/or brand name. As in Europe prices vary widely depending on where you buy! Local goods: - Work shirt - 10,000 - 50,000 Won - Work trousers - 15,000 - 60,000 Won - Skirts - 10,000 - 70,000 Won - T-shirts - range from 8,000 Won upwards. There are many outlet stores in Seoul and these can be found in a number of places. Dongdaemun is a very good place to find cheap clothing and if you go to Dongdaemun at night, you will find the night market which is where store owners buy the clothes to re-sell. Toiletries & Pharmaceutical Products A wide range of local and imported brands available. (all prices approx.)
- Video players - 100,000 Won - CD players - 100,000 Won - Videotape rentals are very cheap (1,000 - 2,000 Won) - CD’s are around - 15,000 Won - Cable TV is around 30,000 Won a month for the full package, but as cheap as 5,000 Won for a simple one. Miscellaneous - Cigarettes - local brands around 2,000 Won and imported (e.g. Dunhill) around 2,500 Won. - Haircut - 7,000 for a man and about 60,000 for a woman. - Books - relatively expensive, 10,000 to 20,000 Won. In general, Korea is not an expensive place to live. It is easy to save money there and you can have a good lifestyle. If you are an ESL/EFL teacher and you find yourself joining young adult students for dinner at a restaurant or drinking with them at a bar they will not let you pay for anything as you are the teacher. This is always nice, but it is also normal in Korea to try and pay the bill. There will often be a good natured bustle over who is going to pay for the drinks but normally the most senior person will pay.
Culture in Korea The traditional culture of Korea is historically shared by North Korea and South Korea. Nevertheless, the current political separation of the north and the south of the peninsula results in some regional variance in the Korean culture. Traditional Korean arts Traditional music
- Shampoo - 6,000 Won for a pack of two
The traditional music in Korea is based on the voice, a distinct type reflecting the temperament and history of the Korean people. There are two kinds of traditional music: Jeongak and Minsogak.
- Toothpaste - 2,000 Won
Traditional dance
- Toothbrushes - 1,800 Won
Traditional dances have been part of Korea’s culture ever since it can be remembered. The cross cultural exchanges with China and between the three Kingdoms produced a large variety of distinctive dances. There is a distinction made between native dances (hyangak jeongjae) and imported dances (dangak jeongjae) which refers to dances imported from China.
- Soap - 1,000 Won
- Toilet paper - 2,500 Won for ten - Deodorant - 11,000 Won (Koreans do not use deodorant and so it is very hard to buy and very expensive.) - Electrical Goods - TV (12 or 14 inch) - 200,000 Won
5 As with music, there is a distinction between court dances and folk dances. Common court dances are jeongjaemu performed at banquets, and ilmu. Ilmu are line dances performed at Confucian rituals. Jeongjaemu is divided into native dances (hyangak jeongjae) and imported forms (dangak jeongjae). Ilmu are divided into civil dance (munmu) and military dance (mumu).
the sarangchae. The wealthier a family, the larger the house. However, it was forbidden for any family except for the king to have a residence of more than 99 kan. A kan is the distance between two pillars used in traditional houses.
Folk dances are commonly divided into religious dances which are led by monks and secular dances which are performed by the ordinary people. Religious dances include all the performances at shamanistic rites (gut). Secular dances include both group dances and individual performances.
The inner wing normally consisted of a living room, a kitchen and a wooden-floored central hall. More rooms may be attached to this. Poorer farmers would not have any outer wing. Floor heating (ondol) has been used in Korea for centuries. The main building materials are wood, clay, tile, stone and thatch. Because wood and clay were the most common materials used in the past not many old buildings have survived into present times.
Traditional choreography of court dances is reflected in many contemporary productions.
Deductions from Salary
Korean paintings
Income Tax: Current rate is 4~7% of your salary depending on how much you make each month.
The earliest paintings found on the Korean peninsula are petroglyphs of prehistoric times. With the arrival of Buddhism from China, different techniques were introduced. These quickly established themselves the mainstream techniques, but indigenous techniques still survived. There is a tendency towards naturalism with subjects such as realistic landscapes, flowers and birds being particularly popular. Ink is the most common material used, and it is painted on mulberry paper or silk. In the 18th century indigenous techniques were advanced, particularly in calligraphy and seal engraving. Arts are both influenced by tradition and realism in North Korea. For example, Han’s near-photographic “Break Time at the Ironworks” shows muscular men dripping with sweat and drinking water from tin cups at a sweltering foundry. Son’s “Peak Chonnyo of Mount Kumgang” is a classical Korean landscape of towering cliffs shrouded by mists. Traditional Korean lifestyle Traditional houses Sites of residence are traditionally selected using geomancy. It is believed that any topographical configuration generates invisible forces of good or ill (gi). The negative and positive energies (yin and yang) must be brought into balance. A house should be built against a hill and face south to receive as much sunlight as possible. This orientation is still preferred in modern Korea. Geomancy also influences the shape of the building, the direction they face and the material they are built of. Traditional Korean houses can be structured into an inner wing (anchae) and an outer wing (sarangchae). The individual layout largely depends on the region and the wealth of the family. Whereas aristocrats used the outer wing for receptions, poorer people kept cattle in
National Pension Scheme: Current rate is 9% (4.5% will be deducted from teacher’s salary and another 4.5% will be paid by employer. National Health Insurance: Current rate is 4.48% (2.24% will be deducted from teacher’s salary and another 2.24% will be paid by employer). Housing Deposit: Generally between 400,000 and 900,000 Won depending on schools policy (usually deducted from first three months salaries but may be negotiable). This deposit is to cover any unpaid monthly service, utility, telephone charges and etc. at the completion of contract and employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of the deposit will be made to employee at the end of contract period after all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid. Housing: Housing is usually located near the school for the teacher’s convenience. The school shall provide furnished accommodation. Furnishings provided by the Employer include; blanket, pillow, television, toaster, bed, kitchen table, chairs, two-burner gas hot plate, refrigerator, wardrobe, telephone, washing machine etc. Selection of apartments will be made by the Employer. The cost of monthly services, utilities, and telephone charges for the accommodations provided will be paid by the teacher. Vacation and Holidays: Your employer is obliged to observe all national holidays, 9~13 days per year depending on which day it falls on. In addition, most of the schools, there would be 7~12 days of school vacation time per year as dictated by the schools’ calendar, such as Christmas, New Year’s holiday, summer holiday etc. Regardless of the number of vacation and holidays that fall during any given teaching session, your monthly salary is guaranteed. Sick Leave: The teacher is permitted up to three to six days of paid sick leave when the teacher is unable to
6 attend class due to illness. He or she is required to notify the employer and submit an accompanying proof of illness from a physician.
Entertainment Noraebangs Noraebangs or singing rooms are a popular form of entertainment in South Korea and can be found almost anywhere. Many people enjoy renting a small room and singing their hearts out for about an hour or two. Bars / Clubs Bars and Soju tents are scattered all over the peninsula. Clubbing is also a popular thing to do in Korea. You can find clubs that play hip-hop, rock and roll, house, jazz, and just about any other kind of music you are looking for. Club entrance fees usually cost you about 10 000 Won, but can be as high as 20 000 or 30 000 Won for special events. Drinks vary in price depending on where you go. At an upscale bar in Apgujeong you could pay as much as 13 000 Won for a cocktail, whereas in Shinchon you might pay 4 000 to 5 000 Won for the same drink. Recommended areas to explore are Hongdae, Shinchon, Apgujeong, Gangnam, ItaeWon. DVD-Bang The DVD room is a great alternative to the movie theater used primarily by couples who want some privacy. You can rent your own private room to watch a movie that you have selected to rent for the duration of the film. Most rooms come equipped with a bed and big screen TV or projector so you can enjoy your movie in a comfortable and intimate atmosphere. Shopping The country has a reputation as a shoppers’ paradise, with many shops providing special duty free prices for foreigners. Fashion, antiques, medicine, herbs and spices, electronics and wedding clothes feature highly on Korea’s shopping itinerary. The best shopping districts and markets are in the capital, Seoul, and include: Namdaemun (Korea’s largest general wholesale market); Tongdaemun (one of Seoul’s oldest markets, good for bargains); Myongdong (Korea’s fashion district); Insa-dong (antiques and art); Changanp’yong (one of the largest antique markets in the Far East); ItaeWon (modern shopping district particularly popular with foreign tourists); Noryargjin (fish market); Yongsan Electronics Market (largest electronics and computer market in Korea); Koyndang (Oriental medicine, spices and herbs market); Hwangkhak-dong (flea market, good for second-hand shopping); Ahyondong (the ‘wedding street’, featuring over 120 wedding boutiques); and Shinch’on (a shopping street popular with young people, good for accessories and fashion).
Favorite buys to look for are hand-tailored clothes, sweaters (plain, embroidered or beaded), silks, brocades, handbags, leatherwork, gold jewelry, topaz, amethyst, amber, jade and silver, ginseng, paintings, costume dolls, musical instruments, brassware, lacquer ware, woodcarvings, baskets, scrolls and screens. Prices are fixed in department stores, but may be negotiated in arcades and markets. Major cities have foreigners’ duty free shops where people can use foreign currency with a valid passport. Shopping hours: Mon-Sun 10h30-20h00 Cinema Korean cinema in the last two decades has become world renowned. Movie theatres often have showings for English and Korean films, so check the postings near you. South Korea has also become very proud of hosting the annual Busan international film festival. Museums/Art Galleries Korean art ranges from the traditional to the modern. Depending on what you are interested in, you can view thousand year old pottery and Buddhist wood burnings, or contemporary multi-media pieces. Exhibitions will often display art from other countries around the world. So for example you can see Picasso in Seoul. Here is a list of some major art galleries and Museums in Seoul. Artsonje Center Multidisciplinary center for contemporary visual arts and film. Address: 144-2 Sokeukdong, Jongrogu, Seoul 110200. National Museum of Contemporary Art Collections and temporary exhibitions of national and international art from the beginning of the 20th century. Opened in 1969, since 1986 located in a new complex with a scultpure garden in Gwacheon, 5 km south of Seoul. Address: 427-701, Gwangmyeong-gil (209), san 58-1, Makgye-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province. National Museum of Korea Korean cultural heritage, ancient art from Asia. In 1908, the art collection of the royal court of the Choson Dynasty (1392 - 1910) was turned into the seed collection of the present National Museum of Korea. Seoul Arts Center Complex art and cultural center: Opera house, music hall, exhibition hall (Hangaram Art Museum), calligraphy hall (Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum), culture and art information center (Hangaram Design Art Museum). Address: 700 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
7 Seoul Museum of Art
Ceremonial Food
The former Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art was reopened under its new name in May 2002, in the remodeled buildings of the old Supreme Court. The address is 37 Seodaemun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-062
During the Choson period, ceremonies were an important part of every family household and as a consequence, special goods for those ceremonies were developed. In particular, on the occasions of marriage and Hwan-gap, a special table-setting was arranged, which featured a variety of foods stacked to about 30-50 centimeters high in a shape of a big cylinder. It was a matter of course that long years of experience was needed to stack to products successfully. Of the many ceremonial dishes, rice cakes and confectionaries were popular.
Sung-Kok Art Museum Opened in 1995 by the Sung-Kok Art and Culture Foundation. Has art from Korea as well as experimental and international exhibitions, designed to keep local artists involved with new directions in art across the globe. The address: 1-101 Shinmoomro 2 Ga, ChongroGu, Seoul.
Food in Korea The Choson Dynasty (1392-1910) marks the period when Korea’s culinary culture was refined. In the early part of the Choson Dynasty, agriculture books were also widely published. Moreover, researches in the fields of astronomy and meteorology began to invent new equipment to observe the celestial bodies and the weather, which contributed to improvements in farm cultivation. Significant strides in medical research were also made and they focused on the salutary benefits of a balanced diet which included a combination of rice, beans, vegetables, fish and meat. The traditional dining table was classified into a threech’op, and five-ch’op, and a seven-ch-nop table, depending on the number of side dishes (panch-an). On the table, food was arranged in order to promote a balanced nutrition. Small amounts of medical herbs that were known to aid digestion were also sometimes added, particularly in the food of those who frequently suffered from indigestion. A variety of herbs were also mixed into water to make different kinds of healthful tea. These ingredients could be easily cultivated at home. During the Choson Dynasty when Confucianism gained a stronghold in society, the culinary culture of Koreans underwent some significant changes. Since food preparation had to be made for many members of the household of varying ages, special techniques were required to cook and manage these large quantities of food. Women, for the most part, took on this burden among themselves. Also, given Confucianism family-oriented world view, special rites and ceremonies were often performed for family members, both living and deceased, and ceremonial food had to be prepared. In the course of preparing these frequent banquets, the families of the Choson period developed their own specialty foods according to regional and social standing. Variations in styles and preparation of these foods have certainly contributed to the variety of Korea’s contemporary culinary culture.
Rice cakes, or tok, are made of rice, and beans or other grains. In ancient times, rice cakes were eaten both during ordinary meal times and during ceremonies of rituals. It was only later, after the Three Kingdoms period, that rice cakes became primarily associated with ceremonial foods. Thus, rice cakes boast of a long tradition in the Korean history. Being indigenous and widely favored, there are many varieties. Rice cakes fall into three categories by cooking methods; steamed, and hen pounded, and fried. Most of them are made of rice, but other ingredients such as bean, red bean, chestnut, flowers, and herbs are also added to make variations of marvelous flavors, scents and colors. The records of Choson show as many as about 250 different types of rice cakes. Traditional confectionaries are mostly made of wheat flour, honey and oil. Since these ingredients were rare in Korea, the confectionaries were prepared only for parties and ceremonies. Some popular traditional Korea confectioneries include yakkwa, kangjong, tashik, chongwa, yot-kangjong, and kwapyon. Yakkwa is made of wheat flour kneaded with oil, honey and alcohol. The batter is fried and then dipped into honey. Yakkwa comes in different sizes and shapes. It was often made in the shape of flowers or fish, and during the Choson period, some yakkwa were prepared as large as 7 centimeters wide and long and 3 centimeters thick. They were displayed in stacked form. Kangjong is made of glutinous rice flour mixed with alcohol. The batter is kneaded, divided, and then dried. The dried batter is fried and coated with honey. Tashik (Powdered grains and pollen) is kneaded with honey and shaped into decorative molds. Beans, pine pollen, sesame, and rice usually used. Chon-gwa is made of ginsen, Chinese quince, ginger, lotus root, steamed rice, and jujube, which are boiled in honey. Yot-kangjong are roasted beans or sesame mixed with grain-glucose and then hardened. Kwapyon is made from the flesh of strawberries, wide berries or cherries smashed up and hardened in honey.
8 Table manners and table settings From ancient times, Koreans have used a spoon and chopsticks are their eating utensils. The spoon was for scooping steamed rice, soup and stew, while chopsticks were used to eat a variety of prepared side dishes. Koreans are trained to use the spoon and the chopsticks correctly from childhood. Using both of these utensils at the same time is considered bad manners. Meals were served on either high or low tables until the Koryo Dynasty. However, during the Choson Dynasty, the low table came to be predominantly used due to a type of under the floor heating system (ondol) that came into vogue at that time. The tables were often beautifully shaped and decorated. During the rituals and palace ceremonies, however, the high tables continued to be used, preserving the ancient tradition. Nowadays, the seated dining table with chairs is becoming popular while many families still use low tables.
Hwan-gap (60th birthday) - Kyobaesang is also prepared to celebrate one’s 60th birthday.
Housing You will be provided with a free fully furnished housing by your employer. Single Applicants will be provided with a single housing apartment. Couples will be provided with a 2 bedroom apartment. Please take a look at some samples at the end of this section. You can expect to live in a modest but comfortable apartment with basic necessities provided. Since Korea is one of the most densely populated countries on earth only the extremely wealthy or those in rural areas can afford to live in houses. Your apartment will be furnished with basic necessities. - a western style bed
A Traditional Korean Meal
- a table and chairs
Pansang is the usual meal of steamed rice, soup and side dishes.
- a bureau/wardrobe
Changkuksang is the main dish, and it is arranged with kimchi, cold greens, mixed vegetables, pan-fried dishes, confectionary, fruit and fruit punch. This simple meal can be served as lunch as well. Chuansang - Alcoholic drinks (chu) and accompanying side dishes (an) are set on the table. The dishes vary depending on the kinds of liquor or wine. Kyojasang is a large table prepared for banquets. Alcoholic beverages and a large variety of side dishes, rice cakes, confectionaries and fruit punch are all placed on the table. After the liquor is finished, noodle soup is served. The Traditional Ceremonial Meal Paegil (100th day after the birth of a baby) - Steamed rice, brown seaweed soup, white rice cakes, rice cake balls. Tol (first birthday) - Steamed rice, brown seaweed soup, white rice cakes, rice cake balls, rice cakes of five different colors steamed on a layer of pine needles. White rice cakes represent sacredness, rice cake balls, escape from misfortune, and rice cakes of five different colors, the five elements and the five virtues. Marriage - The parents-in-law of the bride and bridegroom both prepare special dishes to express their mutual happiness and congratulations. The food includes fruit, confectionaries, and rice cakes which are stacked 3060 centimeters high. This kind of table setting is called, “kyobaesang.”
- a TV and likely a VCR or DVD - a fridge - a washing machine - a western style toilet - a stove You will also have plates and cutlery and basic cooking utensils. You will likely need to pick up the odd thing to get comfortable but all the basic necessities will be provided. Note: The only places where you will experience traditional ‘squat’ style toilets - basically a porcelain covered hole in the floor, is in the countryside and public restrooms. You will not have a squat toilet in your apartment, you will have a normal, western style flush toilet. If faced with using a squat toilet, there are a few tricks to remember. Squat facing the rounded porcelain hood of the toilet as if you were going to play leap-frog, you wouldn’t want to suffer the embarrassment of someone discovering you using the toilet backwards! Make sure your pants and undergarments are out of the way, or you may have a distinctly uncomfortable rest of the day, and try not to splash. Many Korean apartment buildings also have security guards whose main functions are to sleep, watch television and to tell your boss what time you came home, and with who. Once you find out where your apartment is, you should have a Korean write down your address, apartments are usually numbered by the order in which they were built, not in the order in which they are on a street, thus building 817 may be next to building 825, which is next to 812, and so on. To further confuse
9 things cities are divided into large administrative districts called ku and smaller districts called dong. Buildings within a dong are numbered but can be anywhere within the area - identify landmarks around your building and if you get hopelessly lost ask a Korean, or show him or her the piece of paper with your address on it. All apartments will also come with a laundry room/ balcony. There is a sliding glass door that opens to what almost looks like a closed in balcony. The floors are tile; there is a small closet and a large window. There is a laundry machine and a drying rack. The laundry machine is in Korean so ask for help the first time you use it. Some machines will sing a song when it is finished its cycle! There isn’t a dryer but the clothes dry fairly quickly. Do laundry before school and its dry when I get home, or at night and it’s dry by morning. Internet in Korea South Korea leads internationally in the global highspeed Internet penetration comparison. A quarter of the population of Korea are connected to and always online. Internet use is very common and accessible anywhere in the nation. Internet Cafes You can find internet cafes all throughout the nation, called PC Bangs (Bang meaning “room”). There are about 20,000 PC bangs throughout the country. PC Bangs are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. You can expect to be charged about 1,000 Won per hour (about USD$1). Getting Internet Connection at Home You will be able to request to have internet set up at your apartment. It is a rather quick and easy procedure.
Please ask your employer or manager to assist you in getting internet connection if it is not already set up for you. Internet Access at School It is highly likely that you will have high-speed internet access at your school of employment.
Korean Language The Korean language, called Hanguk-Uh, is the official language of Korea. The majority of teachers coming to Korea have no former knowledge of Korean. Some people prefer to immerse themselves completely into the culture and learn the language, but those who do not find interest in learning the language usually do not find it difficult to work and live in the country. In your classroom you will be advised not to use any Korean so students are forced to communicate with you exclusively in English. So if you decide to learn the language, it is not recommended to practice your Korean with your students. You will find that you are able to communicate quite effectively without any skills in Korean. All Koreans speak and write the same language, which has been a decisive factor in forging their strong national identity. Linguistic and ethnological studies have classified the Korean language in the Altaic language family, which includes the Turkic, Mongolic and Tungus-Manchu languages. The Korean Alphabet, Hangeul, was created by King Sejong the Great during the 15th century. Before its creation, only a relatively small percentage of the population was literate; few could master the difficult Chinese characters used by the upper class. In attempting to invent a Korean writing system, King Sejong looked to several writing systems known at the time, such as old Chinese seal characters and Uighur and Mongolian scripts. The system that Joseon scholars came up with, however, is predominantly based upon phonological studies. Above all, they developed and followed a theory of tripartite division of the syllable into initial, medial and final phonemes, as opposed to the bipartite division of traditional Chinese phonology. Hangeul, which consists of 10 vowels and 14 consonants, can be combined to form numerous syllabic groupings. It is simple, yet systematic and comprehensive, and is considered one of the most scientific writing systems in the world. Hangeul is easy to learn and write, which has greatly contributed to Korea’s high literacy rate and advanced publication industry.
10 Korean language is spoken by about 70 million people. Although most speakers of Korean live on the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands, more than 5 million are scattered throughout the world. The origin of the Korean language is as obscure as the origins of the Korean people. In the 19th century when Western scholars “discovered” the Korean language, from what family of languages the Korean language derived was one of the first question. These scholars proposed various theories linking the Korean language with Ural-Altaic, Japanese, Chinese, Tibetan, Dravidian, Ainu, Indo-European and other languages. Among these theories, only the relationship between Korean and Altaic (which groups the Turkic, Mongolian and Manchu-Tungus languages) and the relationship between Korean and Japanese have continuously attracted the attention of comparative linguists in the 20th century. Altaic, Korean and Japanese not only exhibit similarities in their general structure, but also share common features such as vowel harmony and lack of conjunctions, although the vowel harmony in old Japanese has been the object of dispute among specialists in the field. These languages also have various common elements in their grammar and vocabulary.
Living in South Korea Whether you’ve been abroad or whether you’re just getting ready for your first trip, nothing can completely prepare you for life in Korea. Seoul is one of the most wired cities in the world yet in the suburbs just outside this metropolis people are still burying their food in the ground to preserve it for the winter. Truly amazing! Be patient and accepting One of the most important factors in one’s happiness in Korea is acceptance and patience. Remember that you are in a foreign country and that things happen differently. Accept that you don’t understand the many facets of the culture and that you may never completely understand and you are well on your way to making the most of your experience. Explore and achieve Often when one first arrives in any country they explore to begin with and then they settle into routines. Our advice to you is to step out of your comfort zone and you will get a lot more out of your experience. Learn the language One of the most important things you can do while you’re in Korea is to try to learn some Korean. Koreans are extremely appreciative to those that show an interest in their history, their culture and their language. It doesn’t take much but it will make a tremendous difference in
the way Koreans will act and react to you. It’s really not that difficult either, you just need to put a little effort into it. Medical Insurance All English schools in Korea are required to provide their teachers with medical coverage for the duration of their contract. Normally the school will pay for half of your coverage and half the cost of your coverage will be deducted from your salary on a monthly basis. The cost for teachers for their medical coverage is typically 1.7% of your monthly salary. When you first get to Korea with your E-2 visa, your school director or owner will bring you to the regional immigration office in order to register for your Foreign Registration Certificate. This is your legal identification within the country of Korea. In order to register for your Foreign Registration Certificate, you must apply in person at the regional immigration office. You will be fingerprinted and the cost to register is 10,000 Korean Won (USD 8.50) Your medical coverage won’t start until you receive your Foreign Registration Certificate, which usually takes a couple of weeks to process. You may want to purchase a temporary travel insurance policy to cover your initial period of sojourn in Korea, until your government provided insurance takes effect. The insurance provided by the school will cover basic medical and dental necessities, but will not cover cosmetic surgery or dental work, or optical care. Preexisting conditions (for example depression or MS) are also not covered under this plan. If you feel more comfortable going to a doctor that speaks English there are several foreign clinics and hospitals with English speaking staff in Seoul that accept the national insurance plan (the plan in which you will be enrolled), however you may want to call first to make sure. There are opportunities for the schools to get private medical insurance but this can be quite expensive. Neither kind of insurance is effective until after your residency in Korea has been processed, usually 2-4 weeks after arrival. We advise that all teachers buy travel insurance with medical coverage for 30-45 days following arrival in Korea. Common travel insurance that includes medical coverage will probably be fine. Sending Money Home First and foremost, know that if you don’t have cash here, you don’t have money. By this, I mean that debit cards are a completely foreign concept at most stores and there will likely even be some issues using a Canadian/ American issued credit card. The good thing is that bank machines are plentiful. However, it is highly recommended that you obtain all necessary cash from them early in the evening if going out for the night as they are not open 24 hours, they
11 close around 11:00 PM. Some are open 24-hours, but they can be tricky to find and use (they’re mostly in Korean), especially after a night of soju. While we are on the topic of using the bank machines, it should be noted that getting a local bank account is not only recommended, but pretty much essential. Clearly, your bank card from home isn’t going to work out here, so getting an account here, assuming you aren’t keeping all your cash in a cupboard or something, gives you access to your money, and who doesn’t want that? As well, having a local bank account makes things much easier when it comes to sending money home. If you have no bank account, you will be asked to fill out forms, answer questions, and have your passport stamped every time you wire money into your home bank account. If you have a local bank account, the forms and questions aren’t necessary after the first time, and the passport stamping is bypassed entirely. Sending money home has a further complication. There are certain limitations as to the amount you can send home, as the Korean government would much prefer that you spend your money in Korea rather than send it all home. If you have the standard one-year contract with a work visa to go along with it, you are permitted to send home 60% of your earnings. This percentage is not certain, some banks allow you to send 80%, others 100% others don’t care and don’t stamp your passport. If your stay is shorter than 1 year, then the supposed limit is $10,000.00 US. The bank is supposed to keep track of your total for you. This is good to keep in mind if you have exhorbitant student loan payments or some such thing. There are also service charges, of course. What bank would be complete without them? The Korean bank will charge a fee to send the money, and your home bank will charge a fee for receiving it. The fees will vary from bank to bank, both in Korea and at home. It’s best is to try to make as few transfers as possible, with as large an amount as possible, to avoid these paying these fees often. Some people that are making extra money and have a surplus to send home will take a trip to Thailand or another country and will wire the money home from there. Legally you can enter almost any country with less than 10,000USD without declaring the money. There are Western Unions all over the place. This brings us to the glorious topic of exchange rates. The main thing to remember here is that they fluctuate. This can work in your favour or against you, depending on which way the markets are heading while you are in Korea. As mentioned above, Koreans deal in cash. This will be readily apparent on payday. Do not be alarmed if, you are summoned to a darkened office with your school’s director
and s/he smiles a bit disconcertingly at you while tapping a thick envelope on the desk. You are just getting paid. There is something extremely satisfying about receiving an envelope stuffed with bills every month, though. Anyway, dealing with money and banks here is pretty easy once you get yourself set up and used to the system. It’s mildly irritating, takes a chunk of your time that you’d rather spend doing other things, takes money in service charges, but is mostly easy to ignore, just like home. Severance Pay Article 28 of Korean labor law states,“(Retirement Allowance System) (1) The employer will establish a retirement allowance system so that not less than thirty days average wages for each consecutive year of employment will be paid as a retirement allowance to a worker who has retired. This shall not apply to a worker who was employed less than a period of one year. (Penal Provisions, Chapter XII, Article 110: Violators shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine not exceeding ten million Won.)” So, if you sign a one year contract your employer is required to give you one month of pay as a at the end of your year of employment. Many schools call this a ‘bonus’, but this is really a misnomer. Schools are required by law to do so. In effect, the school is paying you 13 months salary for 12 months of work, having an extra paycheck in your pocket to put towards your student loans certainly isn’t a bad thing. Periods beyond one year of employment, are pro-rated. Eighteen months employment = a bonus of 1.5 x monthly salary. No severance payment is required for periods of employment less than one year. Teachers are often worried about not receiving severance pay. In an event that your employer does not, you can contact the local immigration department and they will contact your school directly and will force this payment. If you are fired before completing your 1 year contract and you feel you were unjustly dismissed you can also contact the local immigration department and they will look into matters. No school director in his or her right mind would want to create a situation with immigration. Random checks at schools and delayed visa checks are a nightmare for school directors. Sick Leave Koreans generally do not take time off from work for being ill. However, exceptions can be made for foreigners, and contracts often include 3 days annual sick leave. It is important to recognize that these are not extra days to be taken off. If you call in sick you will often be visited by your employer who, in their concern and empathy, will drive you to the hospital (not a pleasant place to be). If you are not at your residence or if you stink of the previous night’s events they are not going to be pleased.
12 Since your co-workers are automatically the oftenunwilling recipients of your classes if you call in sick, it’s not a good idea to do so unless you really are sick. Hangovers, or just having a bad day, won’t be acceptable excuses for missing teaching to either coworkers or management. Legally, for any sick day taken, your employer can deduct a day’s salary unless you present an official note from a doctor. In practice, most employers don’t ask for this note unless someone has been absent for more than one day or has a history of one-day illnesses.
Packing for Korea Clothing Bring clothing for 4 seasons, including: - business casual clothes for work (2-3 pairs of khaki pants, button down shirts, and ties for men/slacks or skirts for women) - a winter jacket - 2 sweaters - a raincoat - shorts - underwear - socks - sweat pants - sweat shirt - t-shirts - shoes for work - athletic shoes - hiking boots (can be used for winter boots, as well) - a towel - a swim suit Documents : - your passport - copy of your teaching contract - international driver’s license (very easy to get) Hygienic Products : - deodorant (Korean’s generally do not use western deodorant) - women may be unable to get some of the same
brands of feminine products, so you may want to bring a supply of these or any medication you are taking
Transportation Public transporation in Korea is cheap, comprehensive, convenient and efficient. Bus There are two types of bus, express and intercity the former go direct and the latter stop. Seats are reserved on the express buses (if you miss your bus, you must buy a new ticket), and unreserved on the intercity services. The cost of an intercity bus ride is about 1000 Won ($1). Buses can be a more direct way of travel and with the exception of rush hour periods more efficient as well. For a high-tech cyber bus route English navigator go to: http://bus.congnamul.com/SeoulRouteWebApp/view_ english/map.jsp Subway South Korea has one of the most efficient and easy to use subway systems in the world. All signs are in English as well as in Korean and subway maps are posted in the stations. Standard subway fare is 800-1000 Won (roughly $1) to go anywhere in the city or suburbs. For a high-tech cyber subway map go to: www.smrt. co.kr For a simple subway map go to: http://www.parkenglish. com/bbs/bbs_view.php?num=4&bbsID=Download_t&sear ch=&schKey=&schVal=&start= Train Trains are clean, safe, punctual and inexpensive, and just about every station has signage in Korean and English. There are two different types of trains in Korea that will take you virtually anywhere in the country. The new world class KTX / Express Train travels at a speed of 300km/hr and will take you anywhere in the country within three hours. The average price of a regular train ticket to travel 2hrs is roughly 6 000 Won ($6). For detailed information on Korean Railway lines and schedules go to: http://www.korail.go.kr/ROOT/maintop.top?lang=eng Car Driving in South Korea can be difficult, it’s expensive and traffic jams are a common problem. If that doesn’t put you off, make sure you take an International Driving Permit.
13 Weather in Korea Four Distinct Seasons Korea’s climate is regarded as a continental climate from a temperate standpoint and a monsoonal climate from a precipitation standpoint. Although, Korea is a peninsula, natural disasters are uncommon. The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons - spring, summer, fall, and winter. Spring Spring lasts from late March to May and is warm. Various flowers, including the picturesque cherry blossom, cover the nation’s mountains and fields during this time. Summer Summer lasts from June to early September. It is a hot and humid time of the year. Autumn Autumn lasts from September to November, and produces mild weather. It is the best season for visiting Korea. Winter Winter lasts from December to mid-March. It can be bitterly cold during this time due to the influx of cold Siberian air. Heavy snow in the northern and eastern parts of Korea makes favorable skiing conditions.
Contact Details Should you have any further questions regarding any of our programs (Teach Korea, Teach China, Teach Taiwan, Teach Thailand), please contact the OVC on www.ovc. co.za.