Hey! I saw a post that said you are looking into teaching in South Korea, and just wanted to let you know that if you had any questions about public school teaching, I'd gladly answer them! I had a blast in SK and love helping people who have questions about it. If you haven't already, join waygook.org. There is a ton of information on that site about living and teaching in the ROK.

Hi sksoul!  Yes, I think you should be picky about your options between the public schools and the hagwon.  I really hoped to be the exception to the usual rule about hagwons.  I knew people who were quite happy with their hagwons.  In my case, it wasn't a great job to begin with but became 100% more awful when my hagwon was sold to a new owner in the middle of my contract.  People who I knew that worked for the public schools were generally happier.  They had more paid time off, including the entire summer vacation and two or three weeks in the winter.   I'm currently slumming it back in the states where I'm working at a youth hostel in exchange for room and board.  Since I was seventeen, I have never been more broke.  I have probably never been so relaxed but I'm ready to get back out there.  I'd prefer South America, but am thinking about China... Good luck with South Korea!

Hi Sksoul, thanks for the add! :-)

Hey! I think the preference is always going to be for people who are in the country, but I should think that if you have documents sorted it shouldn't be too hard to find a job! I'm sure I've asked before, but I've forgotten, why Ulsan? EPIK is fine, but you can be placed anywhere, even if you put a preference I think. Busan should have plenty jobs, is there any reason you ruled it out? 

I’m glad you’re finding the TELF course useful! I don’t think I’d want to go into teaching without one! I learnt so much on mine.

Contacting schools won’t hurt, but it can be tricky. A lot don’t have English websites, and it is hard to find correct addresses online. Lots want to hire people who have all their documents or are in the country unless you go through a recruiter. Have you tried posting in this facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/38623983631/. Before you do, looking for a job you will need all your documents ready. The CRB only lasts six months though, so make sure you will be going out there within that time frame or you’ll have to get it done again. That’s a long time though to be honest! I doubt you’ll have any problem finding a job within six months.

Hey Sksoul thanks for adding me. Know how ya Feel by graduating from collage with zero interest in what you have been doing for the last 3/4 years. ha have you travelled before? Thinking about south korea myself so if you have any advice drop us a line :P

I'd get everything sorted as quick as possible, as a lot of hagwons like to recruit with the new year. Unfortunately, a TEFL certificate only really ups your pay if you go into the public school system, which you have missed the intake for. Honestly though, it's worth it just so that you know what you're doing in the classroom! You’ll get picked first for jobs as well. My school will hire those with and those without, but those with nearly always get interviewed first, even if they don’t get higher pay.

I’m glad footprints got in touch, I’ll keep an eye out on the Daejeon group for you if you want, but I don’t have any links in Busan (although I have been there and it is lovely). You might want to keep and eye out on any Busan related groups you can find on facebook to see if anyone is looking for teachers for their schools on there (I wouldn’t bother with recruiters that advertise on their though, you’ll be able to tell the difference). I was going to send you a link, but I can’t find one and my facebook is being slow. I’ll try and find it another time.

Hi, just added you. trying to get as many contacts on here as possible. I think it'll be great to have friends around the country, which would make it easier and cheaper to travel around. I am sure we can Couch-Surf at Mahalath's and vice versa?lol. I am also looking to come out to SK, probably September time, and I am also looking to come to Busan, possibly Ulsan. Good luck on your TEFL course. I was directed to www.teachkoreans.com by Mahalath and since looking on the site I am pretty sure I will enlist their help when I am ready to move out. They seem really informative and professional. 

Hi, no I went with www.teachkoreans.com. Are you looking to come out ASAP? If so, do you have your papers and do you know where you want to teach? Honestly, at the moment it is peak hiring season, and if you have your papers I could maybe find something for you, either with my old recruiter or just within the ex-pat community. I'm based in Daejeon and Cheongju though. I wouldn't be acting as your recruiter or anything (ie, I wouldn't get paid for my services :P) but I'd happily recommend you to people. 

Anyways, please feel free to ask me anything. I will always try my best to answer.