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1/7/2018

Korean Recruiter Reviews

People have been requesting a more encompassing list of reviews for recruiting agencies (along with a place to post them). Now, you can! These are reviews about RECRUITERS in Korea for ESL teaching positions, not reviews about hagwons. Any unrelated reviews will be deleted.

For reviewers: You can leave a review below (min. 100 characters, max. 2,000 characters) using an pseudonym and fake e-mail. If your review is too short, not helpful, or irrelevant, it will be deleted.

For readers: Please take these reviews with a grain of salt. These are individual experiences from people that may or may not be accurate for all accounts with a specific recruiting agency.

12/25/2017 Comments

Korea Teach to Learn #2: Finding the Right Job

Make sure you've gotten down all your Visa details first before you begin looking for a job. It's essential to determine which Visa type you will need (E-2 or F-4) because some schools will only accept certain visas. If you haven't already read it, my previous blog post also goes over some Job Hunting Quick Facts at the end that might be helpful when you look for a teaching position in Korea.

I titled this post "Finding the Right Job" as opposed to the "Perfect Job" because no matter how hard you look or how long you take, compromise will be inevitable. There will always be at least one or two things you don't agree with. Understanding to what extent you'll endure those non-ideal conditions is key to having realistic expectations.

Preferences

My blog explores the process of obtaining a job at a Hagwon (private for-profit school). Hagwons allow a lot more flexibility in your preferences so you can afford to be a little more picky.

Here are some options to think about when you apply:

Location
Working Hours - when you're required to come and leave for work (e.g. 9:00am - 6:00pm)
Teaching Hours - how many hours you'll be teaching each week (e.g. 25 hours)
Class Size - usually 4 ~ 15 students
Monthly Salary - most teachers with no experience receive 2.1 ~ 2.2 million won (~$2000 USD)
Student Type - kindergarten, elementary, and middle school are the most common
Housing - most schools offer housing accommodation (a studio or dorm), but some also offer housing "allowance" (monthly stipend)
Number of Openings - if you're applying with a friend or spouse, this might be important
Benefits - standard benefits include 10 paid vacation days, national holidays, paid airfare, 50% medical insurance paid by employer, 50% pension plan paid by employer, severance pay (equivalent to 1 month's salary)
Starting Date - the school year typically starts around March, but hagwons hire all year round
Saturdays - some hagwons will include "optional" Saturday workdays, but usually that means that they would highly prefer teachers work on Saturdays when necessary
Overtime - if you need extra hours for more pay, schools will often inform applicants that they have potential overtime opportunities, usually on Saturdays.
Number of Foreign Teachers - would you prefer to be surrounded by other foreigners or be one of a few?

For reference, below is a table of the characteristics I sought when looking for a job.

PRIORITY	OPTION	PREFERENCE
High	Location	Seoul, Gangnam, Incheon, Daegu
High	Working Hours	7-8 hours a day 35-40 hours per week
High	Monthly Salary	2.3 ~ 2.7 million won
Medium	Schedule	Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday, 2:00pm - 10:00pm
Medium	Housing	Single Housing allowance of 500,000+ won
Low	Student Type	Elementary, Middle School
Low	Starting Date	February 2018
Low	Benefits	Standard

Recruiters

There are hundreds - if not thousands - of hagwons stationed throughout every city of Korea. It is impossible to find them all, inquire about their working conditions, and apply. That is where recruiters come in. Recruiters receive information from schools that have openings and find applicants that best match their prescribed criteria. If you're intimidated by the thought of approaching institutions directly or if this is your first time applying to hagwons, then I highly recommend using recruiters.

Why should I use recruiters?

Big agencies know hundreds of schools with openings. If you want to be picky, they have the connections to allow you to be picky. They will provide options in Incheon, Seoul, Daegu, Busan, Jeju, etc. They will have hagwons that operate in the mornings or in the evenings. If you're a Gyopo (F-4 Visa), they'll find schools accepting Gyopos.
You can be totally chill. Recruiters are usually very nice and friendly, making it super easy to communicate with them. Often they ask for your Kakaotalk ID or Skype, and conversations are more like what you have with friends.
They want you to pass interviews. Recruiters only get paid when a teacher is accepted by a school, so they'll do their best to give you interview advice and any insider tips. If you say something that will hurt your chances of getting a position, they will tell you. For example, I told a couple of my recruiters that I'm interested in attending school on the side for my own learning. All of them told me NOT to bring it up in the interview.

How many recruiters should I use?
For hagwons, as many as you want. I would say the more the merrier, but you only really need 3 or 4 big agencies at most. Some schools use only one agency, while others have multiple recruiters. Having a few options will increase your opportunities. Just note that sometimes your resume will be sent to the same school several times if you have more than 1 recruiter. This can be seen negatively by the school (i.e. desperation), but you'll be offered many more options that it doesn't really matter.

How do recruiters get paid?
Recruiters are hired by a school to find them potential applicants to interview. They are usually paid 350,000 won and upwards. They do all the grunt work for the school (and you) - posting on job boards, finding qualified candidates, scheduling interviews, negotiating contract terms, booking the flight, picking teachers up from the airport, booking a hotel until the school's housing is ready, and so on. During the job hunt, the school is only responsible for approving interviews and conducting them.

TIP: Never pay a fee for recruiters. They work for the schools, not for you.

That sounds great! What's the catch?

Recruiters work for the schools. Some recruiting agencies have hundreds of schools in their system, and not all schools are made equal. Several hagwons can only afford smaller salaries for a lot more work hours, which is bad. The academies that offer decent pay for decent hours will probably be gone or held for extremely well-qualified people. For that reason, recruiters may try to convince you that a 50-hour work week for 2.1 million won is a great deal (NO, it isn't)!
It is harder to negotiate contract terms. They want to be paid well by the schools, so they will often try to reassure you that the school's terms are reasonable. From my experience, if you've knocked the interview out of the ballpark, and you're considering other offers, schools may be willing to negotiate (I've had 2 hagwons increase their base salary by 0.2 ~ 0.3 million won after explaining I had better offers on the table).
The very shady recruiters will try to find teachers for hagwons that conduct illegal activities. The recruiters know this, but still try to sell them as "good schools." They, of course, won't tell you that a hagwon is shady. The biggest red flag is if they offer the mandatory government pension plan as "optional." This is illegal, and if a recruiter is willing to inform you of a school that offers "optional" pension to save money, I would stop conducting business with that agency.

So, should I use recruiters?
Absolutely, yes! They have all the job listings in their system, which will allow them to find schools that best fit YOUR preferences. If you don't want to completely rely on recruiters, you are definitely free to apply directly to schools at the same time.

Below is a list of recruiters I've used and my impressions. This is strictly from MY personal experience and does not detail anyone else's interaction unless noted.

You can see reviews from other people (or post one yourself) here: Korean Recruiter Reviews

recruiter reviews

Aclipse (www.aclipse.net) - I applied on their website. I think they are the sole recruiter used for all Chundahm Learning Institute schools (franchise). I spoke with Kathryn. She was very pleasant and explained the process very thoroughly. The phone interview was great and was conducted in Eastern Standard Time (not Korean Time). The whole call lasted about 40 minutes. Highly recommended.

Adventure Teaching (www.adventureteaching.com) - After applying on their website, they sent me a huge 2-page waiver about how I will not sue them if their recruitment process brings damage to me. I did not proceed.

Cube Recruiting (apply@cuberecruiting.com) - They did not respond to my initial e-mail with a resume, cover letter, and photo. I applied with just a resume for positions on Craigslist (recruiters' emails are blocked), and it turned out to be Cube Recruiting. They responded but I did not proceed.

EnJ Place (esl411@gmail.com) - James was my representative, and I believe he founded his own recruiting agency. He set me up with an interview with DUX Academy (a literature hagwon) and gave me a lot of great tips and advice on how to ace the interview (it worked since I got an offer!). He also claimed that he could provide me with additional hours at his own school if I needed more income. His English is perfect as he grew up in the states.

After going over the contract, I asked questions about what constituted a teaching hour. He was very vague and brushed over the topic like it wasn't a big deal. The contract was over 30 teaching hours, which is a LOT higher than average. I didn't appreciate that he tried to undermine the extraneous working conditions and pass it off as something acceptable.

ESL Korea (www.eslkorea.kr) - I spoke with Joe. He's very nice, friendly, and jovial. His English is perfect (I think he grew up in the states). ESL Korea is an extremely professional agency with a team of representatives in a cubicle office. The screening interview had no hiccups and Joe started presenting me with interviews a few days later. After getting offers from his schools, I said the salary range wasn't what I was seeking. I asked if he could negotiate a higher salary. He claimed that teachers who have 0 experience in Korea receive 2.1 ~ 2.2 million won (which is true). However, I have 4 years of private tutoring services and SAT/ACT instruction in America, which apparently holds no merit in Korea based on what Joe said. I told him I am considering another offer and with that, one of the schools offered a generous raise. I declined.

Also, when I posted up my resume online (Dave's ESL Cafe), another representative from ESL Korea (Jack) reached out to me about potential positions, even when I was already speaking with Joe. Jack's communication was much less coherent. I did not have a screening interview with Jack.

Friend's experience: I recommended my colleague SK to Joe and he organized an interview between her and a Poly School in Seoul. The hours and salary were great. Joe's comments and the interviewer's responses seemed all very positive, almost ensuring her the position. They said that they were just working out a few details in the contract. Later, SK was told that she did not get the job because they wanted someone with more experience. It was a misleading and disappointing experience.

Good English / Think Outside Recruiting (goodenglish2011@gmail.com) (mailtoindycho@gmail.com) - I initially responded to an ad on Dave's ESL Cafe with a recruiting agency called "Think Outside Recruiting" attaching my resume, cover letter, and photo. They never responded. After posting my resume online, Cindy from Good English e-mailed me about potential positions (using the same goodenglish2011@gmail.com address also used by "Think Outside Recruiting"). I had to e-mail Cindy and Indy from Think Outside Recruiting a couple times to get them to add me on Skype.

The initial communication was difficult, but once they began responding, they did bring up potential positions fitting my preferences. I did not interview with any of those schools. I'm still not quite sure if they're 2 companies posting ads together or what. When talking with Indy on Skype, he did mistakenly forward me a contract for another applicant, illustrating a bit of disorganization on his part.

Job In Korea (help@jobinkorea.co.kr) (jikrecruiter@gmail.com) - I applied directly to their jobinkorea.co.kr e-mail with my resume, cover letter, and photo regarding positions they posted online, but didn't receive a response. After posting up my resume on Dave's ESL Cafe a week later, they e-mailed me personally. I filled out their questionnaire and sent them the same resume and photo. They stopped responding.

Star Teachers (info@starteachers.net) **RED FLAG** - This was the first agency I worked with. Jeff was my representative. Our initial screening interview was done via Kakaotalk Voice Call. The reception was a bit poor with background noise. His initial job posting in Gangnam caught my attention and he set me up with an interview a few days later. On the day of my interview, the school never contacted me. I was told they were too busy. We re-scheduled a week later.

On the day of the re-scheduled interview, I asked Jeff to confirm that the interview was still happening and he said yes. I spent 4 hours preparing because this job had the most ideal working conditions (i.e. hours, salary, location). 2 hours before the interview, I asked for any tips and advice from Jeff. He told me that I was fine because I had an outgoing and energetic personality. Again, the school never contacted me. Jeff claimed that the school was only accepting in-person interviews in Korea. He told me to focus on the other interviews he had scheduled for me. My question was: why did Jeff claim to have scheduled video interviews with this school twice when they only accept in-person interviews? I was upset that he deceived me into thinking that the interviews with the Gangnam school were happening.

In retrospect, after gaining more knowledge, I did realize the Gangnam hagwon was one of the "shady" schools that offered the optional pension plan (illegal). So perhaps I should be thankful I did not go through with the interview.

Friend's experience: I recommended my colleague SK to Jeff (before the falsified interview dates). She has had several interviews with schools she really liked, all with decent salary and hours. She had decided to go with a hagwon offered by Jeff. However, his communication skills and ability to convey correct information was very questionable.

Agencies that never responded after 1 month

- AMS Korea (donpark53@gmail.com)
- AppleTree Recruiting (appletreeedukorea@gmail.com)
- Engkorea Agency (job@engkorea.com)
- EZ Match (wowtaerim@naver.com)
- HiKoreaEdu (hikoreaedu@naver.com)
- Korea Global Connections (kgcabc@gmail.com)
- OK Recruiting (ok@opportunitykorea.com)
- Park English (parkenglish@parkenglish.com)
- Prime Recruitment (primerecruitmentkorea@gmail.com)
- Super ESL Recruitment (supereslrecruitment@gmail.com)
- Teach Abroad Korea (teachabroad11@gmail.com)
- Teaching Jobs Korea (teachingjobskorea123@gmail.com)
- The One English (theoneeng1030@gmail.com)
- Xperteachers Recruiting (xperteachers@gmail.com)

Based on the number of agencies that did not respond to me, I have speculated that some recruiters may not respond for the following reasons:

High volume of applicants
Holiday Season
Gyopo (F-4 Visa) status
Appearance
Too much information

Tips when applying to recruiting agencies:

Include the prettiest professional photo you have ever taken
(I'm a bit chubby, and there is a stigma with overweight people in Korea, so extremely high-quality photos probably wouldn't have helped my case)
Keep e-mails succinct. Provide a 1-sentence pitch of who you are and why you're a good candidate
If they request additional information, put that in the e-mail
Don't include a cover letter unless they specifically request one

An e-mail I sent to a recruiter that received a response.
I included a short snippet about me that I thought would grab the recruiter's attention.
Also, I included their required information in a dedicated section of the e-mail.

An e-mail I sent to a school directly that received a response.
I addressed the school director personally (his name was on the ad) and
included a sentence about the details that appealed to me, based on the job description.

Job Boards

Now, it's time to start looking for jobs either through a recruiting agency or directly through a school.
Here are a list of links to find jobs (I only used Craigslist and Dave's ESL Cafe):

If you have a basic literacy of Korean or have the guts to try navigating Korean websites, you can also use Naver (Korean Google) and search hagwons in specific cities. I recommend clicking on a school's website on Naver's map (map.naver.com) and finding an e-mail address. Note: this means you will be going through the school directly and not through a recruiter.

I've linked a few search queries with hagwons from popular cities for you. Good luck!

The Interview

Now comes the hard part, or so you think. I've noticed that interviews aren't very intensive and rarely last longer than 30 minutes. One school only asked questions for about 2 minutes and I ended up taking the next 10 to ask mine.

Quick Facts:

Interviews are done over Skype Video call. I recommend having a professional Skype username and profile picture.
Most interviews will last anywhere from 10-30 minutes. Rarely will hagwons take over an hour.
All interviewers are looking for a "passion" for teaching kids. This means being very amicable, exciting, and outgoing - almost borderline cheerleader attitude.
When scheduling a time for an interview, use Korean Standard Time (KST) to reduce complications for your recruiter or school.
If you are using a recruiter, do NOT bring up salary expectations with the school. You talk about that with your recruiter only.
Schedule interviews back-to-back because most schools will ask that you respond to an offer within 1-2 days. If you do this, give yourself 1+ hour for every interview. Having multiple offers when you decide to accept or reject an offer within a small time frame will be nice.

Tips to Prepare:

Research the school. Use Google or Naver for basic information. Ask on forums such as Dave's ESL Cafe or /r/TeachingInKorea for opinions and reputation. Be as well-informed as you possibly can.
Come up with a list of common questions asked during an interview and write bulleted notes for your answers. Using word-for-word answers will come off very unnatural and robotic. You can view my preparation notes on Google Docs.
Make sticky notes with the most important information. Here are the sticky notes I had by my side during interviews.
Prepare a set of questions to ask the interviewer. The best questions will always be based on what was said during the interview because it shows active listening skills, but having general questions ready is good, too. I have my list here, but I highlighted the questions that I asked the most. Ask personable questions such as "why did you start this hagwon?" or "what is your education philosophy?"
Video call a friend over Skype to ensure that your camera is working and the sound is not muffled or filled with static (I did this right before every single interview I had).
If you have someone to help, ask them to conduct a mock interview via Skype video asking some of the questions you've prepared. Ask them for feedback.

During the Interview:

Bring the following materials
- Water bottle
- Pen or pencil
- Notepad
- Copy of your resume
- Your sticky notes
- Earphones
- The job listing of the school (i.e. school name, hours, salary, class sizes)
- Any teaching materials you used if you have prior experience (such as sticker sheets, lesson plans, etc.).
Use a professional setting during interviews, like a conference room or against a solid-colored wall.
Write notes and base your questions at the end on your notes.
Laugh and smile a lot. Interviewers like teachers who are professional and friendly - someone that students can both respect and interact well with.
Look at the screen, not the camera. My Korean parents told me looking directly into someone's eyes can be off-putting in Korean culture. Looking at the screen will show that you are paying attention to the interviewer, but not directly into their eyes.
Speak moderately with great enunciation. Koreans prefer teachers who have a strong "American accent." A school commented that they liked the way I spoke.
End the interview with a thank-you. I'm sure this is common sense, but Korean culture is big on gratitude, so let the interviewer know you are grateful for their time and would love to work with them.

After the Interview:

Send a thank-you email about an hour or two after your interview. A day is too late as schools often decide whether or not to extend a 2nd interview or an offer by the following morning. If you went through a recruiter (so you don't have the school's e-mail), send the thank-you message over Skype.

I have outlined my specific experiences in interviews, along with a few questions that were asked of me. It is not an exhaustive summary, so I recommend doing your own research as well.

Gyeyang global language center

Location: Incheon
Hours: 2:00pm ~ 8:05pm
Interviewer: School Director
Duration of Interview: 30 minutes
# of Interviews: 1
Extra Assessment(s): No
Talked with a current/former teacher? Yes
Used a Recruiter? No

Interview Questions

Why do you want to teach in Korea?
What are your hobbies?
What will you do when a classroom is out of control?
How would you discipline a child?
Do you like children?
Why do you want to teach children?
What is your vision 3 years from now?
Do you smoke or drink alcohol?
(Based on my resume) Do you enjoy playing video games?
(Based on my resume) Do you like art?

Big heart christian school

Location: Gyeonggi-do
Hours: 8:10am ~ 4:20pm
Interviewer: Curriculum Coordinator
Duration of Interview: 23 minutes
# of Interviews: 1 (Expected 2)
Extra Assessment(s): Yes - Application Questionnaire (regarding my Christianity)
Talked with a current/former teacher? No
Used a Recruiter? Yes

Interview Questions

Why do you want to teach in Korea?
Will you have trouble adjusting to the culture?
Why do you want to teach at a Christian school?
Do you consider yourself a born-again Christian?
What is the difference between a Christian and secular school?
How will you incorporate God's teaching into your curriculum?
(Based on resume) Would you be interested in being an art teacher?
(Based on resume) If we taught coding, would you be okay with teaching that?

gimpo topia

Location: Gyeonggi-do
Hours: 2:00pm ~ 10:15pm
Interviewer: School Manager, School Director
Duration of Interview: 15 minutes, 23 minutes
# of Interviews: 2
Extra Assessment(s): No
Talked with a current/former teacher? No
Used a Recruiter? Yes

Interview Questions

Why do you want to teach in Korea?
What are your hobbies?
Can you teach children?
What is your teaching philosophy?
What do you think is the most important skill for a teacher to have?
What makes a good education?
What will you do when students are out of control?
What level of students are you comfortable with?

aclipse (chundahm learning institute)

Location: Varies
Hours: Varies
Interviewer: Recruiter
Duration of Interview: 40 minutes
# of Interviews: 1
Extra Assessment(s): Yes - 5 minute role playing (stopped at 4 minutes)
Talked with a current/former teacher? No
Used a Recruiter? Yes

Interview Questions

Why do you want to teach in Korea?
How will you handle culture shock and homesickness?
Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult situation or co-worker.
Tell me about a time you disagreed with your boss.
How do you deal with feedback?
How would you engage with a student who may be shy or reserved?
What do you think is the most rewarding aspect about teaching?
(Based on resume) Tell me about a time you had a difficult student.

Miltan english academy

Location: Incheon
Hours: 2:00pm ~ 10:00pm
Interviewer: School Director & Teacher
Duration of Interview: 15 minutes (they gave me a video tour of the school!)
# of Interviews: 1
Extra Assessment(s): No
Talked with a current/former teacher? Yes
Used a Recruiter? No

Interview Questions

What is your teaching experience with kids?
Are you okay with being outside of Seoul?
Do you have a preference of student ages?
(Based on resume) You taught classrooms for SAT and ACT prep?

Minute Plus Language Institute

Location: Gyeonggi-do (?)
Hours: (?)
Interviewer: School Director
Duration of Interview: 22 minutes
# of Interviews: 1
Extra Assessment(s): No
Talked with a current/former teacher? No
Used a Recruiter? No

** I can't remember much about this interview because it was so vague. The only thing that stood out was the reason the current teacher's position was being vacated. I also responded before receiving an answer because I had chosen a school by the time the director would have gotten back to me.

Interview Questions

Why do you want to teach in Korea?
Can you come to teach by mid-January?
What are your teaching methods?

Dux Academy

Location: Gangnam
Hours: 3:00pm ~ 9:00pm
Interviewer: School Director
Duration of Interview: 30 minutes
# of Interviews: 1
Extra Assessment(s): No
Talked with a current/former teacher? No
Used a Recruiter? Yes

** Note: They describe themselves as a "literature" academy and are only accepting teachers with a degree in English Literature.
** Note 2: A lot of the interview was about books.

Interview Questions

Why do you want to teach in Korea?
Name at least 5 classic novels you've read and describe their plots.
List a few authors and their literary works and why you enjoy them.
Describe a few literary techniques that you've learned in your studies.
What kind of literature are you reading now?
Can you incorporate your own (literature) experiences / knowledge into the curriculum?
The students here are very intelligent kids and can come off a bit intimidating to new teachers. Can you handle that stress?
Will you cry under pressure (from students)?
Do you have teaching experience outside of America?

iSpeak (PeAI)

Location: Gangnam
Hours: 1:30pm ~ 8:30pm
Interviewer: School Manager
Duration of Interview: Expected 60 min+
# of Interviews: 1
Extra Assessment(s): Yes - written assessment about teaching philosophy
Talked with a current/former teacher? No
Used a Recruiter? No

I did not actually go through with the interview because I saw several red flags. Unpaid training for 2 weeks, no vacation days, no sick days, no housing.

After passing the initial written assessment, we scheduled an interview with 40 minutes of a teaching demo (yellow flag). What really upset me was the fact that the manager had 3 days to provide me with any specific instruction about the teaching subject for the demo (I gave him a list of subjects I could showcase). He said I had full freedom to choose a topic, and left it at that. I prepared materials over the weekend and called family members about a 1.5-hour drive away to be my "students," since it was hard to find children on such short notice. Literally, as I was about to drive down to my family (2 hours before the interview), the manager said he had thought I would follow his teaching guidelines - which were nothing but questions that you would normally ask in a typical interview. He also claimed that the students should have been provided homework, which he did not attach. He sends a poorly formatted e-mail with a list of 5 questions under the guise of "Teaching Guidelines" with only 90 minutes to spare.

The lack of organization, teaching principles, and benefits made me wary. Our communication beforehand seemed as though the demo interview was only courtesy of formal procedure of their school, but otherwise I was "perfect on paper" for the position. However, the last minute details and overall disarray made me not want to pursue the opportunity.

Contract Details

Finally, you have an offer! But the work isn't finished yet. It's important to review each clause in your contract very carefully. Every contract will differ from school to school, but there are a few statements that should always be visible and clear.

"Working Hours"

Your contract should state what time you are expected to arrive and leave. A vague "30 working hours a week" should not be sufficient. Have them lay out the exact hours you will be required to stay (i.e. "Monday through Friday from 9:00am ~ 6:00pm")
The definition of an "hour" should be clarified. If you are expected to work 30 hours a week, is that 30 teaching hours (30 hours you will be spent in the classroom teaching students) or 20 hours of teaching and 10 hours of classroom preparation?
If the term "teaching hour" is used in a contract, ask them to define if a teaching hour includes a break. A teaching hour could be 50 minutes of classroom instruction and a 10 minute break, or 60 minutes of straight teaching. If you are expected to fulfill a 30-hour teaching requirement of 60-minute classes every week, that could mean 5 hours of more teaching.
The best clause will indicate how many classes you are required to teach, along with the duration of each class.
Example:
"Employee is required to teach 30 classes a week. Each class is 50 minutes long and includes a 10 minute break. Classes are conducted Monday through Friday and between the hours of 9:00am ~ 6:00pm."

Monthly Taxes & Government Fees

Income Tax should be around 3~7% depending on how much your salary is. **
Often your income tax won't be directly stated or will only give an estimate because taxes will fluctuate every fiscal year. You won't know for sure how much will actually be deducted every month (hagwons just take a rough amount, and at the end of the year you'll either get money back or be required to pay more). You can call your local tax office in Korea to make sure that your employer is indeed paying taxes on your behalf.

Based on multiple sources, a good estimate is:
- 2.0 ~ 2.2 million won: 3~4% income tax
- 2.3 ~ 2.5 million won: 4~5% income tax
- 2.6 ~ 3.0 million won: 6~7% income tax
Inhabitant Tax is a mandatory tax for non-residents of Korea. It is also based on your salary. Mine is 8,000 won.
National Medical Insurance (NHI) is a very controversial topic. For a while, people thought that NHI was a mandatory fee that all employees had to pay for. However, it was debunked on Reddit, and teachers have the option to opt out of the government healthcare plan. If your employer provides it, the school pays for 50% of the premium (6.12% of your income). You pay 3.06% of your income.
Other names: National Medical Insurance Service (NHIS), National Medical Insurance Corporation (NHIC), Korean Medical Insurance Union (KMIU)
Pension Plan is 9%, but your employer pays for 50%, equating to 4.5% of your income being deducted.

** Some people say that an exact income tax rate of 3.3% should raise a red flag because teachers under an "Independent Contractor" status will be charged a 3.3% tax rate. Independent Contractors are not employees and therefore not granted the pension plan, national medical insurance, and severance benefits that employees are normally given. It could be a sign that a hagwon is "sketchy" because they want to cut corners. However, income tax rate is between 3~7% so 3.3% might just be a coincidence. Just call your local tax office in Korea to make sure they are paying your taxes as an employee and not an Independent Contractor.

Housing

Based on Korean laws, all hagwons must offer you a fully furnished housing accommodation or a housing "allowance" (stipend). It is required that the allowance be at least 200,000 won, but most schools offer more than that.
If a contract does not state specifically what is included in the furnishings, ask them to label what furniture and amenities are expected. At bare minimum, you should have a bed, desk & chair, and air conditioning.
Utilities and internet are usually your responsibility. They can range from 80,000 ~ 150,000 won a month depending on usage and season (AC in the summer, heating in the winter).
A maintenance fee may be included, which can range anywhere from 20,000 ~ 100,000 won a month. This is a fee paid to the apartment building for maintenance, such as elevators, front desk, etc.
Sometimes a hagwon will request a deposit for housing in the event that you do not fulfill your contract or damage the apartment beyond "reasonable wear and tear."

Other Paid Days

The standard paid vacation days is 10. Any less is unusual, and I would highly recommend not pursuing that school.
Sick days vary by school. Some offer none, some offer up to 10 additional sick days. Some will require that you take sick days out of your vacation days. Ask them to clarify this if they do. Relentless hagwons will require that you provide X days of notice before using a sick day (what kind of person will know X days in advance that they'll be out sick?).
Some hagwons will require a training period of 1-2 weeks. These involve "shadowing" a teacher, but will rarely take up an entire 1-2 weeks (usually just a day or two to get acclimated to the school's teaching standards). However, pay will be reduced during that time. You should accept no less than 50% of your normal daily salary rate. Unpaid training weeks are absolutely unacceptable and are red flags.
Holidays are paid.

Other Benefits

Most schools offer a 1-way airplane ticket to or fro Korea in the form of a reimbursement. You will usually be required to book a flight and pay for it upfront. The ticket is usually paid back with your first (or last) paycheck. Keep any and all receipts.
Severance is always 1 month's salary and given after you complete the 12-month contract. Not more or less or "approximately."

Other Clauses

Some schools will have a probationary period in which they can fire you without warning and for any reason. They can legally do this as long as you have not worked there for 6 months.
If a school terminates you after having worked there for 6 months, they are required to give you 1 month's notice or 1 month's salary.
Schools cannot force you to pay back any recruiter fees in the case of early termination.
You are not required to provide prior notice before quitting, but a contract may say otherwise. On the flip side, schools are not required to give you a letter of release, which allows you to work at another school after quitting (if you are on an E-2 visa). If you do not have a letter of release and no longer work at a school, you will be required to leave Korea in 14 days. You will have to wait until the end of your contract to return to Korea to work again.

Blog #3: Certification & Credentials

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12/24/2017 Comments

Korea Teach to Learn #1: The Basics

When I decided to teach in Korea about 3 weeks ago, there were some basic things that I had to understand. Some I researched beforehand, while others I learned during the application process. One thing I knew for sure was that teaching at a hagwon would help me accomplish my goals.

Before you start applying, it's important to solidify your knowledge on a few topics.

Why Teach in Korea?

Identify your motivations. This will be the key to enduring all the hardships you'll experience in the next year. Homesickness, culture shock, long working hours, ostracism, xenophobia, extreme weather conditions, etc. are all very common difficulties that foreigners face. Will your ambitions push you through them for 12 months?

My Backstory & circumstances

I have been job hopping for the past few years, while freelancing as an artist on the side. Ultimately, my end goal is to work as an artist at a video game studio. Not at Blizzard or Riot Games, but somewhere that welcomes a more Asian oriented art style ("anime"). Think Puzzle & Dragons and Sid Story. I have been drawing art for indie visual novel games for several years, but I want to level up my skills and join a talented team of game developers in a full-time capacity, not as a contractor or freelancer.

You may ask how this ties into teaching abroad. Korea is well known for their factory of hagwons available everywhere. They have hagwons for subjects like English, Coding, Design, Math, TOEIC, and Art. The school I want to attend is called Dream Factory. Their level of artists is phenomenal and utilize the techniques I hope to learn.

However, to attend an art academy, I would need to be able to pay for housing, transportation, and daily necessities. Hagwons give me the flexibility, salary, and benefits that will allow me to see through my long-term vision.

Eligibility

If you want to teach in Korea, you will need to obtain something called a "Visa." This is a document that grants you government "permission" to stay in a country for a longer time. Korea will place a Visa on your passport in the form of a sticker. To be eligible for a Korean visa, you must meet certain requirements.

Nationality Requirements
You must hold a passport from one of the following 7 countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the United States. Residents from these 4 countries may be eligible to apply to teach, but the standards are stricter: India, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.

Academic Requirements
You must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited 3 or 4 year university.

Visa Types

Most foreigners fall under an "E-2" type visa, allowing a person to teach at a school (including hagwons) for 1 year before they need to renew their visa or leave. However, for those with Korean parents, you would be eligible for an "F-4" type visa, which has many more lenient restrictions and allows you to stay for 2 years before needing to renew.

There are other types of visas, but 99% of foreigners interested in teaching in Korea will apply for an E-2 or F-4 visa.

Regardless of which visa you're getting, you'll need the following materials:

2 Passport Photos (size: 3.5Cm * 4.5Cm)
2 University Transcripts
Apostilled Diploma
Apostilled Criminal Background Check (CBC)
Unofficial Health Statement (E-2 Health Statement Form) (F-Type Health Statement Form)

An Apostille is a vetting system done at the state (diploma) or federal (criminal background check) level in which an authoritative figure will claim that all the information is true. These items are necessary to obtain an E-2, but are also submitted to the Ministry of Education to prove that you meet the minimum requirements to teach. F-4 visa applicants will need them as well.

Visa Documents

How to get Passport Photos
Bigger grocery stores like Walgreens and CVS will have that service readily available. They cost about $7 for 2 photos.

How to get an Apostilled Diploma

Find your original diploma and make a copy of it.*
Go to your university and have them notarize a COPY of your original diploma.**
Send your notarized diploma copy to the Secretary of State and request an Apostille of your Diploma (fees can range from $15 - $50+). Most states have expedited services available if you're on a time crunch.

* If you've misplaced it, ask your school for a replacement diploma for a fee.
** Most universities also accept your diploma copy via mail, fax or e-mail (for out-of-state graduates). Contact your school to ask about their notarization process.

How to get an Apostilled Criminal Background Check (CBC)
(Other Names: FBI Background Check, FBI Criminal Background Record, National Criminal Record Check, Identity History Summary Check, Criminal History Record, Rap Sheet)

Get a Criminal Background Check from the FBI
See full instructions here.

Get (2) fingerprint cards (FD-258). You can print them yourself, but Amazon sells them for $1 per card in the proper formatting.
Go to your local police station or sheriff's office to get your fingerprints taken. Call or visit their website to book an appointment or find their drop-in hours.
Send in your (2) fingerprint cards, application form, and $18 payment (check payable to Treasury of the United States or credit card) to the FBI office. This may take up to 4 months to process.

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

Step #3 Faster Alternative: Go through one of the FBI-Approved Channelers. They are 3rd party services that specialize in making sure that all application materials follow FBI standards in an expedited manner. Most channelers take up to 1-2 weeks to process. I personally used Accurate Biometrics.

Authenticate your Criminal Background Check with an Apostille
See full instructions here.
Once you receive your criminal background check from the FBI or an FBI-Approved Channeler, you will need to send it to the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. to get an apostille.

Fill out a Request of Authentications Service DS-4194 form
Send your form, criminal background check, $8 check (payable to U.S. Department of State), and a self-addressed prepaid envelope (NOT FedEx) to the U.S. Department of State. This may take up to 2 months to process.

Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT
44132 Mercure Cir, P.O. Box 1206
Sterling, VA 20166-1206

Faster Alternative: Go through a reliable and experienced Authentication / Apostille company to expedite the process. They usually hand-deliver the documents into the U.S. Department of State to request an apostille in-person. Results will usually be retrieved within 3 days, for a total processing time of 1-2 weeks. I personally used Monument Visa Service.

Still Confused? This was my best attempt to give you a simplified summary for a complicated apostille process. You can read more detailed explanations on the following links:

Visa Procedure

Once you've gotten your Apostilled Diploma and Apostilled Criminal Background Check, you've completed about 90% of the work to obtain an E-2 visa!

E-2 Visa
Personally, I am not getting an E-2 Visa, so I'm not too familiar with the process. I highly recommend calling your local Korean Consulate (if available) and asking what is standard procedure. Below are links that go over the steps.

Procedure
A school did give me a very brief rundown of what to expect after gathering my Apostille documents.

"[O]ur school should submit your diploma and FBI background check to the immigration office and then we have to wait about one week to get VISA application number. After I get VISA application number from the immigration office, I should give it to you so that you can apply for E2 VISA with the number. It will also take about another one week to receive E2 VISA."
- Gyeyang Global Language Center

F-4 Visa
What's great about the F-4 is that the process is somewhat straightforward and does not require interviews like the E-2 does. Essentially, you have to prove you are Korean.

Required Documents

F-4 Visa Application Form (PDF Format)
Your Valid Passport
2 Passport Photos
Original & Copy of your Birth Certificate
Documents proving you are ethnically Korean (e.g. your Korean family registry, your parents' Korean passports or your parents' birth certificates) (호적 등본)
Document(s) showing renunciation of your parent's Korean Citizenship (제적증명서)*
$45 Fee

* If your parents have NOT renounced (gotten rid of) their Korean citizenship, that is a separate process that will need to be done in person at your local Korean Consulate office. It may take up to 3 months.

Procedure

Call your local Korean Consulate Office. Ask about all the required documents needed to obtain an F-4 Visa. Although I've provided a checklist above, it may have changed.
Gather all your documents (listed above)
Make an appointment to submit your documents to the Korean Consulate. If you can go in person, set aside time when both your parents can visit the consulate with you.
Wait up to 1 month for the visa to be processed.

The "Korean" Job Hunt

When I started my job hunt, there were a lot of minor things I've noticed about the application process. Knowing them might be helpful before you start seeking a teaching job.

Finding a Job

The top 2 job boards I used when applying was Dave's ESL Cafe and Craigslist
If your Korean is decent, you can use Naver to search hagwons in a specific location and apply directly via the school's website (i.e. 인천 학원 - Incheon Hagwon)
Schools prefer degrees in English Literature or Education.
Hagwons, unlike most public schools, hire all-year round. They hire whenever a current teacher's contract is expiring soon and that teacher is not renewing. For the record, a school year typically starts around March.
Take "working hours" (e.g. "9:00am ~ 6:00pm") with a grain of salt. What you should be focusing on is the required "teaching" hours. Assume at least 2 hours of prep-work per 6 classes of 50 minutes. Expect more prep-work for schools that to do not have course books or a set curriculum.
Some schools will require occasional teaching on Saturdays
Average monthly salary for teachers with no experience is 2.1 ~ 2.2 million won for 25 teaching hours.
To keep conversion rates simple:
1,000 won = $1 USD
2,000,000 won (2.0 million won) = $2,000 USD
Most salaried teaching positions will include free furnished housing (either a studio or dormitory), but you'll need to pay for utilities, taxes and other fees that can eat up to 10-20% of your income before you see your money

Applying

You will be asked to submit a resume and photo. Some schools request a cover letter outlining your teaching experience
A few schools require that you have all your Visa documents (Apostille Diploma and Apostille CBC) in hand before you apply
If it's your first time, you'll most likely be using multiple recruiters to apply to hagwon jobs (Do NOT use more than one recruiter to apply for a public school. It will get you disqualified.)
NEVER pay a fee to a recruiter. Recruiters get paid by the school when they find the perfect teacher for the academy (recruiters receive a paycheck as soon as you board the airplane).
Some schools will only accept Gyopos (F-4 Visa) or will only accept native foreigners (E-2 Visa)
Some schools forbid couples (a married man and woman both applying for teaching jobs at the same school)
Good recruiters will find you interviews the next day or sometimes the same day. Be prepared to have interviews with as little notice as 30 minutes (this happened to me with my first recruiter. I was so shocked!)
Many hagwons are a franchise or have many branches, so contract negotiation is harder with these types of schools.. Examples are Chungdahm Learning Institutes and Poly Schools.

The Interview

Almost all your interviews will be done via Skype Video chat. I recommend finding a simple, professional background (i.e. a library conference room) with earphones to prevent background noise.
Some hagwons will require a "demo" of teaching students, sometimes called role-playing (5-15 minutes long)
Specify interview times in Korean Standard Time (KST) to make it easier for the interviewers
If you get an offer on the spot, you will be asked to respond within 1-2 days. I recommend scheduling a bunch of back-to-back interviews to weigh offers within the same time frame.
If you have a TEFL/TESOL certificate, hagwons will probably not ask you about it. I've gone through 10 interviews and was never asked to verify my certificate.
Questions will mostly be about your teaching experience, but occasionally will include inquiries about your personal life (i.e. relationship status, smoking & alcohol tendencies, hobbies)
Tip to ace interviews: Be so passionate about kids and teaching that interviewers will think that the only thing on your mind is teaching, and teaching only.

How to Research

Knowing where to look for resources and help during the entire application process is essential to making well-informed decisions. And there are many available, if you know where to look. Below is a list of links I've visited frequently.

General Help & Information: