Folks, I just have to laugh when I see such ads as this one -- posted today, June 20 (June 21, here in Korea) -- comments follow:

Seoul Public schools...
By:Seoul Public Schools 2.6m+
Date: 20 June 2008

◈ Public Elementary school (afternoon-English-classes)
teaching positions available to commence June 2008....
(location Seoul Metropolitan area)
INTERVIEWS will be conducted ASAP.
Current positions and Locations:
◈ Start Date and Location
*** One-YEAR contract position ***
* commence teaching ASAP
* Teachers needed 2 (two)
* Seokgye Station (brown line 6 -station 644 / transfer station
with blue line 1 - station 121)
* teach 5 X 40 minute classes (01:00pm ~ 4:50pm)
* Wage: 2.6+ million Korean Won Per Month (negotiable)
* Maximum students per class 15 students
*** One-YEAR contract position ***
(arrive at the school at 12:45 and leave the school at 4:50pm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
◈ Start Date and Location
*** One-YEAR contract position ***
* commence teaching July 2008
* Teachers needed 1 (one)
* Gireum Station (light-blue line 4 -station 417)
* teach 5 X 40 minute classes (01:00pm ~ 4:50pm)
* Wage: 2.6+ million Korean Won Per Month (negotiable)
* Maximum students per class 15 students
*** One-YEAR contract position ***
(arrive at the school at 12:45 and leave the school at 4:50pm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
◈ Start Date and Location
*** One-YEAR contract position ***
* commence teaching July 2008
* Teachers needed 1 (one)
* Seongsu Station (green line 2 -station 211)
* teach 5 X 40 minute classes (01:00pm ~ 4:50pm)
* Wage: 2.6+ million Korean Won Per Month (negotiable)
* Maximum students per class 15 students
*** One-YEAR contract position ***
(arrive at the school at 12:45 and leave the school at 4:50pm)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
◈ Job Description
- 24 classes per week
- Grade 1 ~ Grade 6
- 2.4+ million per month
- 40 minute classes
- maximum 15 students per class
- 12:50 pm to 4:50 pm
**NO Class preparation hours*** COME AT 12:45 leave at 5pm
* No split shifts
* Curriculum & lesson plans provided
* Commencing TEACHING date : ASAP
(1-year contract & E-2 visa given)
* class size - (15 students maximum)
* Korean-English speaking teacher assistance
* No Housing Offered
* Visa sponsorship (and visa-run-Japan/hotel paid)....
* Vacations available - but NOT paid...
*All public/nation holidays are given NO Saturday/Sunday classes
*Samsung WORLD-WIDE medical insurance
Teacher should be a native English teacher from the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, or NZ....
and..
- must hold a degree
- who has taught young Korean students for at least a year in a
classroom environment within Korea
- who possesses strong work ethics and is punctual
- who is great with young children and dedicated to helping them
develop their English.
- who is a team player and is able to work well with others.
* ALL qualified Teachers are encouraged to apply.
Our positions cater for the after-school programs at Public Elementary Schools in Seoul.
Teachers will be working with elementary school kids so they will need to be enthusiastic, outgoing and self motivated. We are looking for hard-working and cooperative individuals who will form good working relationships with students and parents. We already have a great curriculum in place for you to follow and our management staff will work closely with you to support your every need.
** Applicants must have all new visa regulation documents available
Required documents:
1. passport.
2. updated resume.
3. University degree (original)
4. Criminal record (must not be more than 2 months old)
Please send resume, pic and a contact telephone number
to HahnSpace@gmail.com
We look forward to meeting you!!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As most of you know, Korea very recently imposed much stricter policies and procedures regarding issuance of E-2 visas. Thats certainly their right to do in an effort to obtain more qualified FTs. However, these schools/hogwons/employers fail to understand and/or adjust their timetables and expectations.

I was the first FT to enter my present school under these new terms. Obtaining all the required documents and completing the entire E-2 process (from outside Korea) took 6 weeks. The slow moving Korea immigration department did not issue my pre-approved visa number until the day I was to arrive in Seoul. After that, I was required to fly to Chicago quickly (a very expensive flight) for a 10-minute visa interview, where the consulate rep tried to persuade me to break my contract and lure me into working in the Korean public school system. My hogwan offered to reimburse my flight but upon arrival in Seoul, they refused to honor their offer. The reason? They claimed because I did not come to Seoul directly from Chicago (I flew from my place of residence) they had no obligation to reimburse. The consulate website clearly states that the visa and passport will be returned to the persons place of residence 3-5 business days after the visa interview. I suppose they expected me to sit I n hotel room in Chicago for 3-5 business days after my 10-minute (and corrupt) visa interview.

The point is here that in this ad, they want to teacher to begin in June 2008 hello, its already June 21 and they expect an FT to just be walking around jobless (but with housing), with fresh criminal background check (with apostille, no doubt) in hand. Laughable!

Because of these cumbersome policies, teachers are leaving my hogwon in droves (on average 6 per month), and they're (hogwon management) having a helluva time getting new teachers. Gee, I wonder why??? But they dont want to alter their policies and expectations. I have no sympathy for such idiotic, exploitative employers.