I forgot to mention that I am much happier with my situation at the public school. I have my own office, 5 week paid vacation, more settlement money than from CDI, a larger (and furnished) apartment (two bedroom and two balconies) paid by the school. At CDI they gave me a studio that is no bigger than a prison cell and the only furniture that was in the apartment was a ratty armchair that the previous CDI teacher got from the garbage and a bed that is basically a hide-away bed that was very uncomfortable. Yes, I make less money than I would make at CDI, but sometimes quality of life doesn't necessarily match with being paid more in money. With CDI you have to spend more of your own money on things that the public school usually provides.

As the only native speaker at the school, I am like a rock star with the teachers and the students. I get a raucous reception when I come to school. And I get to work the students more closely than with CDI.

Lastly, my salary (which is comparable with CDI due to the fact I have teaching experience already) is tax exempt both in Korea and US due to a tax treaty between the two countries.

(By the way, if you are a US citizen you have to declare your income and pay ANY tax liability on overseas income unless you are a bona fide resident of another country or physically present outside the US for 330 days during the tax year. (If you qualify as a bona fide resident or physically present in another country for the tax year, you are entitled to more than 85,000 tax exemption on overseas income.) So if you arrived at your workplace outside the US in August 2008 you have to declare your income to IRS and pay any tax liability. So if you work for a hagwon in Korea less than a year you have to pay taxes.)