I recently applied to work at Direct English in September 2010 (Pagoda's 1:1 tutoring service) and was provisionally offered a contract for employment by their head recruiter (Mr Ian Windsor). I found the contract to be heavily punitive but was willing to negotiate a contract that would be win-win for me and Direct English. However, my valid and reasonable contract negotiation points were brushed aside (and I was casually dismissed by email as "wasting their time") after I questioned the discrepancy in my contract (15 paid holidays and possibility of nil pay increases) with the "Official" website 20 days holiday and Pay increases Every 6 Months!!! To say the least, I was flabbergasted.
I recommended in my response email to Mr Windsor to change the obviously FALSE & MISLEADING "BENEFITS page" listed on their website so that potential teachers do not make the same mistake I did, thereby avoiding "wasting" his time. We shall see in the fullness of time if this actually comes about (or not), however, based on the curt email response I received to my valid concerns I will beg the latter.
My advice for teachers looking for good first job in Korea, STAY AWAY FROM DIRECT ENGLISH / PAGODA and enter a FAIR contract with a Korean public school job. Over and out.