In response to Re: NaviESL in Korea (New Generation ESL Teacher)

You need to be really careful of both the schools and the agents! I am currently in Korea, arrived about three weeks ago, and the whole thing would appear to have been dodgy from the start. I have an E2 visa but no job - no Letter of Release and the school will not return my Original Documents! So I am now left in a very frightening position!

GEPIK, a supposedly good Government school funding and support body has done nothing to assist all, and they are supposed to be the best outfit to work through in Korea!

Now don't get me wrong, I do not blame all of Korea for this. Korea is a great place and I have been offered amazing help from Korean nationals that just want to see me placed in a good school and are really helping me to get this mess sorted out. So ALL Korea and Korean's are not bad, but there are a few here that do not play by any rules and will lie through their teeth just to make a buck. I have also met a number of Native English teachers that have been here for years and never had a problem.

I intend to stay in Korea to work if I can, and if it was that bad I would not. The majority of people that I have met have been great, helpful, kind and fun. The food is wonderful and the experience is good (other than the work drama!) in every other way. You just need to be careful.

Check out some of the websites that allow you to talk to Native English teacher that work here and they can warn you about the pitfalls and tell you where the blacklists are.