Is it really that hard to land a good job in Seoul?

[DQuick25]

I've been in the process of getting everything ready to make the move to Korea to teach in a few months. For some reason I have my heart set on living and teaching in Seoul. I know there are tons of other great cities, but as a New Yorker who has also spent time in Tokyo, there is something about the huge, mega-city that I love. The only thing is that up to this point, I've had a recruiter as well as two close friends who spent two years teaching in Korea, tell me that it's extremely hard to get a job in Seoul, let alone a good job. One of them also warned me that many recruiters will tell you your school is in Seoul, when in reality you are on the out-skirts and need to travel 40 minutes each way to even get into the city. I also don't want to just throw myself into a bad situation where I am working ridiculous amounts of hours a week just to be in Seoul and not even get to enjoy it. All of this has been kind of discouraging to me. I feel like I am fairly strong candidate for a job (Communications Major, TEFL course under my belt, some experience working with kids). I just wanted some opinions from people on here. Is it really that hard to find a good job in Seoul?

[furtakk]

If a recruiter tells you that it's impossible for a first year teacher to get a job in Seoul, it means they don't have any (or many) contacts in Seoul.

Use a wide variety of recruiters. For my second contract I used around 20. A good chunk of them told me the same thing (even when I had a year of experience and a good reference): they couldn't find me a job in Seoul.

Seoul is the biggest market. Even if you're a newbie, you should be able to find something decent in the city. However, don't put off some of the outer cities (Bundang is a good example). I lived in western Seoul for a year and it took me longer to commute to some of the main areas than friends who lived in Bundang or Ilsan.

[Uhfotis]

I think you really hit on something when you mentioned the bit about the outskirts of Seoul. Seoul is HUGE and now with the subway connecting practically half the country to Seoul (google "Seoul subway" and then click on maps... it goes all the way out east to Chuncheon and all the way down south to Asan). Tons of foreigners want to be in Seoul, so there is obviously a ton of competition. Unless your TEFL course is a masters or something like that it probably doesn't mean much to Koreans. That said there are a ton of Hogwans in Seoul, so it shouldn't be impossible.

[kps1]

If a recruiter tells you that it's impossible for a first year teacher to get a job in Seoul, it means they don't have any (or many) contacts in Seoul.

Use a wide variety of recruiters. For my second contract I used around 20. A good chunk of them told me the same thing (even when I had a year of experience and a good reference): they couldn't find me a job in Seoul.

Seoul is the biggest market. Even if you're a newbie, you should be able to find something decent in the city. However, don't put off some of the outer cities (Bundang is a good example). I lived in western Seoul for a year and it took me longer to commute to some of the main areas than friends who lived in Bundang or Ilsan.

This

[elzoog]

To be honest, the best qualifications to have in Korea are

1)  To be young.
2)  To be female.

Your TEFL doesn't mean much, especially if it's an online TEFL (I would even go on to say it's sort of worthless myself unless it actually included a few hours of observed teaching, meaning the tutor observed YOU teaching).

Having said that, if you have a good GPA, you might want to consider signing up with SMOE.   If you tell them about your TEFL (even if it's an online one) you might be able to later on, get a pay raise.   There is only one recruiter for SMOE  (  www.koreaconnections.net  )    Also, I have a friend that is a head teacher in one of the Seoul districts.

I would however recommend against Seoul mainly because Korea has much to offer that you will hardly ever get to see.  Merely because it's a real pain to leave Seoul to go see something and then coming back to Seoul is a real pain.   Think, trying to leave New York City to go visit Woodstock and coming back to New York City when you are done and multiply all of the traffic problems by 3 or 4 and you will get an idea of what I am saying.

Also, Seoul compared to both New York City and Tokyo is quite drab in my opinion.  Not really that much variety in architecture (although this is improving), very few decent parks (unlike Tokyo), no seaside areas, ...  It's pretty much the same boxy buildings with a little bit of mountain scenery here and there.   Pretty much the only thing Seoul has going for it in my opinion is, whatever you are looking for culturally, if it's not in Seoul it's not in Korea (unless you are talking about old traditional culture).  But as far as a variety of scenery? Seoul doesn't have it.   A place that's quiet where you can relax?  Seoul doesn't have it.  Keep in mind when I say "Seoul doesn't have it." for those two I am thinking in my mind "compared to other places IN KOREA".   For example, if you want a good beach, there aren't any in Seoul but there are in Gangneung, Wondo, Pusan, ...  you get the picture.

Seoul also has the added disadvantage that too many people want to go there, meaning that getting a job there will be more difficult for a city that is kind of over-rated. 

[confusedsafferinkorea]

Public school jobs are still available at the moment, but for how long is anyone's guess as Seoul is supposedly busy phasing out English Teachers. Everyday the story changes, 1 minute they are phasing them out, the next they are keeping them, not sure anybody really knows the true picture. Not even them, SMOE, that is.

Try Korvia Consultants, they are pretty good.

Good luck.

[Jrong]

I would have to say the best qualification is being good-looking. If you're handsome and can smile then you can get a good job. Stylish dresser is a plus. If you're a beautiful female then it's even easier to get the best jobs. Add to that a reference letter from a former Korean professor and/or employer and you have no chance of failure...so it seems. This culture seems to value the superficial things.

[madison79]

Public school jobs are still available at the moment, but for how long is anyone's guess as Seoul is supposedly busy phasing out English Teachers. Everyday the story changes, 1 minute they are phasing them out, the next they are keeping them, not sure anybody really knows the true picture. Not even them, SMOE, that is.

Try Korvia Consultants, they are pretty good.

Good luck.

I've been hearing this for years now.  Test score will go down and then they'll hire more teachers.  Rinse and repeat for next few years. 

[JahRhythm]

To be honest, the best qualifications to have in Korea are

1)  To be young.
2)  To be female.

Your TEFL doesn't mean much, especially if it's an online TEFL (I would even go on to say it's sort of worthless myself unless it actually included a few hours of observed teaching, meaning the tutor observed YOU teaching).

That may be true for hagwons or even public school jobs, but there are many other teaching jobs here.
This may not be applicable to the OP, but it's just a pet peeve for me. So many people on here act like there are just 2 kinds of teaching jobs.
There are other settings for teaching that would be considered "good jobs" including: private elementary, foreign language middle/high schools, international schools and universities.
You need more qualifications and experience for those and being young and/or female isn't a factor.
A first-timer applying from back home will have more difficulty landing them if they don't have a contact/network.
Also, after-school program positions can be pretty sweet with short hours (but little vacation).
Anyway, my point: Stop saying everyone either works at a hagwon or public school. It's just not true and many of the other positions are WAY better.

[orangeman]

Really, it's fine to be in one of the satellite cities that surround Seoul.  Like others have said transportation links make it easy to get to the centre (subways are a buck and are clean and fast.  Cabs are cheap and there are express buses leading to these places).  I'm in Seoul right now but it takes me about the same time to get to Itaewon and Hongdae as my friends who live south of the city.  Places like Bundang, Anyang, Bucheon, Ilsan, etc, aren't suburbs in a North American sense.  They're self contained cities with millions of people.  Often times you'll get more modern apartments in these locations as well.  If you're dead set on being in Seoul (as I was earlier) then don't take no for an answer from a recruiter.  But don't limit yourself or turn down a good job just because it's outside the city boundries.  What subway stop you're near is more important than what city you're in.  Good luck.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Yeah deffo, be open to places like ilsan or bundang.  Ilsan is a great place for Korea.

[seouldier girl]

I'm in the same situation as the original poster -I'm quite stubborn about wanting to be in Seoul. And I'm also quite particular about wanting to be reasonably close to Mapo/Sinchon/Jung/Yeongdeungpo areas. I'm trying to avoid being further east than Gangnam or as north as Nowon-gu.
One obstacle for me is that I'm Irish, and recruiters are telling me that because of the high number of applicants, a lot of schools in my desired areas can specify that they want North American teachers. Funnily enough, I've spent time living in the US and Canada and don't have a strong accent, so I made a short intro video, and I've had a really good response to that. Recruiters who previously said my Irish-ness was a problem are now making an exception for me.
I've only been reallllly jobhunting (as in having telephone interviews with recruiters and a couple schools) for the past ten days, so I'm going to stick to my guns for another week or so, and if I'm still having a problem I'll broaden my preferred locations.

[jimmyeatworldwar]

very few decent parks (unlike Tokyo), no seaside areas, ...  It's pretty much the same boxy buildings with a little bit of mountain scenery here and there.   Pretty much the only thing Seoul has going for it in my opinion is, whatever you are looking for culturally, if it's not in Seoul it's not in Korea (unless you are talking about old traditional culture).  But as far as a variety of scenery? Seoul doesn't have it.   A place that's quiet where you can relax?  Seoul doesn't have it. 
Seoul also has the added disadvantage that too many people want to go there, meaning that getting a job there will be more difficult for a city that is kind of over-rated.

obviously the poster hasn't been to other big cities in Asia. Seoul has more decent parks than Tokyo, infact almost more than any other megacities out there. "A Place that's quiet where you can relax?" i dunno where the author is living, but Itaewon isn't the only place in Seoul you can go. I live in Ichondong, across the river, it is super quiet here with magnificent view on the han river. Night view is awesome as well. I also lived in Seochogu area. lots and lots of tiny parks here and there. Yes, if you are living in itaewon or yongsan, it would be wrong to expect some quieteness.
I have lived in tokyo, shanghai, hongkong, busan, manila and now seoul, but i can say Seoul is probably top on the list. How can you say Seoul has no variety on scenery when it has Mountains, rivers, lakes and parks? I can't think of many cities (especially asia) that have these all together.

[JahRhythm]

I agree that the job is WAY more important than location. Everyone would like to be downtown, but I have friends who have lived in Ilsan, Nowon and Bundang and they are all nice places to live. In some ways they are superior.
The 'burbs' may lack the cache of some areas, but theyre fine.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Seoul absolutely does NOT have as many or as good parks as Tokyo.  Stop speaking nonsense.  Same for Shanghai.

Utterly incorrect information.

[jimmyeatworldwar]

Seoul absolutely does NOT have as many or as good parks as Tokyo.  Stop speaking nonsense.  Same for Shanghai.

Utterly incorrect information.

Tokyo having more parks is utterly nonsense. Seems that you clearly haven't visited tokyo.
Check out the study made below page 25 where it says Tokyo has 1816ha of parks. By the way, the city municipal gov of Tokyo is like Gyeongido in Korea.(meaning it includes the Tokyo suburbs as well)
http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/Takahashi%20Kosei.pdf?ohiou1211565944

Anyway, if you look at the study on Seoul, you see that Seoul alone has 1922ha.
So who has more parks eh?

http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/PrescoatsJohni%1Seoul.pdf?oh988

I am not even going to mention shanghai.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Seoul absolutely does NOT have as many or as good parks as Tokyo.  Stop speaking nonsense.  Same for Shanghai.

Utterly incorrect information.

Tokyo having more parks is utterly nonsense. Seems that you clearly haven't visited tokyo.
Check out the study made below page 25 where it says Tokyo has 1816ha of parks. By the way, the city municipal gov of Tokyo is like Gyeongido in Korea.(meaning it includes the Tokyo suburbs as well)
http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/Takahashi%20Kosei.pdf?ohiou1211565944

Anyway, if you look at the study on Seoul, you see that Seoul alone has 1922ha.
So who has more parks eh?

http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/PrescoatsJohni%1Seoul.pdf?oh988

I am not even going to mention shanghai.

I've lived in both cities longer than you probably (Seoul 5 yrs, Tokyo 8 yrs) and that study must count Seoul's parks to include mountinous areas.

Secondly, Seoul's parks are cruddy in comprison, even if they were bigger (which they are not.)

[furtakk]

I've spent all of 5 days in Tokyo so I have no idea what the 'park situation' is like there, but I wouldn't say Seoul is lacking in decent parks.

Pretty much every Gu has at least 1 huge decent park, if not more. World Cup Stadium, Yeouido, Namsan, Olympic Park, Seoul Forest, Children's Grand Park, Banpo, Yongsan Family Park, just to name a few... Not to mention all of the Hangang redevelopment. I cycle/run a lot, and there are kilometres and kilometres of really nice cycling/running paths all along the Han.

[tails]

What I like about the parks in Korea is that they all have gyms in them you can use, we certainly don't have that in the UK.

[jimmyeatworldwar]

Seoul absolutely does NOT have as many or as good parks as Tokyo.  Stop speaking nonsense.  Same for Shanghai.

Utterly incorrect information.

Tokyo having more parks is utterly nonsense. Seems that you clearly haven't visited tokyo.
Check out the study made below page 25 where it says Tokyo has 1816ha of parks. By the way, the city municipal gov of Tokyo is like Gyeongido in Korea.(meaning it includes the Tokyo suburbs as well)
http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/Takahashi%20Kosei.pdf?ohiou1211565944

Anyway, if you look at the study on Seoul, you see that Seoul alone has 1922ha.
So who has more parks eh?

http://etd.ohiolink.edu/send-pdf.cgi/PrescoatsJohni%1Seoul.pdf?oh988

I am not even going to mention shanghai.

I've lived in both cities longer than you probably (Seoul 5 yrs, Tokyo 8 yrs) and that study must count Seoul's parks to include mountinous areas.

Secondly, Seoul's parks are cruddy in comprison, even if they were bigger (which they are not.)

Its my second year here in Seoul and I lived in tokyo for 7 years.
But who lived more where is irrelevant..we're not kids and it does not take more than a year to know which place is greener.

You are using your opinion to rule out the facts.. which isn't right, and you probably will know that as well.
AND if you look at the second link I gave you, page 18, it defines the scope of whic parks they used. Mountain areas were not considered. "Public parks in inner city clusters" is what they say as well.