This school is Located in Suncheon City [Kumdong Section]Korea. Also avoid their recruiting agency (World Pacific Vancouver British Columbia, Canada). Both the Hagwon and the recruiter conspired to provide false information on to where this school was located. I was looking for a position in Seoul, and was told this school was forty-five minutes from Seoul. However, they intentionally ommited that it was five hours by bus (forty-five minutes by plane). Upon arrival, I realized what had happened and tried to get out of contract, but both the Hagwon director and World Pacific dismissed any and all such requests. World Pacific did not even reply to my e-mails. Apparently, they needed to fill this position even at the cost of providing false info as to where it was located (in that sense, the recruiter received his $1000 recruitment bonus and basically washed his hands with any further issues). This school is in a bad location because it is five hours from Seoul and at least two hours away from Busan.

The Korean Teachers at this school are very racist,dislike foreigners, very cold in personality and out right disrespectful. Was not paid departure flight upon completion of one year contract. Students in this school are very disrespectful, disobedient and basically in-subordinate towards foreign teacher. Director of school informed throughout the year on this issue but failed to take any meaningful action or discipline students (out of fear he would loose business). Foreign teacher not allowed to lesson plan, administer exams, evaluate student learning progress or even write on the board during class time. However, Korean teaching style consists of having students memorize and recite the same text for one year, and not actually encouraging students to learn the concepts and text materials. Scheduling for foreign teacher consistently changing with little or no notice. Forced to teach at two different schools for the same basic salary. They pay transportation costs between schools for the first few months and then, back out it; hoping foreigner will forget.

School director and Korean teachers take it very personal (up to the point of holding grudges)if foreign teacher misses any class or is late for any reason (even if it is due to an illness). I was only sick two days of the year and had to beg to get four days vacation at the end of contract. Director of school will trick foreigner to provide good school reference and help him write recruitment e-mails with the promise he will reciprocate, but he will not. Once you arrive in country, you really have to continue reminding director for flight reimbursement and even then he will only pay your arrival flight only, and promise to pay your departure flight once you complete contract. However, when your contract finishes, he will tell you that "I paid roundtrip ticket when you first arrived". Also avoid working for his associated School G& B in Hoban Ill-Cha Section of Suncheon. Expect no sick days and no vacation. If you request vacation, director's response is that you will be allowed to leave early at end of contract. No medical, no pension program, and various times presented with unfounded high utilitiy bills without no explanation or evidence to back up substantial charges. Apt is ok, although very small flat and also subjected to continued disturbance by neighbor continually physically abusing partner, with doors slamming, screaming people and overall sounds of entire apt complex being uprooted by some mad man.

Not at all telling anyone not to teach here, however, if you decide to teach there, just be aware of those issues.

VERY INTERESTING! Unfortunately, there are many similar stories in Korea. I'm sure it is difficult to get proper information when first applying from outside the country. The Korean government is now taking notice of such schools, and has an investigative arm for looking into such matters. You may also warn teachers on their blogs, if you have not already. Dave's ESL is a good one.
Sorry to hear about your experience. You did well to hold to your contract, and you deserve to be commended. I hope you will be able to recover the monies not paid.
If you want to inquire about a great school, on the edge of Seoul, please see
http://www.xanga.com/alpope23 My friend is teaching there at the English Village, in Paju and they are government sponsored.
If you would like to contact that Korean government investigative agency, please let me know by email, and I will assist you.
email: k1006219@kornet.net.

How can an English teacher write so poorly? I am sorry that you found difficulties with your job, but I find it hugely amusing that your grammar is so terrible.

SSnapier: Yes, it is true all teachers are not great writers, or spellers, for that matter.
Yet I try to look at the purpose of the communication first- and overlook any small discrepancies in the message, focusing on the fact that the writer is sincerely performing a service - which is warning future job seekers that the conditions in some Korean hagwons are less than satisfactory, and that caution is needed to avoid the pitfalls which this gentleman has experienced. I think we should be grateful that he elected to share this information with other English speaking foreigners, and I applaud his honesty. We are honored that he chose our forum as a platform to air his story to the world.

I might explain here that SSnapier and I are close personal friends, having worked together on many occasions. We have both been lucky enough to have had the benefit of excellent U. S. education systems. I, too, have been shocked by the quality of some of the young English speaking foreigners who come to Korea to teach. Reading their Blogs, it is difficult to understand how they can call themselves teachers with a straight face. It is obvious that some, with or without proper degrees, came here for the money, and do not have the best interest of the students in mind. It is easy to see why the Korean Government has found it necessary to send a great number of them home, after finding their degrees were forged.
This is not an excuse for the Korean Education system to allow Schools to mistreat legitimate, degreed teachers. There needs to be consistent government monitoring of schools and teachers for Koreans to get the quality of English education they deserve and desire.

Well most of the Hagwons do not have the best interests of the students in mind either. I was completely disgusted when I saw how things "really" worked at most schools. Don't forget that my father and several of my friends have been over there to teach... some still are. I would say that a HUGE majority of the the schools are there to make money, and that is the bottom line. Grades are manipulated, actual comprehension is of no matter, and as long as the parents are happy, the kids are just pushed along regardless of what they actually learned in the previous level.

As for the original posters complaint, I hope he posted it on some of the forums that teachers actually read, because let's face facts here.... this place is not the best option.

Dave'e ESL Cafe is probably and good start and there are many, many, many other forums that are JUST for teachers. This one is pretty military specific. Yes the info is good, but the target audience is just not here.