The South Korea Adventure

Introduction

South Korea is a dynamic country where old meets new and a centuries-old heritage coexists with cutting-edge technology.

Although less known than neighbouring China and Japan, South Korea is a culturally diverse and economically advanced country full of dynamism.

Building upon incredible post-war economic growth, South Korea is the 12th largest economy in the world, and is becoming a powerful focal point of the Asian economic block. It is a global leader in information technology and the home of such global enterprises as Samsung, Hyundai, and LG.

With a history tracing back more than 5,000 years, South Korea is also rightly proud of its dazzling culture. It possesses 8 UNESCO cultural heritage sites, which compares favourably with any other nation in the world.

Building upon this diverse array of treasures, South Korea is attracting the world with the sophistication of its culture and entertainment industry, creating the ‘South Korean Wave’ across Asia. South Korean TV and movie stars have become popular throughout Asia, and have been making inroads into Hollywood and Europe in recent years.

Since the election of its Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ban Ki-moon, as the UN secretary general, South Korea has been raising its profile and level of engagement in the international community.

The Ministry of Education of South Korea has plans to hire over 2500 native English-speaking teachers throughout the nation’s public schools starting 2009. English is the international language for commerce & industry and as a native speaker you can become an asset to educational establishments by improving the standard of English in South Korea.

Teaching English in South Korea can be an excellent alternative to the traditional post- graduate employment path. Teaching is an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, while experiencing the rich culture of the Eastern world. Teaching English as a Second Language can be the start of a lucrative, professional career path as well as your chance to gain international experience! Teach Travel Asia will provide you with the proper assistance to make this exciting career jump to a foreign country a smooth transition.

Section 1: Requirments to teach English in South Korea

What you need to Qualify

Teaching English in South Korea can be an excellent alternative to the traditional post-graduate employment path. It is also an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, while experiencing the rich culture of the East. Teaching English in South Korea can be the start of a lucrative, professional career path as well as your chance to gain international experience! TTA will provide you with the proper assistance to make this exciting career jump to a foreign country a smooth transition.

Teachers can expect to get a starting salary of US $20K per year, based on a 30 hrs/wk (6 hours per day). All contracts are for a minimum of 12 months, and are renewable. Teachers also get FREE furnished housing, FREE airfare, paid holidays and health insurance coverage, etc.

Requirements to Teach English in South Korea

• Applicants must have a minimum of a bachelor degree in any field of study or a university diploma in English or Education
• Applicants must be native English speakers
• Applicants must be in good physical and mental health
• Applicants must be between 21 and 45 years old
• Applicants must be willing to commit for at least 12 months

Compensation

• Applicants will earn between 1.8 and 2.5 Million South Korean Won per month
• Some placements offer medical cover
• Applicants will be given free accommodation and airfare (in some cases airfare will need to be paid up front and then reimbursed)
• Full orientation and training will be given to each applicant before they start work

Airfare

Airfare is provided by your employer and travel arrangements will be made by Teach Travel Asia. Most employers will pay for your airfare up front, while some employers (i.e. Ministry of Education) will reimburse your airfare. Upon arrival, they will pay for either half of your round trip ticket and the remaining half at the end of your year contract.

If you pay for only one-way, you will be reimbursed upon arrival and your return ticket will be provided for you at the end of your contract. For short-term employment (summer and winter camps) you will likely be responsible for your airfare. We highly recommend that you do not arrange your travel independently.

It is important that we are fully aware of your travel plans and coordinate it carefully with the airport pick-up service and driver or bus schedule to your city, as well as the individual from your school that will be picking you up. As there is much room for complication, we strongly advise that you allow us to arrange your travel for a smooth transition.

Deductions from Salary

Income Tax

Current rate is 4~7% of your salary depending on how much you make each month.

National Pension Scheme

Current rate is 9% (4.5% will be deducted from teacher’s salary and another 4.5% will be paid by employer.

National Health Insurance

Current rate is 4.48% (2.24% will be deducted from teacher’s salary and another 2.24% will be paid by employer).

Housing Deposit

Generally between 400,000 and 900,000 Won depending on schools policy (usually deducted from first three months salaries but may be negotiable). This deposit is to cover any unpaid monthly service, utility, telephone charges and etc. at the completion of contract and employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of the deposit will be made to employee at the end of contract period after all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid.

Housing

Housing is usually located near the school for the teacher’s convenience. The school shall provide furnished accommodation. Furnishings provided by the Employer include; blanket, pillow, television, toaster, bed, kitchen table, chairs, two-burner gas hot plate, refrigerator, wardrobe, telephone, washing machine etc. Selection of apartments will be made by the Employer. The cost of monthly services, utilities, and telephone charges for the accommodations provided will be paid by the teacher.

Vacation and Holidays: Your employer is obliged to observe all national holidays, 9~13 days per year depending on which day it falls on. In addition, most of the schools, there would be 7~12 days of school vacation time per year as dictated by the schools’ calendar, such as Christmas, New Year’s holiday, summer holiday etc. Regardless of the number of vacation and holidays that fall during any given teaching session, your monthly salary is guaranteed.

Sick Leave

The teacher is permitted up to three to six days of paid sick leave when the teacher is unable to attend class due to illness. He or she is required to notify the employer and submit an accompanying proof of illness from a physician.

Severance Pay

Article 28 of South Korean labor law states,“(Retirement Allowance System) (1) The employer will establish a retirement allowance system so that not less than thirty days average wages for each consecutive year of employment will be paid as a retirement allowance to a worker who has retired. This shall not apply to a worker who was employed less than a period of one year. (Penal Provisions, Chapter XII, Article 110: Violators shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine not exceeding ten million Won.)”

So, if you sign a one year contract your employer is required to give you one month of pay as a at the end of your year of employment. Many schools call this a ‘bonus’, but this is really a misnomer. Schools are required by law to do so. In effect, the school is paying you 13 months salary for 12 months of work, having an extra paycheck in your pocket to put towards your student loans certainly isn’t a bad thing. Periods beyond one year of employment, are pro-rated. Eighteen months employment = a bonus of 1.5 x monthly salary.

No severance payment is required for periods of employment less than one year. Teachers are often worried about not receiving severance pay. In an event that your employer does not, you can contact the local immigration department and they will contact your school directly and will force this payment. If you are fired before completing your 1 year contract and you feel you were unjustly dismissed you can also contact the local immigration department and they will look into matters. No school director in his or her right mind would want to create a situation with immigration. Random checks at schools and delayed visa checks are a nightmare for school directors.

Section 2: Teaching in Various Cities

KwangjuKwangju is the fifth largest city in South Korea, located in the southwest of South Korea. Unlike the other cities of South Korea, there are very few traditional remains in Kwangju. Nevertheless, the city is beautiful, clean and organized with some interesting places to visit. The main attractions of Kwangju are Chomsongdae (Star Tower), royal tombs, P1unhwangsa Pagoda, Sokkuram Shrine and Kwangju National Museum.

PusanLocated in the southeast of South Korea, Pusan is the second largest city in the country. It is also the largest international port, well known for its commercial activity and delectable seafood. Pusan is a safe cosmopolitan city an ideal place for people looking for peace and quite. The city also has an active night life around Pusan National University area.

The main attractions Pusan include Chagalchi Fish Market, Taejongdae Park, Pomo-sa Temple, Pusan Tower, Yongdusan Park, Haeudae Beach Resort, and Tongnae Hot Springs.

SeoulSeoul is the capital as well as the largest city of South Korea located in the north west of the country. The city is the hub of South Korean politics, culture, education, and entertainment. Seoul has gained international reputation since the 1988 Olympics. Having an interesting combination of traditional past and cosmopolitan lifestyle, Seoul is a great city to live in.
The city is also great for shopping specially in Tongdaemun (east gate) and Namdaemun (south gate). Another interesting place is the Insadon-gil, a street in north Seoul, which features folk crafts, antiques, art galleries, and some fine restaurants.
The main attractions in Seoul are Nam San Tower, Kyongbok Palace, National, Chogysea Temple, Folklore Museum, Lotte World and the War Memorial Museum.

TaeguIt is South Korea’s third largest city, located midway between Seoul and Pusan, east of Togyu-san and Kaya-san National Parks. Taegu is situated at the junction of three major South Korean highways- the Kyongbu Expressway, the Kuma Highway, and the 88 Olympic Expressway.

Travelers usually spend only a single night in Taegu on their way to visit one of South Korea’s most famed temples called Haein-sa.
Main attractions in Taegu are Kaya-san National Park, Togyu-san National Park, and P’algongsan Provincial Park.

The other major cities of South Korea are Taejon, Incheon, Ulsan, Pucheon, Suweon, Anyang, Cheonju, Koyang, Ansan, Pohang, Masan, Chinju, Kumi, and Tonghae.

Section 3: What is the cost of living in South Korea?

The cost of living in South Korea is quite low, especially when you take into consideration that most schools and institutes will pay for your apartment each month. This factor means that you may be able to save more money in South Korea than you would in countries such as Japan, Taiwan or Thailand. The cost of living is an important factor when deciding which country to work in. Because of the low cost of living here, there are many Australians, Canadians, Americans and South Africans working here and paying off their student loans. The cost of living in South Korea enables them to live a comfortable life and save money.

Rent in South Korea

Rent in South Korea would be your biggest living expense. However, if you are working in South Korea as a teacher then your school will provide you with an apartment free of charge.

Utilities: Approx. 70,000 Won per month for electricity, water, TV and gas although this can vary depending on your lifestyle. Internet connection is really fast and will set you back about 30,000 Won.

Food

All apartments in South Korea come with a kitchen so cooking your own food is normally the cheapest option. If you eat at home everyday then expect to pay about 250,000 Won per month. Restaurants are fairly cheap in South Korea and the food is fairly good. Expect to pay between 5,000 – 10,000 Won per person.

Alternative Food

If you have a craving for European food there are very few options in the smaller cities though the bigger cities normally have the usual array of fast food restaurants. A Big Mac meal in Mc Donald’s will cost about 4,500 Won and a Twister meal at KFC will also cost about 4500 Won. South Koreans enjoy eating spaghetti and pizza so even the smaller towns will have restaurants the serve these dishes, Most small towns will have a Mr Pizza delivery store. They make good quality food and are also cheaper than Pizza Hut. Expect to pay 5-7,000 Won for a plate of spaghetti and 12,000 Won for a large pizza. In Seoul there are many foreign food restaurants (especially in Itae). These meals are normally over-priced and the quality of the food is not that great. You are better off cooking at home.

Drinks

Soft Drinks – from 400/700 Won for a can in a shop, up to 3,000 Won a glass or more in an expensive bar or restaurant.

Beer – ranges from 1,500 to 1,800 Won for a large bottle of South Korean beer in supermarkets (depending on brand). In a restaurant or bar expect to pay from 2,000 to 3,000 Won for a large bottle and in more up-market places anything from 5,000 Won for a small bottle of beer upwards. Imported beers can be really expensive. In Itae a bottle of imported beer will cost you about 5,000 Won. Some beers will cost as much as 12,000 Won.

Spirits – A bottle of Chivas Regal will cost you 42,000 Won for a big bottle (750ml) from a supermarket. In a bar it will cost between 70,000 and 260,000 Won. A bottle of Soju from a supermarket will cost you 800-1000 Won for a small bottle. In a bar, it will cast you about 3,000 Won.

Wine – A bottle of wine in a supermarket will cost 5,000

Won upwards depending on whether it is South Korean or imported. South Koreans don’t often drink western wines so they are really expensive.

Transport

Buses – The bus system in the cities is pretty good. Expect to pay about 700-900 Won for a 20 minute journey. In Seoul there are two types of buses. Local buses and long distance buses. Local buses cost about 450 Won for a journey and long distance buses within the city will cost you about 700-900 Won. When you pay for either type of bus, the cost is the same no matter what distance you go. For example, if you go one stop away or 20 stops away you will pay the same price.

Taxis – flag fall is between 1,300-1,600 Won and then about 500 for every km after that. If you have any problems with a taxi driver then ask them for a receipt, this contains all of their details, ask South Korean friends to complain and they will be able to do so with all of the information needed.

Subway – There are subway systems in Seoul, Pusan and Daegu. The one in Seoul is very good and effective. The price is 800 Won for most distances but if you travel to one of Seoul’s outer cities it could cost you as much as 1400 Won. When planning your trip on the subway it is useful to know that it takes about 2 minutes to travel between each stop.

Clothing

Again, a wide range of makes, both local and imported are available with prices often relative to quality and/or brand name. As in Europe prices vary widely depending on where you buy!

Local goods:

• Work shirt – 10,000 – 50,000 Won
• Work trousers – 15,000 – 60,000 Won
• Skirts – 10,000 – 70,000 Won
• T-shirts – range from 8,000 Won upwards

There are many outlet stores in Seoul and these can be found in a number of places. Dongdaemun is a very good place to find cheap clothing and if you go to Dongdaemun at night, you will find the night market which is where store owners buy the clothes to re-sell.

Toiletries & Pharmaceutical Products

A wide range of local and imported brands available. (all prices approx.)

• Soap – 1,000 Won
• Shampoo – 6,000 Won for a pack of two
• Toothpaste – 2,000 Won
• Toothbrushes – 1,800 Won
• Toilet paper – 2,500 Won for ten
• Deodorant – 11,000 Won (South Koreans do not use deodorant and so it is very hard to buy and very expensive.)
• Electrical Goods
• TV (12 or 14 inch) – 200,000 Won
• Video players – 100,000 Won
• CD players – 100,000 Won
• Videotape rentals are very cheap (1,000 – 2,000 Won)
• CD’s are around – 15,000 Won
• Cable TV is around 30,000 Won a month for the full package, but as cheap as 5,000 Won for a simple one

Miscellaneous

• Cigarettes – local brands around 2,000 Won and imported (e.g. Dunhill) around 2,500 Won.
• Haircut – 7,000 for a man and about 60,000 for a woman.
• Books – relatively expensive, 10,000 to 20,000 Won

In general, South Korea is not an expensive place to live. It is easy to save money there and you can have a good lifestyle. If you are an ESL/EFL teacher and you find yourself joining young adult students for dinner at a restaurant or drinking with them at a bar they will not let you pay for anything as you are the teacher. This is always nice, but it is also normal in South Korea to try and pay the bill. There will often be a good natured bustle over who is going to pay for the drinks but normally the most senior person will pay.

Section 4: Banking and Money Matters

Opening an Account

Opening a bank account in South Korea is no problem as long as you have a working visa, passport, and alien registration card. Most banks will require photocopies of all three of these documents. We suggest dealing with a major South Korean bank, such as, Foreign Exchange Bank, Citibank, Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, etc. Most of the well known banks have service representatives that speak some English. Once you open an account you will be given a bank card but keep in mind that this card is not a debit card, you cannot purchase anything with it. Your bank card is strictly for withdrawing money from bank machines.

Bank Machines

Bank machines are plentiful and easily found in South Korea, but many of them close around 11pm, so try to remember you cannot take money out late at night. Bank cards from your home country will work, but only at global ATMs, which are not readily available.

Sending Money Home

Sending money home is quite easy when you have a South Korean bank account. You can either transfer the money from your South Korean account to your over-seas account, or you can opt for getting the bank to issue a check made out to your bank at home and send it through the mail. If you go with the first option, you will incur the cost of both banks fees, and the second will set you back the cost of a minimal service charge (approx. 15,000 Won) plus the mailing charge. Some banks limit the percentage of your wage that you can send home.

Section 6: South Korean Culture

The traditional culture of South Korea is historically shared by North South Korea and South Korea. Nevertheless, the current political separation of the north and the south of the peninsula results in some regional variance in the South Korean culture.

Traditional South Korean arts

Traditional music

The traditional music in South Korea is based on the voice, a distinct type reflecting the temperament and history of the South Korean people. There are two kinds of traditional music: Jeongak and Minsogak.

Traditional dance

Traditional dances have been part of South Korea’s culture ever since it can be remembered. The cross cultural exchanges with China and between the three Kingdoms produced a large variety of distinctive dances. There is a distinction made between native dances (hyangak jeongjae) and imported dances (dangak jeongjae) which refers to dances imported from China.

As with music, there is a distinction between court dances and folk dances. Common court dances are jeongjaemu performed at banquets, and ilmu. Ilmu are line dances performed at Confucian rituals. Jeongjaemu is divided into native dances (hyangak jeongjae) and imported forms (dangak jeongjae). Ilmu are divided into civil dance (munmu) and military dance (mumu).

Folk dances are commonly divided into religious dances which are led by monks and secular dances which are performed by the ordinary people. Religious dances include all the performances at shamanistic rites (gut). Secular dances include both group dances and individual performances.

Traditional choreography of court dances is reflected in many contemporary productions.

South Korean paintings

The earliest paintings found on the South Korean peninsula are petroglyphs of prehistoric times. With the arrival of Buddhism from China, different techniques were introduced. These quickly established themselves the mainstream techniques, but indigenous techniques still survived.

There is a tendency towards naturalism with subjects such as realistic landscapes, flowers and birds being particularly popular. Ink is the most common material used, and it is painted on mulberry paper or silk.

In the 18th century indigenous techniques were advanced, particularly in calligraphy and seal engraving.

Arts are both influenced by tradition and realism in North South Korea. For example, Han’s near-photographic “Break Time at the Ironworks” shows muscular men dripping with sweat and drinking water from tin cups at a sweltering foundry. Son’s “Peak Chonnyo of Mount Kumgang” is a classical South Korean landscape of towering cliffs shrouded by mists.

Traditional South Korean lifestyle

Traditional houses

Sites of residence are traditionally selected using geo- mancy. It is believed that any topographical configuration generates invisible forces of good or ill (gi). The negative and positive energies (yin and yang) must be brought into balance.

A house should be built against a hill and face south to receive as much sunlight as possible. This orientation is still preferred in modern South Korea. Geomancy also influences the shape of the building, the direction they face and the material they are built of.

Traditional South Korean houses can be structured into an inner wing (anchae) and an outer wing (sarangchae). The individual layout largely depends on the region and the wealth of the family. Whereas aristocrats used the outer wing for receptions, poorer people kept cattle in the sarangchae. The wealthier a family, the larger the house. However, it was forbidden for any family except for the king to have a residence of more than 99 kan. A kan is the distance between two pillars used in traditional houses.

The inner wing normally consisted of a living room, a kitchen and a wooden-floored central hall. More rooms may be attached to this. Poorer farmers would not have any outer wing. Floor heating (ondol) has been used in South Korea for centuries. The main building materials are wood, clay, tile, stone and thatch. Because wood and clay were the most common materials used in the past not many old buildings have survived into present times.

Section 7: Medical Facilities in South Korea

Medical Insurance

All English schools in South Korea are required to provide their teachers with medical coverage for the duration of their contract. Normally the school will pay for half of your coverage and half the cost of your coverage will be deducted from your salary on a monthly basis. The cost for teachers for their medical coverage is typically 1.7% of your monthly salary.

When you first get to South Korea with your E-2 visa, your school director or owner will bring you to the regional immigration office in order to register for your Foreign Registration Certificate. This is your legal identification within the country of South Korea. In order to register for your Foreign Registration Certificate, you must apply in person at the regional immigration office. You will be fingerprinted and the cost to register is 10,000 South Korean Won (USD 8.50) Your medical coverage won’t start until you receive your Foreign Registration Certificate, which usually takes a couple of weeks to process. You may want to purchase a temporary travel insurance policy to cover your initial period of sojourn in South Korea, until your government provided insurance takes effect. The insurance provided by the school will cover basic medical and dental necessities, but will not cover cosmetic surgery or dental work, or optical care. Pre- existing conditions (for example depression or MS) are also not covered under this plan. If you feel more comfortable going to a doctor that speaks English there are several foreign clinics and hospitals with English speaking staff in Seoul that accept the national insurance plan (the plan in which you will be enrolled), however you may want to call first to make sure.

There are opportunities for the schools to get private medical insurance but this can be quite expensive.

Neither kind of insurance is effective until after your residency in South Korea has been processed, usually 2-4 weeks after arrival. We advise that all teachers buy travel insurance with medical coverage for 30-45 days following arrival in South Korea. Common travel insurance that includes medical coverage will probably be fine.

Section 9: Food in South Korea

Food in South Korea

Table manners and table settings

From ancient times, South Koreans have used a spoon and chopsticks are their eating utensils. The spoon was for scooping steamed rice, soup and stew, while chopsticks were used to eat a variety of prepared side dishes. South Koreans are trained to use the spoon and the chopsticks correctly from childhood. Using both of these utensils at the same time is considered bad manners.

Meals were served on either high or low tables until the Koryo Dynasty. However, during the Choson Dynasty, the low table came to be predominantly used due to a type of under the floor heating system (ondol) that came into vogue at that time. The tables were often beautifully shaped and decorated. During the rituals and palace ceremonies, however, the high tables continued to be used, preserving the ancient tradition. Nowadays, the seated dining table with chairs is becoming popular while many families still use low tables.

A Traditional South Korean Meal

Pansang is the usual meal of steamed rice, soup and side dishes.

Changkuksang is the main dish, and it is arranged with kimchi, cold greens, mixed vegetables, pan-fried dishes, confectionary, fruit and fruit punch. This simple meal can be served as lunch as well. Chuansang – Alcoholic drinks (chu) and accompanying side dishes (an) are set on the table. The dishes vary depending on the kinds of liquor or wine.

Kyojasang is a large table prepared for banquets. Alcoholic beverages and a large variety of side dishes, rice cakes, confectionaries and fruit punch are all placed on the table. After the liquor is finished, noodle soup is served.

Section 10: Housing & Internet

Housing

You will be provided with a free fully furnished housing by your employer. Single Applicants will be provided with a single housing apartment. Couples will be provided with a 2 bedroom apartment. Please take a look at some samples at the end of this section.

You can expect to live in a modest but comfortable apartment with basic necessities provided. Since South Korea is one of the most densely populated countries on earth only the extremely wealthy or those in rural areas can afford to live in houses.

Your apartment will be furnished with basic necessities.

• a western style bed
• a table and chairs
• a bureau/wardrobe
• a TV and likely a VCR or DVD
• a fridge
• a washing machine
• a western style toilet
• a stove

You will also have plates and cutlery and basic cooking utensils. You will likely need to pick up the odd thing to get comfortable but all the basic necessities will be provided.

Note: The only places where you will experience traditional ‘squat’ style toilets – basically a porcelain covered hole in the floor, is in the countryside and public restrooms. You will not have a squat toilet in your apartment, you will have a normal, western style flush toilet. If faced with using a squat toilet, there are a few tricks to remember. Squat facing the rounded porcelain hood of the toilet as if you were going to play leap-frog, you wouldn’t want to suffer the embarrassment of someone discovering you using the toilet backwards! Make sure your pants and undergarments are out of the way, or you may have a distinctly uncomfortable rest of the day, and try not to splash.

Many South Korean apartment buildings also have security guards whose main functions are to sleep, watch television and to tell your boss what time you came home, and with who. Once you find out where your apartment is, you should have a South Korean write down your address, apartments are usually numbered by the order in which they were built, not in the order in which they are on a street, thus building 817 may be next to building 825, which is next to 812, and so on. To further confuse things cities are divided into large administrative districts called ku and smaller districts called dong. Buildings within a dong are numbered but can be anywhere within the area – identify landmarks around your building and if you get hopelessly lost ask a South Korean, or show him or her the piece of paper with your address on it.

All apartments will also come with a laundry room/ balcony. There is a sliding glass door that opens to what almost looks like a closed in balcony. The floors are tile; there is a small closet and a large window. There is a laundry machine and a drying rack. The laundry machine is in South Korean so ask for help the first time you use it. Some machines will sing a song when it is finished its cycle! There isn’t a dryer but the clothes dry fairly quickly. Do laundry before school and its dry when I get home, or at night and it’s dry by morning.

Internet in South Korea

South Korea leads internationally in the global high-speed Internet penetration comparison. A quarter of the population of South Korea is connected to and always online. Internet use is very common and accessible anywhere in the nation.

Internet Cafes

You can find internet cafes all throughout the nation, called PC Bangs (Bang meaning “room”). There are about 20,000 PC bangs throughout the country. PC Bangs are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. You can expect to be charged about 1,000 Won per hour (about USD$1).

Getting Internet Connection at Home

You will be able to request to have internet set up at your apartment. It is a rather quick and easy procedure. Please ask your employer or manager to assist you in getting internet connection if it is not already set up for you.

Internet Access at School

It is highly likely that you will have high-speed internet access at your school of employment.

Section 11: South Korea – The Language & Arts and Crafts

The South Korean language, called Hanguk-Uh, is the official language of South Korea. The majority of teachers coming to South Korea have no former knowledge of South Korean. Some people prefer to immerse themselves completely into the culture and learn the language, but those who do not find interest in learning the language usually do not find it difficult to work and live in the country.

In your classroom you will be advised not to use any South Korean so students are forced to communicate with you exclusively in English. So if you decide to learn the language, it is not recommended to practice your South Korean with your students. You will find that you are able to communicate quite effectively without any skills in South Korean.

All South Koreans speak and write the same language, which has been a decisive factor in forging their strong national identity.

Linguistic and ethnological studies have classified the South Korean language in the Altaic language family, which includes the Turkic, Mongolic and Tungus-Manchu languages.

The South Korean Alphabet, Hangeul, was created by King Sejong the Great during the 15th century. Before its creation, only a relatively small percentage of the population was literate; few could master the difficult Chinese characters used by the upper class.

In attempting to invent a South Korean writing system, King Sejong looked to several writing systems known at the time, such as old Chinese seal characters and Uighur and Mongolian scripts.

The system that Joseon scholars came up with, however, is predominantly based upon phonological studies. Above all, they developed and followed a theory of tripartite division of the syllable into initial, medial and final phonemes, as opposed to the bipartite division of traditional Chinese phonology.

Hangeul, which consists of 10 vowels and 14 consonants, can be combined to form numerous syllabic groupings. It is simple, yet systematic and comprehensive, and is considered one of the most scientific writing systems in the world. Hangeul is easy to learn and write, which has greatly contributed to South Korea’s high literacy rate and advanced publication industry.

South Korean language is spoken by about 70 million people. Although most speakers of South Korean live on the South Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands, more than 5 million are scattered throughout the world.

The origin of the South Korean language is as obscure as the origins of the South Korean people. In the 19th century when Western scholars “discovered” the South Korean language, from what family of languages the South Korean language derived was one of the first question. These scholars proposed various theories linking the South Korean language with Ural-Altaic, Japanese, Chinese, Tibetan, Dravidian, Ainu, Indo-European and other languages. Among these theories, only the relationship between South Korean and Altaic (which groups the Turkic, Mongolian and Manchu-Tungus languages) and the relationship between South Korean and Japanese have continuously attracted the attention of comparative linguists in the 20th century.

Altaic, South Korean and Japanese not only exhibit similarities in their general structure, but also share common features such as vowel harmony and lack of conjunctions, although the vowel harmony in old Japanese has been the object of dispute among specialists in the field. These languages also have various common elements in their grammar and vocabulary.

Noraebangs or singing rooms are a popular form of entertainment in South Korea and can be found almost anywhere. Many people enjoy renting a small room and singing their hearts out for about an hour or two.

Bars / Clubs

Bars and Soju tents are scattered all over the peninsula. Clubbing is also a popular thing to do in South Korea. You can find clubs that play hip-hop, rock and roll, house, jazz, and just about any other kind of music you are looking for. Club entrance fees usually cost you about 10 000 Won, but can be as high as 20 000 or 30 000 Won for special events. Drinks vary in price depending on where you go. At an upscale bar in Apgujeong you could pay as much as 13 000 Won for a cocktail, whereas in Shinchon you might pay 4 000 to 5 000 Won for the same drink. Recommended areas to explore are Hongdae, Shinchon, Apgujeong, Gangnam, ItaeWon.

DVD-Bang

The DVD room is a great alternative to the movie theater used primarily by couples who want some privacy. You can rent your own private room to watch a movie that you have selected to rent for the duration of the film. Most rooms come equipped with a bed and big screen TV or projector so you can enjoy your movie in a comfortable and intimate atmosphere.

Shopping

The country has a reputation as a shoppers’ paradise, with many shops providing special duty free prices for foreigners. Fashion, antiques, medicine, herbs and spices, electronics and wedding clothes feature highly on South Korea’s shopping itinerary. The best shopping districts and markets are in the capital, Seoul, and include: Namdaemun (South Korea’s largest general wholesale market); Tongdaemun (one of Seoul’s oldest markets, good for bargains); Myong- dong (South Korea’s fashion district); Insa-dong (antiques and art); Changanp’yong (one of the largest antique markets in the Far East); ItaeWon (modern shopping district particularly popular with foreign tourists); Noryargjin (fish market); Yongsan Electronics Market (largest electronics and computer market in South Korea); Koyndang (Oriental medicine, spices and herbs market); Hwangkhak-dong (flea market, good for second-hand shopping); Ahyon- dong (the ‘wedding street’, featuring over 120 wedding boutiques); and Shinch’on (a shopping street popular with young people, good for accessories and fashion). Favorite buys to look for are hand-tailored clothes, sweaters (plain, embroidered or beaded), silks, brocades, handbags, leatherwork, gold jewelry, topaz, amethyst, amber, jade and silver, ginseng, paintings, costume dolls, musical instruments, brassware, lacquer ware, woodcarvings, baskets, scrolls and screens. Prices are fixed in department stores, but may be negotiated in arcades and markets. Major cities have foreigners’ duty free shops where people can use foreign currency with a valid passport. Shopping hours: Mon-Sun 10h30-20h00.

Cinema

South Korean cinema in the last two decades has become world renowned. Movie theatres often have showings for English and South Korean films, so check the postings near you. South Korea has also become very proud of hosting the annual Busan international film festival.

Museums/Art Galleries

South Korean art ranges from the traditional to the modern. Depending on what you are interested in, you can view thousand year old pottery and Buddhist wood burnings, or contemporary multi-media pieces. Exhibitions will often display art from other countries around the world. So for example you can see Picasso in Seoul. Here is a list of some major art galleries and Museums in Seoul.

Artsonje Center

Multidisciplinary center for contemporary visual arts and

film. Address: 144-2 Sokeukdong, Jongrogu, Seoul 110-200.

National Museum of Contemporary Art

Collections and temporary exhibitions of national and international art from the beginning of the 20th century. Opened in 1969, since 1986 located in a new complex with a scultpure garden in Gwacheon, 5 km south of Seoul. Address: 427-701, Gwangmyeong-gil (209), san 58-1, Makgye-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi Province.

National Museum of South Korea

South Korean cultural heritage, ancient art from Asia. In 1908, the art collection of the royal court of the Choson Dynasty (1392 – 1910) was turned into the seed collection of the present National Museum of South Korea.

Seoul Arts Center

Complex art and cultural center: Opera house, music hall, exhibition hall (Hangaram Art Museum), calligraphy hall (Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum), culture and art information center (Hangaram Design Art Museum). Address: 700 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Seoul Museum of Art

The former Seoul Metropolitan Museum ofArt was reopened under its new name in May 2002, in the remodeled buildings of the old Supreme Court. The address is 37 Seodaemun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-062

Sung-Kok Art Museum

Opened in 1995 by the Sung-Kok Art and Culture Foundation. Has art from South Korea as well as experimental and international exhibitions, designed to keep local artists involved with new directions in art across the globe. The address: 1-101 Shinmoomro 2 Ga, Chongro- Gu, Seoul.

Section 12: Transportation

Public transporation in South Korea is cheap, comprehensive, convenient and efficient.

Bus

There are two types of bus, express and intercity – the former go direct and the latter stop. Seats are reserved on the express buses (if you miss your bus, you must buy a new ticket), and unreserved on the intercity services.

The cost of an intercity bus ride is about 1000 Won ($1). Buses can be a more direct way of travel and with the exception of rush hour periods more efficient as well.

For a high-tech cyber bus route English navigator go to: http://bus.congnamul.com/SeoulRouteWebApp/view_ english/map.jsp

Subway

South Korea has one of the most efficient and easy to use subway systems in the world. All signs are in English as well as in South Korean and subway maps are posted in the stations. Standard subway fare is 800-1000 Won (roughly $1) to go anywhere in the city or suburbs.

For a high-tech cyber subway map go to: www.smrt. co.kr

For a simple subway map go to: http://www.parkenglish. com/bbs/bbs_view.php?num=4&bbsID=Download_t&sear ch=&schKey=&schVal=&start=

Train

Trains are clean, safe, punctual and inexpensive, and just about every station has signage in South Korean and English. There are two different types of trains in South Korea that will take you virtually anywhere in the country. The new world class KTX / Express Train travels at a speed of 300km/hr and will take you anywhere in the country within three hours. The average price of a regular train ticket to travel 2hrs is roughly 6 000 Won ($6).

For detailed information on South Korean Railway lines and schedules go to: http://www.korail.go.kr/ROOT/main- top.top?lang=eng

Car

Driving in South Korea can be difficult, it’s expensive and traffic jams are a common problem. If that doesn’t put you off, make sure you take an International Driving Permit.

Section 13: Packing List & Public Holidays

Clothing

Bring clothing for 4 seasons, including:

• business casual clothes for work
• (2-3 pairs of khaki pants, button down shirts, and ties for men/slacks or skirts for women)
• a winter jacket
• 2 sweaters
• a raincoat
• shorts
• underwear
• socks
• sweat pants
• sweat shirt
• t-shirts
• shoes for work
• athletic shoes
• hiking boots (can be used for winter boots, as well)
• a towel
• a swim suit

Documents:

• your passport
• copy of your teaching contract
• international driver’s license (very easy to get)

Hygienic Products :

• deodorant (South Korean’s generally do not use western deodorant)
• women may be unable to get some of the same brands of feminine products, so you may want to bring a supply of these or any medication you are taking.

South Korea Public Holidays

Earlier, like many agrarian societies, South Korea too used a lunar calendar. However, with the rest of the world encroaching on South Korea, it eventually took to the solar calendar. Still in many pockets of the country, many people in South Korea still go by the lunar calendar to keep track of births and deaths and some traditional holidays. Due to the two calendars being followed, many people in South Korea celebrate their birthdays according to both Lunar and Solar calendars, and the first days of each calendar are national holidays. Also the South Korea Public Holidays are announced following both solar and lunar calendar.

South Korea Public Holidays according to the Solar Calendar

• New Year’s-January 1st and 2nd
• Independence Movement Day- March 1
• Arbor Day- April 5
• Children’s Day- May 5
• Memorial Day- June 6
• Constitution Day- July 17
• Liberation Day- August 15
• National Foundation Day- October 3
• Christmas Day-December 25

South Korea Public Holidays according to the Lunar Calendar

• New Year’s (Seol-nal)- 1st day of 1st month, plus the day before and after
• Buddha’s Birthday (Seokka Tanshin-il)- 8th day of 4th month
• Harvest Moon Festival (Chuesok)- 14-16th days of 8th month
• Thanks Giving Day – 8th month, 15th day of the lunar calendar

Other Holidays observed in South Korea:

• Labour Day on May 1 (not a public holiday, but many companies and the financial markets are closed)
• Parents’ Day on May 8 (not a public holiday)
• Teachers’ Day on May 15 (not a public holiday)
• Hangul Day on October 9 (not a legal holiday since 1991, but still a national commemoration day)

Traditional Holidays of South Korea:

• Daeboreum – First full moon, Day 15 of Month 1
• Dano – Spring festival, Day 5 of Month 5
• Dongji – Winter Solstice, Around December 22 in the solar calendar