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The Stupa of Master Jeokin at Taeansa Temple.

The Dongnisan sect was founded at Taeansa Temple in Gokseong in present-day Jeollanam-do. The temple was first founded by Master Hyecheol (785-861 A.D.). Hyecheol’s family name was Bak, and he was from Gyeongju. He was born in 785 A.D., and he became a monk at Buseoksa Temple. In 814 A.D., he traveled to Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.) to help further his Buddhist studies. There, he received the dharma from Zhizang (735-814 A.D.). Master Hyecheol returned to Silla in 839 A.D., where he started to lecture at Mt. Dongnisan. In 861 A.D., Master Hyecheol died. His posthumous name is Jeokin, and his stupa’s name, which can be found at Taeansa Temple to this day, is Joryun Cheongjeong. Among his many disciples was the famed Doseon-guksa (827-898 A.D.). In fact, Hyecheol had hundreds of disciples. Taeansa Temple was heavily damaged during the Korean War (1950-53), but it was later repaired in the 1970’s. Taeansa Temple is only one of four Gusan temples that still remain to the present day alongside Silsangsa Temple, Borimsa Temple, and Bongamsa Temple.

The Picturesque Yeon-ji Pond at Taeansa Temple. A closer look at the Stupa of Master Jeokin at Taeansa Temple, which is Korean Treasure #273.

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With history as long as the Korean peninsula, Korean myths and legends also grew into existence throughout time. If you are a fan of Korean dramas, you’ve likely already been introduced to some Korean legends with supernatural stories. However, the real legend behind the inspiration can oftentimes be quite different from what you saw in the drama – and a lot grimmer.

If you are interested in learning more extensively about Korean myths, keep reading to find out some of the most famous ones!

What are Korean myths?

Korean mythology or myths are folk tales or legends from different areas of North Korea and South Korea that have become part of the Korean culture. The earliest written records of these Korean myths were formed in the 12th century. But of course, these folktales have existed in an oral form much longer than that.

Some of the mythological stories seem to be well-grounded and quite factual, while others have supernatural flares in them. And just like in other Asian countries, the elements of Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism have strongly influenced these myths as well. Each story still remained even when Confucianism became the main religion in Korea.

Interesting Korean Myths

There are numerous mythological stories like creation myths and legendary creatures out there that are absolutely fantastic! But there are a few especially special ones that you’ll probably find interesting. Here are some of them.

1. Founding Myth of Gojoseon

This is one of the popular founding myths in Korea. It’s about a god called Hwanung, the Heavenly Emperor Hwanin’s third son. He told his father that he would like to rule the humans on earth, as he is worried for their sake. The Heavenly Emperor agrees to the plan, and so the god descends from heaven onto the mortal realm and begins his reign.

He was equipped with Three Heavenly Seals (천부사민, cheonbusamin), three thousand servants, and also the Three Lords: cloud, rain, and wind when he arrived on earth, at the top of Mount Taebaek. Here, he establishes the City of the Gods, Shinshi. He took care of 360 different human affairs, in a variety of different life aspects, from agriculture to justice.

웅녀 (Ungnyeo)

The god was approached by a tiger and a bear who were wishing to become humans. Hwanung ordered them both to stay inside a dark cave for 100 days. He handed them twenty cloves of garlic and some mugwort for food while in the cave. The tiger could not persist through and eventually ran away. The bear, on the other hand, remained patient and turned into a beautiful woman on the twenty-first day. She was given the name Ungnyeo (웅녀), which stands for Bear woman.

After a little while, Ungnyeo began to express wanting to have a child. To complete her wish, Hwanung took on a human form for long enough for Ungnyeo to conceive and give birth to a baby boy. Their son, Dangun, was the forefather of the Korean people. This led to the creation of the kingdom of Asadal, which stands for “place where the morning sun shines.”

Eventually, this kingdom’s name was changed to Joseon – and, then, of course, it became Gojoseon. The Korean legend goes on to tell that Dangun remained in human form for 1908 years. Then he finally left the human world and ascended to his position as Mountain God, Sanshinryeong (산신령).

2. 도깨비 Dokkaebi (Goblin)

Thanks to a fairly recent Korean drama starring actor Gong Yoo, the goblin has probably become the most famous mythological creature in Korea. However, the real legend of goblin is actually quite different from the drama’s story!

The real legend goes as follows. Goblins are formed from objects which have been discarded when they are stained with humans’ blood. They bear no similarity to human appearance. In fact, each goblin may look different from another, but each of them is supposed to look fearsome, as well as to simultaneously strike awe in those who’d look at them. Supposedly they only have one leg on the right side.

Goblins are quite mischievous and will play jokes and riddles on travelers passing by and might even challenge them to wrestling matches. They could also carry magical objects.

3. 귀신 Gwisin (Ghosts)

Korean ghosts are fairly similar to ghosts in other countries. They are also see-through and float in the air, without legs to be seen. However, they are almost always females, with long black hair, white funeral clothes donned on, and a creepy stare stuck on their faces. There are other kinds of ghosts as well, but this is the most common one.

One type of this kind of a ghost often gets referred to as the virgin ghost (처녀귀신, cheonyeo gwisin). This legend may have been created to strongly encourage young women to get married. Another type of ghost that often appears in a similar appearance is the water ghost (물귀신, mulgwisin). These ghosts were people who died a lonely death by drowning in large bodies of water, such as Han River. Now they haunt living beings, trying to get them to join them underwater.

Just like in other cultures, ghosts in Korea are typically present because of some unfinished business, such as to get revenge. They hang out in abandoned places and graveyards and may make the air go chilly or fling objects around when they want to get someone’s attention.

4. 구미호 Gumiho (Nine-tailed fox)

Also featured in several Korean dramas, the Nine-tailed fox is a popular creature in Korean myth even in the present day. Its portrayal in Korean dramas is usually of a beautiful girl cursed to become this creature, one that is unable to find love without entrapment.

The K-dramas starred by actress Shin Min Ah and actor Lee Dong Wook respectively, are some of the most popular Korean dramas featuring a gumiho.

The real legend is even sadder and more horrifying. In its, the creature is more fox-like but retains the ability to transform into a beautiful woman so that it could lure men close enough to eat their livers. However, if the creature is able to stay off from eating human flesh for a thousand days, they can stay human.

5. 용/룡 (미르) Yong/Ryong/Mireu (Dragons)

These creatures were largely influenced by Chinese dragons, hence why their appearance is also similar. Unlike the Chinese dragons, Korean dragons sport a long beard and carry an orb, which in Korean is called 여의주 (yeouiju). They’re seen as good-natured creatures that were related to farming and especially water. If you visit Seoul, South Korea, you will often see this too.

Another creature under this category is the gyeryong (계룡) also known as Korean cockatrice or chicken dragon. They are chariot-pulling beasts for important legendary figures in Korea or for the parents of legendary heroes. One of these legends was the founding of one of the three kingdoms of Korea, the Kingdom of Silla. It was said that the princess had been born from a large egg of a cockatrice.

It was even said that dragons were the summoners of Korea’s rainy season. Korean dragons are also referred to as 이무기 (imugi), so technically speaking they can also be seen more as sea serpents than dragons if they are not holding the orb.

6. 해태 Haetae (Lion creature)

As this is the official symbol of Seoul even in the present day, you’ll easily find statues of this creature outside of numerous buildings. The creature has the body and head of a lion, with curled horns on its head. Its entire body is also covered in armor-like scales.

It is believed to be a guardian that keeps evil omens at bay and also upholds justice. It also serves as a guardian that wards off natural disasters. This creature is sometimes also called Haechi. Thus, already in the times of the Joseon Dynasty, many officials were keen to have this creature embroidered onto their official gowns.

7. 달토끼 Daltokki (Moon rabbit)

Also known as jade rabbit, this is another mythical creature that was adopted into Korean folklore from Chinese myth. The legend goes this particular rabbit was found by looking at the formations of the moon’s craters. Now it is an important symbol of Chuseok, supposedly pounding its pestle to get rice cake.

8. 저승사자 Jeosung Saja (Grim Reaper)

This is Korea’s version of a grim reaper. They’re meant to guide those who have just passed away into the afterlife. Traditionally they wore a black hanbok coupled with a black hat. But today, they are portrayed more often as wearing a long black coat with a fedora, especially after the portrayal of Lee Dong Wook in Goblin.

Because a grim reaper is usually met upon death and is considered a bad omen, the Jeosung Saja is a feared figure among Koreans. Of course, you wouldn’t want to cross paths with one!

9. 불 개 Bulgae (Fire dogs)

Legend says that these dogs originated from the kingdom of darkness. Its Korean term is Gamangnara (가망나라). Korean folklore tells that bulgae are the reason behind the moon’s eclipses. In the legend, the Ganamngnara’s king had so many concerns over the kingdom’s darkness, so he sent out these fire dogs to capture the moon and the sun.

Sadly, each moon and sun proved to be too hot or too cold for these dogs to handle. Thus, they would burn or freeze when they tried to carry them over to the kingdom. The king, however, would not give up and kept sending more dogs to retrieve these things. And therefore, a lunar or a solar eclipse occurs each time a dog tries to retrieve the moon or the sun for its master.

10. 삼족오 Samjoko (Three-legged crow)

This creature was the primary symbol of the times of Goguryeo Dynasty. According to beliefs, the three-legged crow lives in the Sun. Thus, they were seen to be sun gods, and they actually had mightier powers than dragons.

In addition to these mythological creatures, Korean myth also entails numerous different kinds of gods, as well as notable human beings. Many of these creatures also appear in more than just one particular Korean folklore. So if any of these myths got you really interested, you’d be happy to know there are a lot of different stories from far back in history that you can enjoy reading and listening to today.

Isn’t it wonderful how many interesting myths and legends there are in the world? Maybe you can even ask your Korean friends to introduce you to their favorite Korean folklore especially! Which is your favorite story? Let us know in the comments!

The post Korean myths – The Legends and Folktales in the Peninsula appeared first on 90 Day Korean®.

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The Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site. Temple Site History

Mujangsa-ji Temple Site is located in a long valley in Amgok-dong, Gyeongju. According to the Samguk Yusa, Mujangsa Temple was built by Kim Hyo-yang, who was the father of King Wonseong (r. 785-798 A.D.), in memory of his uncle. As for the name of the temple, Mujangsa Temple, it comes from a story related to King Muyeol of Silla (r. 654-661 A.D.). King Muyeol of Silla is credited with first attempting to unify the entire Korean peninsula by first defeating the Baekje Kingdom in 660 A.D. But before he could completely unify the Korean peninsula, King Muyeol died in 661 A.D. Instead, the defeat of the Goguryeo Kingdom would fall to King Munmu of Silla (r. 661-681 A.D.). After the unification of the Korean peninsula, King Muyeol of Silla intended to start a peaceful era in which weapons would no longer be needed. As a result, he buried his armor and helmet where Mujangsa Temple would be built a century and a half later. Specifically, “Mujang” means “Buried Weapons Temple” in English.

And to commemorate the hope for peace upon the Korean peninsula, a three-story stone pagoda was constructed to memorialize this event. This pagoda is known as the Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site, which still stands to this day, and it’s known as Korean Treasure #126. In addition to this ancient three-story pagoda, the Mujangsa-ji Temple Site is also home to another Korean Treasure, Korean Treasure #125, which is the Stele for the Construction of Amitabha Buddha at Mujangsa Temple Site.

Mujangsa Temple would remain open until the late Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In fact, it’s believed that the temple finally closed some time between 1817 to 1914. All that remains of the site are the two aforementioned Korean Treasures.

Temple Site Legend

According to the Samguk Yusa, “Above the temple [Mujangsa Temple] there was once a shrine hall for Amita-bul [The Buddha of the Western Paradise] which was connected with a sad event. When King Soseong died [800 A.D.] his Queen Gyehwa grieved exceedingly, weeping over the body of her royal husband until blood flowed from her swollen eyes and beating her rosy breast with her white hands. And indeed the days of their love had been all too brief, for the King had hardly ascended the throne when he was struck down.

“Reflecting on the bright virtues of her husband, the Queen thought of a way in which her prayers for the repose of his soul might be perpetuated. She had heard that Amita-bul would clasp to himself the soul of anyone who prayed to him from a sincere heart. Drying her tears, she donated six of her royal gowns and treasures from the privy purse for the carving of an image of Amita-bul and of several statues of the lesser divinities associated with him, to be enshrined in a shrine hall. She summoned the most skillful sculptors in the land to do this work.”

The Samguk Yusa goes on to state, “At the aforementioned Mujangsa Temple there lived an old monk. Some time before these events he had a dream in which he saw a living Buddha sitting on a hill to the southeast of the temple’s stone pagoda and delivering a sermon to a multitude which was gathered in the west. The monk therefore believed that this would be an auspicious place for the habitation of a Buddha, but kept the idea to himself until the construction of the Amita-bul shrine hall was built.”

Evidently this very same monk pointed out the place of his dream so that the Mita-jeon Hall could be constructed because, and once more according to the Samguk Yusa, “Seeing the tall, rugged cliff and the mountain streams roaring down the ravines, the carpenters and sculptors complained that it would be very difficult even to carry their building materials to the site [because of the two kilometre long valley where Mujangsa Temple would be situated]. But the monks persisted, telling them that this was the ideal place. And when they investigated further, and dug behind some of the rocks, there indeed was a large piece of level ground, and there they built the shrine hall of Amita-bul. All the people who came to visit it admired its holy location.”

Overhead pictures of the Mujangsa-ji Temple Site. Temple Site Layout

You first make your way towards the Mujangsa-ji Temple Site up a long valley. The two kilometre hike is a relative easy hike, and it’s picturesquely meanders it way alongside the Deokdong-cheon Stream for most of the way with Mujang-bong Peak off in the distance to the east.

You’ll have to look closely, when you do finally arrive at the temple site, and through the brush to your right, to see the Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site through the trees. To gain access to the temple site, you’ll have to walk a few more metres to the northeast to find the wooden stairs that span the depths of the gorge below.

The first of the two Korean Treasures to greet you, and slightly up the hillside, is the Stele for the Construction of Amitabha Buddha at Mujangsa Temple Site. The body of the stele, which was newly erected in 2011, contains an inscription on it about the construction process related to the aforementioned Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise) from the Samguk Yusa. Some of the original body fragments from the stele were discovered in 1914 in the area. These fragmented pieces are kept at the National Museum of Korea. The body of the stele are a pair of turtles whose heads have gone missing. At the top of the base, where the body meets the base, are carvings which are meant to resemble pillars. Between these artistic pillars are carved the twelve zodiac animals. The rarity of having the twelve zodiac animals adorning the base of a Buddhist stele should be noted. The capstone of this stele is adorned with a dragon holding a wisdom pearl (cintamani) with its forefeet in the clouds. It’s rare to find a capstone in relatively one piece made from the early Unified Silla period with the exception of the Stele of King Muyeol (N.T. #25).

Rather interestingly, the exact whereabouts of this stele was unknown until they it was re-discovered by Hong Yang-ho (1724-1802), who was a scholar during the reign of King Jeongjo of Joseon’s (1776-1800). At this time, and during its discovery, Hong Yang-ho worked as an official in Gyeongju. The stele was re-discovered in a rather peculiar way, too. The village people were grinding beans with a millstone when Hong Yang-ho looked closer at the millstone to discover that it wasn’t in fact any old stone; but instead, it was a small piece of the historic stele’s body stone. This stone was heavily worn and hard to read, but Hong Yang-ho was able to do this and preserve what remained of the body stone of the Stele for the Construction of Amitabha Buddha at Mujangsa Temple Site.

To the rear of the Stele for the Construction of Amitabha Buddha at Mujangsa Temple Site, and down a couple embankments, you’ll find the Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site. If you look close enough, you can almost imagine what Mujangsa Temple must have once looked like. The Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site appears on the very western tip of the temple grounds, which is also its lowest. The pagoda stands 4.9 metres in height. This three-story stone pagoda consists of a double-tier base. This style of pagoda is built in the traditional Silla-style. The lower parts of the base are carved with pole patterns on its centre and middle, and the upper part with two a panel-like design. It’s believed that this pagoda was first built in the early 9th century. When the pagoda was re-discovered, it had collapsed. It was rebuilt to its current configuration in 1963. And rather remarkably, a sari reliquary measuring 27.5 centimetres by 23 centimetres was discovered inside the first story of the body stone at the time of its reconstruction.

How To Get There

The only way to get to Mujangsa-ji Temple Site is by taxi. You can catch a taxi from the Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal. You’ll need to tell the taxi driver to bring you to the “Gyeongju Gukribgongwon Amgok Tambang Jiwonsenteo – 경주국립공원 암곡탐방지원센터.” The taxi ride will take about thirty minutes and cost 23,000 won (one way). From where the taxi drops you off, you’ll then need to walk some 2.1 kilometres to the Mujangsa-ji Temple Site.

Overall Rating: 4/10

While very little of Mujangsa Temple still stands to this day, it isn’t too hard to imagine what it once must have looked like after walking through the temple site. The hike up to the Mujangsa-ji Temple Site is beautiful, and the two Korean Treasure awaiting you there make the hike well worth it. Both the Stele for the Construction of Amitabha Buddha at Mujangsa Temple Site and the Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site are wonderful examples of Buddhist artistry from the Unified Silla period. And adding to temple site’s overall appeal, which helps give contemporary visitors greater insight, is the Mujangsa-ji Temple Site’s long, recorded history.

The beautiful trail leading up to the Mujangsa-ji Temple Site. Getting closer. Can you see the Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site through the brush? The stairs leading up to the temple site. The Stele for the Construction of Amitabha Buddha at Mujangsa Temple Site off in the distance. Some stonework that once was Mujangsa Temple. A complete look at the Stele for the Construction of Amitabha Buddha at Mujangsa Temple Site. The base of the stele. One of the ornamental stone reliefs of the zodiac dragon. The slightly damaged capstone to the Stele for the Construction of Amitabha Buddha at Mujangsa Temple Site. A look up the trail that leads towards the Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site. A closer look at the historic Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Mujangsa Temple Site. A look up at the three-story structure. And one last look before heading home. —

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The ending ~지다 can be used together with Descriptive Verbs to mean "to get" or "to become" that verb. For example, 춥다 means "to be cold," and 추워지다 means "to become cold" or "to get cold." You can use these new verbs as Action Verbs.

Last Sunday I did a full live classroom all about using this form (as well as compared it to ~게 되다), and you can watch the shortened version in just 8 minutes here.

The post ~지다 "To Become" | Live Class Abridged appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.

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A Portrait of Beomil-guksa (810-889 A.D.). (Picture Courtesy of this Website).

The Sagulsan sect was founded by National Preceptor Beomil (810-889 A.D.) during the reign of King Munseong of Silla (r. 839-857 A.D.). At the time of the Nine Mountain Schools of Seon, the Sagulsan sect, which was located out of Gulsansa Temple in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, was the most prosperous of the nine. Beomil was also known as Pumil, and he received the posthumous title of Tonghyo.

Beomil’s family name was Kim, and his mother belonged to the Ji clan. He was born in 810 A.D. after his mother was pregnant for an astounding thirteen months. When he was born, he was said to have a conch-tuft on top of his head and a pearl on his forehead just like the god Brahma. At the age of fifteen, Beomil left to become a monk. He took his precepts four years later in 829 A.D.

In 831 A.D., Beomil traveled to Tang China (618–690, 705–907 A.D.), where he received the Mind Seal from the Chan Master Yanguan Qian (750-824 A.D.). Afterwards, Beomil traveled on to Mt. Yao. He also visited other famous sites, where he first encountered the persecution of Buddhists under the reign of Emperor Wuzong of Tang (r. 841-846 A.D.). As a result, Beomil hid because Buddhist monks were being executed and temples were being destroyed. However, and according to legend, Beomil was unable to find a place to hide. Eventually, and through the assistance of a Sanshin (Mountain Spirit), Beomil found a place to hide on Mt. Shang. Eventually, he traveled to Mt. Caoxi, where he intended to pay his respects to the Sixth Patriarch, Huineng (638-713 A.D.). It was while paying his respects that he received an auspicious sign from a perfume cloud that was hovering around the shrine that housed Huineng’s remains. Additionally, there were cranes crying above the shrine, as well.

Finally, Beomil returned to Silla in 846 A.D. and founded Gulsansa Temple, which was the base for the Sagulsan sect. In total, Beomil met three kings, who asked him to become national priest. Those kings were King Gyeongmun of Silla (r. 861-875), King Heongang of Silla (r. 875-886), and King Jeonggang of Silla (r. 886-887). He rebuffed all three to focus on meditation. Beomil would stay at his temple for the next forty years until he died. He would pass away in 889 A.D. Among his disciples, who would help spread his teachings, were Nangwon and Nanggong (832-916 A.D.).

The Gulsansa Temple Site, which is a Korean Historic Site. (Picture courtesy of the CHA). The Stupa at Gulsansa Temple Site, which houses the sari (crystallized remains) of Beomil-guksa. The stupa is a Korean Treasure. (Picture courtesy of the CHA). —

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I remember trying to use 씻다 everywhere when I first learned it. But it wasn't until a bit later when I learned about 닦다 and 청소하다, and then 감다, and others. So I wanted to put together a simple guide for anyone wondering about how to say "to wash" or "to clean," to help other people who might have thought the same way as I did when I was a beginner.

This video covers using the verbs 씻다, 닦다, 세수하다, 청소하다, 빨다, 감다, and 헹구다.

The post “To Wash” and “To Clean” in Korean | Korean FAQ appeared first on Learn Korean with GO! Billy Korean.

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I’ve been living in Korea for over a year, and have gone deep diving into the job search world twice. Now I might need to add that I did not start this journey totally blind.

A few of my former classmates and friends have taught English in Korea, so I was able to get nuggets of information from each of them. I got a little glimpse into what life in Korea would be like until….well…the thing that “shall not be named” started in 2020. So comparing my experience to any prior tales and legends of Korea was now nonsensical.

However, I was still determined to make it over to this country and find the right place to teach. I also wanted to enjoy my time here, despite the quite aggressive restrictions.

Let’s get to the point now, shall we? Below are the 5 phases of finding the perfect English teaching job (at a private academy, aka hagwon).

PHASE 1: FOUR MONTHS BEFORE DEPARTURE

This time is very critical, and it’s a mistake that I made. I hadn’t prepared any documents before diving into the job search world. Learn from me and have them ready before you start looking for jobs.

So, at the four month mark, send the documents in to the appropriate processor.

The most important documents are…

1. Copy of University Diploma (apostilled) – If you don’t have yours anymore, you can request one from your university’s registrar. It cost me $10.
2. FBI Criminal Background Check (apostilled) – on their website, it’s called an Identity History Summary Check. The processing of this document will be a little different for you, as they now have made it possible to do digitally. Please read all the information on their page in detail to know how to proceed. While you technically have to get fingerprinted by a professional, I didn’t have that ability. I was in Morocco and the police doesn’t do fingerprints unless it’s for an official reason (theirs). So, I had to take matters into my own hands (or fingers) and learn from YouTube how to do the thing!!! And I did. And I mailed in like 8 copies of each document! It worked!
3. Copy of Driver’s License (apostilled) – Korea has an agreement with some U.S. states that doesn’t require you to take any tests in order to get the Korea license. You can just go into the driver’s office and trade it in, if you plan to drive in Korea, that is.

Other things to have prepared

1. Education-tailored resume
2. Cover letter – this is something you will just paste into the email when sending one to a job posting. Just state when you want to start, where, what age group you want to teach, and any education experience you have. Make it super simple. Just a short paragraph will do.
3. Intro Video – Just a video introducing yourself to the school and why you want to teach /teach in Korea.

**Quick note on eligibility to teach English in Korea. In addition to the former documents, you need to have a clean health check. And, your passport should be from one of the 7 English-speaking countries: USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, Ireland, Australia.

PHASE 2: THE JOB SEARCH

So one month goes by after you had sent in your documents for processing. Maybe you had received some back, and maybe you’re still waiting on some. Nevertheless, it is time to start lookin’!

Here are the top websites that recruiters (and, on occasion, schools) use to post jobs.

1. Dave’s ESL Cafe – tons of jobs on here. Not just for Korea, but also for China and other countries!
2. Korvia – You can apply for private academies (hagwons) or for the public school program EPIK
3. Koreabridge – In addition to being a job board, it is also a community for classified ads, and the perfect place to buy or sell something (a lot of the time you can get lots of stuff for free because teachers are always leaving!)
4. English Teachers in Busan (Facebook group) – if you’re looking to work in Busan
5. English Teaching Jobs in Korea (Facebook group) – another great place to look for jobs.
6. EPIK – This is the government public school teaching program. I highly recommend it if you’re not super set on a specific location. You get way more holidays, you teach less hours, and you more likely would have a healthier working environment.

PHASE 3: THE RECRUITER INTERVIEW

Be prepared to answer the following questions:

1. What age group do you prefer to teach? ( 3 years old- early elem school, or elem school – middle school)? They usually call the younger group kindy although some of them might be too young for kindergarten.
2. What time during the day, morning or afternoon, do you want to teach? Usually the kindy group is something like 10 – 6 and the older group is 1 – 9. So this really depends on what’s more important to you, the age or the time of working?
3. What is your experience in teaching?
4. What is your desired salary? I recommend 2.4 million starting salary for Busan and other cities (not sure about Seoul).

RECRUITER RED FLAGS

1. If they say a school wants to hire you before you even interview with them.
2. If the recruiter seems to oversell themself, or seem super duper busy.
3. If they are in any way unprofessional during the initial interview.
4. Make you compete to lower your salary against other teachers after you interview for a school.

PHASE 4: THE SCHOOL INTERVIEW

While you may initially think that the interview is for the school to see if you’re the right fit, actually it’s more like the other way around. As long as you are confident and a little charming, there is a high chance that the school will want to hire you.

If you don’t feel confident, well, fake it til ya make it!!

And the best way to do this is to ask THEM the questions so you can see if they’re a good fit for YOU!

Here are some questions you should ask the school:

1. Can I speak to a current foreign teacher, or the one that I’m replacing? If they say yes, then there is a chance that they are on good standing with the teachers and it might be a somewhat healthy environment. If no, then that’s a red flag.
2. What is the maximum number of teaching hours per week? This means what is the # of hours that you will actually be teaching students. I would shoot for somewhere around 25 – 28 hours.
3. What hours is the school open? Some schools are literally open 10 hours a day, so you really want to make sure you know how many of your hours you will be spending there.
4. What are the ages of the students?
5. What kinds of classes will I teach? (For me, I teach speaking, debate, reading)
6. What kinds of teaching materials do you use? Is there room for me to create lessons?
7. How many teachers are there total?
8. How many foreign teachers are there? You want to work somewhere that has at least 3 foreign teachers.
9. How long is the lunch/dinner break?
10. Will you provide accommodation and food during quarantine? THEY SHOULD!

PHASE 5: THE CONTRACT

Here are some important points to look for in a contract.

1. Salary – Should match what you agreed on.
2. Pension – School pays half and you pay half. The cool part is that you will get it all back when you go back home.
3. Severance – You are entitled to a severance when you complete the contract. It is worth one month’s pay.
4. Health Insurance – School pays half, and you pay half.
5. Vacation – You should at least get 5 days off in the summer and 5 days off in the winter. Paid, of course.
6. Housing – Check to make sure they provide the basic essentials like a bed, kitchen appliances, etc.

These are all the basics of landing a teaching job in Korea. Please don’t hesitate to comment and ask questions or add input!

Thanks!

Olena

— Expat Chick