OkayKorea...kosher or dodgy?

[skaterjaymz]

I'm in the process of applying to come out to Korea in January to teach in Pohang (I think) and I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the company I'm dealing with, OkayKorea? I'm new to all this and I don't wanna get over there and find out I'm being held hostage in a hellhole because I took the first job I was offered. Also, any advice for a newbie would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[cool ice]

Advice for a newbie? Don't show all your cards and have exit strategies. Have a plan just in case your job is not as promised. Some backup plans you should have are:

• Know where to go for temporary accommodation
• Know how to find your next job
• Know your visa rules
• Have enough cash to last you 2 months without work

The above list should cover you. Don't by any means, pay an up-front fee though. Some schools are just waiting to use and abuse you for their own benefit.

Haven't heard anything bad about OkayKorea. Most I know about them is that they are a recruiting company. Just ensure that they don't dock your wages. The school they place you in should be paying them, not you paying them indirectly via lower wages.

[exported_kiwi]

There are also various blacklists online. There is one here, check it out! There's also Daves ESL and Marks ESL amongst many others.

Research research research and get things in writing, via email, before you get there. I've seen many horror stories about teachers in Korea being "zapped" by real ratbags and being left high and dry. To be fair to Korea though, there are horror stories about every country people teach in so passing judgement would be erroneous.

Just do your research man, and be sure of the facts before you leap in.

All the other tips by cool ice are good too, concerning funds etc.

Good luck and take care!
My 2 cents said.

[karlw66]

Hi Skater.......
Sorry mate, can't give you much of a lowdown on Okay Korea - sure I've seen 'em around for a while (spent 5 years in Korea) but have no idea as to they're overall level of service etc etc. One thing I DO know about, however, is Pohang city. My first experience in country was Pohang and, granted this goes back to 2001, but, and how can I put this diplomatically (?), if your recruiter told you it's a 'beautiful seaside city' then.......well, at least they got the seaside bit right. I'm not in a position to judge the state of the place there these days having vowed never to set foot there again......but while I lived there it was widely regarded as "the armpit of Korea" polluted to all hell, trash everywhere & a very 'traditional' Korean flavour among the native populace viz foreigners.

My advice for what it's worth, ask about on various forums re: Pohang city itself. It's a combination steel town (POSCO), fishing town with the added bonus of a ROK marine base nearby. Oh yeah, and U.S Marines frequently come over for exercises (and brawls) with their Korean counterparts. In combination, certainly a city that has 'character' but then so did Herman Goering apparently!

One caveat, and as noted above, my experiences there were some time ago so don't take my word for it - ask around. Who knows, maybe the place has changed some? Just my two cents worth re: a city that I found to be one helluva pain in the rear.

All the best