About

This Site

This site is for all those South Africans teaching English in Korea, and for all those who are thinking about heading that way. It is the product of many wasted hours trying to find information and advice for South Africans in between all the stuff out there for Americans, Canadians, Englishman, Irishman and our cousins in Australia and New Zealand. You will all be glad to know that no, we are not all the same. In fact, we come from a different country, so different rules and processes sometimes apply. So, after surfing the forums and chatting to lots of South Africans in Korea, here is a little guide I’ve put together for all South Africans in Korea and those thinking about going.

There is lots of information and advice out there for living in Korea and getting organised to come over. So what I’ve tried to do here is to include information on how this process differs for South Africans, and some helpful stuff for once you are in the country. I’ve also included a news section on the front page, so that you can keep up to date with some of the latest developments. But please keep in mind that this is a work in progress…

Enjoy!

TB

Some important info:

1. This is not an official guide of any sort. I’ve tried to get as much accurate information as possible, but policies change, people change and bureaucrats are unpredictable. This is as accurate as I can make it. Help me keep it that way.
2. Comments and suggestions are VERY welcome. What may be relevant to me won’t be relevant to everyone else. If I have something wrong, please let me know. There is a convenient “Contact” page and a place for comments on each page for this very purpose.
3. This is a website about helping South Africans going to KOREA. This is NOT a place to vent your frustrations or for complaining about South Africa. I love South Africa and can’t wait to get back there when I’m done travelling the world. If you have an urge to complain and moan, please take your ignorance and lack of breeding to London.

Me

I’m a South African working in a town (though I’ve been told it’s actually a city) north of Seoul, in the wilds of Gyeonngi-do. GEPIK placed me, a 27-year old man, in a girls’ middle school, and my wife, a 27-year old woman, in a co-ed technical high school, and no-one thinks this is odd. And after being in Korea for a while, neither do I.