Finding work in Korea

For people who want more information on getting a job in Korea, I am putting together what I know.

I got help from my friends when it came to finding working in Korea. Originally, all I knew about were the main programs: EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE. However, I met a friend who had worked/lived in Korea and she told me that the best jobs are at Hagwons (private schools), and they hire year round.
If you are looking to teach in Korea, and you don't have any connections there, the first step is to get a recruiter--or several! The best way to do this is to go to somewhere like Dave's ESL Cafe. You can post your resume and contact information and the recruiters will find you. Don't be surprised when they contact you without having read any of your information but your name, but do be prepared to be bombarded from then on with e-mails.
If you don't want that to happen, you can always search around the site and read about recruiters other people have worked with. You can also go to the recruiting sites and work directly through them, just giving your information to them alone.

You'll always hear people say things like "don't take the first job offer you get". This is often true. It is also true with recruiters.
However, when you get a job offer, consider it. If it is not what you want--hours, location, age group--you can always wait for another. However, sometimes you need to be willing to negotiate a little in your job criteria.

Important things to know about the jobs:
You'll usually receive information about the school from recruiters like:

LocationType: Elem, Middle, High, Adults
Hours: Mon,Wed,Fri 13:00-21:00; Tue,Thurs 14:00-21:00
Salary: 2.1 - 2.5
Start Date: May 1

American/Canadian ONLY
Prefer reputable University graduate

You can tell the recruiter if you are interested and they will send your information to the school. If the school is interested in you, you will often get more information like:

Name of school (distance from train stop)

Type: 4-15years old

Hours: 9:30-18.00

Start Date: Arrive in Korea May 23rd

Salary: 2.1~2.2

American/Canadian/British Female

no pension

Studio housing one minute from the school

Over time is 15,000won per class

Round Trip airfare

Severance and Medical Insurance

10 days vacation

Classes are 40 minutes long

There are 3 foreign teachers currently working at the school.

Type:
This will be the age group you teach, though it may vary. The classes are usually seperated by age.

Hours:
There are different time schedules available for teaching. Some will be all morning (9am-2pm), or morning to evening (9am-6pm), or even afternoon to night (1pm-10pm). Don't be difficult. Many people complain about working such late hours, especially on the 9am-5/6pm. Just think, if you stay home and work, you'll most likely be working 9-5 schedules but you won't be able to guarantee weekends off, nor will you get free rent. It's not bad, it's normal.

Start Date:
Obviously what it says. However, this may or may not include a few extra days for your initial "training".

Salary:
These range from about 1.8 to 2.5 million won per month. If you are looking to teach in Seoul and have no teaching certification or a BA (not in Education) then you will probably be at the lower end. The more you have (i.e. teaching certification, BA in English/Education, TEFL/TESOL certification) the more you'll get paid. Also, if you chose to work outside of the major cities you can also get a higher salary. And no matter what others say, it is not Seoul or nothing. Korea has a great public transport system. If you chose to work in a city just outside of Seoul, you can get the best of both.

No pension is pretty normal since you will only be there a short time. But if you want this job forever you'll want to look into a job that has it.

Rent/apartment:
Most jobs will provide housing for you. These range from furnished to unfurnished, studio to 2-3 bedroom, single or shared apartments. If you are looking for a job in Seoul, don't be surprised if you live in a closet (literally). However, there are may other foreigners and always things to do on your time off. If you live in the more rural areas, you are more likely to get a larger space; however, there may not be any other foreign teachers around, or much to do.
Apartments are usually paid for by the school. You are in charge of utilities and any personal needs (like food).

Overtime:
Usually overtime rates are between 13-15,000 won per class/hour.

Airfare:
In my opinion, if they don't offer to pay for it, or reimburse you for it, you can always find one that will. Since flights are expensive and most schools will reimburse you, you shouldn't take one that won't.

Medical:
Is a given. Korea has a national health care system, so your as long as the doctor is ok-ed by the school, your visits will usually only be the $20 copay.

Severance:
This is a bonus you get, one months pay, for FINISHING the contract. VERY IMPORTANT! Most contracts will be for one year, that is 12 months, twelve FULL months. Keep this in mind. Many people try to coax their way out of the contract early to get back sooner. If you want your severance, do your job.
I have read many stories about stupid people who thought they should get their last months pay in full and their bonus pay, but leave 3 weeks early. I don't know what they are thinking, because I have never in my life met an employer or anyone else who would even consider paying them. Don't be stupid, it's annoying.

Vacation:
10 days, not normal more like the least. All jobs give you national holidays, and may have breaks off. If you work at a hagwon though, you may be getting less. It's just something you need to consider.

**** A little update four years later:

For finding a job, there are a lot of places you can look. I definitely recommend being picky though. There are a lot of recruiters who are just in it for the money (in fact nearly all of them, if not all). For them, they only get paid once you sign on and arrive. They will tell you anything to get you to come.

There are also a lot of places to look these days though. You can even join one of the many job board groups on Facebook. Just make sure to look around.

On another note, when signing a contract, make sure any details you've discussed with the school/manager are written in the contract. This doesn't mean it will happen 100%, but there is a much better chance of whatever it is happening.