have a turnover rate of at least 40% every session. This means that on a
yearly basis their turnover rate is more than 80%. The "efficiency"
appartments they put you into, used to be old offices. They renovated a
building formerly ownd by the universiy and made "appartments" for the
western teachers. These appartments are 8 (eight) pyong, that is roughly
the size of an average (not large) yogwon room.
If they have too many classes, they cancel your vacation. If you have
two weeks vacation canceled, this is how they calculate how much to pay you.
They count every day (inclucing saturday, sundays and all holidays) in the
month and divide your salary by the number of days. Then, when you work
during your vacation, they only pay for the days you work. This means, if
you give up two weeks of vacation, you will only be paid for 10 days.
Even at that, they are so often late in paying their teachers. Then
they don't even apologize. Because of administrative problems, they can not
fix the problem until the next month. This happens often.
They appoint co-ordiantors there. You only become a co-oridinator if
you tow the party line. So, what you ahve, is westerners being really power
freaks to other westerners.
Finally, several people have been fired for stupid reasons, in order
not to pay for the airfare, and other deposits which are not refuded until
the end of the contract. Also, you should know that Mrs. Yom, will NEVER
sign a letter of release for anyone despite flagrant breach of contract on
her part because she thinks this makes a bad impression with immigration.
-Anon 3/01