JKL

J to L

Jackies Clinic

Apkujong-Dong

They limit their class sizes to a mere 5 students apparently which must be a breeze. They didn't give any salary indications though when I had a look.

Seoul

Jai-il (Jae-il)

Suwon

One report of late pay and problems with management. 4/01

J. C. Kim Hogwan

Sunchoun

One unhappy trooper. 4/01

JEL (Junior English Language) Foreign/English Language Institute

In General

Chinju

One report of three teachers leaving in four months but not much in the way of details. 7/00

Seoul

Bang I dong, near Olympic Park

Jeong Sang Language School (JLS)

They have three branches in and around Seoul. They look good on paper, no kindies, private apartment, reasonable pay, extra holidays. 1/01

In general

Bundang/Pundang (sp)

Seoul

Daechi-dong, Kangnam-gu

Kaepo-dong, Kangnam-gu

JOIN English School

Seoul

Pyongchang dong, Jongro gu

Jungchul Interlab

In General

They have around 200 schools in Korea apparently. Hardly hear about them, which is actually a good sign.

Kwangju

One negative report including unpaid salary and other problems. See the attached letter. 3/01

Ilgok Dong
Poon Gu

Seoul

Sinjung

New branch opening Jan 2001. New schools are more risky. They often have teething problems.

One negative report mainly about their housing. See the attached letter. 6/01

Shinae-dong, near
Chungwha

Junior Club

Kyoung-ju

One negative report see the attached letter. 12/02

Kalma Language School

Taejon

Kalma dong, Seo gu

Kangnam Language Institute

Kyungju

One report that although they tell you that you have medical insurance if you get sick you find out its non- existant. 5/01

Kids Castle Junior English Institute

Koje Island

Okpo dong

Kids Club

In General

Anyang

One report of being lied to and cheating but no details. 7/00

One serious report of teachers not being paid wages and overtime. Also that they didn't pay for the 10 min breaks between classes. 7/00

Pusan

Haeundae Mr Sung

Masan

Kangnam

One negative report but not much in the way of detail other than that they usually use their own inhouse textbooks which apparently arn't very good. Another more serious report (regarding Charlie Kim Cheol Jin the head of the Kids Club chain) including lies and threatening teachers who tryed to leave ("you're never work in this town again"). 7/00

Seoul

Kids College

In General

One complaint over pay (that none of the teachers got their 8500000 deposit back) and some other minor non-contractual complaints. 7/00

Chonju

Sugok dong, Heungduk gu

Gulag? This is either the Chonju, Ilsan, or Kimpo school.

One report of lies and being forced to do overtime despite what the contract says.. 7/00

llsan

Pung dong

Kimpo si

Bukbeon dong

Deungchon dong, Kangseo gu

Seoul

Shinsa dong, Kangnam gu

Songpa dong, Songpa gu

Seocho dong, Seocho gu

One report listing serious non-contractual complaints and this is their main branch. 7/00

Yangjae dong, Seocho gu

Kids Herald

Shinnae dong and Songbuk Campus

Seoul

A new chain of schools which is often problematic. This branch (Shinae) has a negative report about not getting paid, lying and other noncontractual complaints. See the attached letter. 6/01

Sanggye dong

One report of not getting paid and many other problems. See the attached letter. 7/01

Kim Young Hoon Language Institute

One report with various vague complaints. 7/00

Yong in

Kings Foreign Language Institute

Seosan City, near Seoul

KLI Institute
(Kids School)

One report about not being paid for compulsory overtime. 7/00

Seoul

Kaepo dong

Korea Education Media (KEM)

One report of lying and similar problems. 11/00

Korea Maritime University

Pusan

Dongsam Dong, Youngdo ku

Korea University

One report of being forced to sign new contracts although otherwise it doen't sound so serious. Theres actually a complaint because teachers wanted to stay but they didn't want them. This is the sort of complaint they make at Japanese universities! See the attached letter. 7/01

In General

They have a new Kids Herald line as well with 21 branches open and another 10 on the way apparently. One report that their summer camps in Pusan involve a lot more hours than advertised (but paid in full and on time), but really you have to expect long hours with camps. Also look under Kids Herald schools. 12/00

Korean Herald Language Institute

Seoul

One report of lying over scheduling and whether you will be teaching adults or kids. 11/00

Ulchiro (Euljiro?)

Myong-Dong

Kukje Foreign Language Institute (KJFLI)

One report that teachers were seriously ripped off financially with severence and the final months pay. 7/00

Suwon

Kwacheon Foreign Language High School

Kyonggi

Kwak's English Country

Taejon

Worlpyung-Dong, Seo-Ku

Kwak's Language Institute

Suwon

One report that the owners changed frequently and that they were seriously ripped off financially. Another with a couple of non contractual complaints. 7/00

Kwangju University

A couple of negative reports way back in 98.

Kwang Ju

Kyonggi University

A couple of negative reports of problems including no promised health insurance, problems getting severence pay and very high staff turnover due to the problems there but otherwise not much in the way of detail. 8/00

Kyong Ju University (KNU)

One person complained that they withhold pay but another person who wasn't happy for all the usual reasons (having to entertain the students etc) said that they always paid in full and on time. 7/00

Kyong Ju

One report (see the attached letter) that all the teachers had to sign another contract but without severence pay. Also other non-contractual complaints including lies and deceit. Onother report of them holding onto diplomas and other documents. Actually though this is not an uncommon practice in Korea so watch out. 7/00 Another report of trouble getting paid for overtime. 11/00

Kyung Hee University

Seoul

Lee's Language School

Yo soo

Lee's Manpower

This is actually a recruitment agency rather than a school. They have a long and very bad reputation. Use at your own risk.

Lets Go Junior English School

Buyong dong, Seo gu

Pusan/Busan

One negative report of violence. See the attached note. 7/01

Unlike some chain schools their salaries at around 1.6 are okay. 7/00

Like Institute

In General

Masan

Aparrently they don't pay severence pay but they tell you beforehand so you know what the deal is which is a change. It is of course illegal not to pay severence pay but actually most contracts in Korea contain illegal provisions under the labour law. Common ones that are often broken include not deducting any wages for any reason, having at least 10 hollidays apart from national hollidays that you can take all at once if you want, severence pay of the average of your last three months including overtime. If every place was blacklisted just for illegal provisions there would be no schools left!

Pusan

Hadan
Sa Ha Gu

Changwon

Taegu

Seoul

Ulsan

One recent negative report. See the attached letter. 10/01

Little America

Manyong dong (sp?)

Taejon

Lots of preschool kids who can speak hardly any English. I hope you like singing and other similar activities. Can be very stressful. Generally teachers find kindergarten classes among the most challenging. Salaries are the fairly standard 1.6 (8/00). One thing you have to be careful with some of these chain schools is that because they're more popular with parents you may find yourself doing excessive amounts of overtime, because they don't have enough teachers, so its worth asking about this before signing.

Little Campus

In General

Pusan

Haeundae New Town

One report a year ago of contract breaches including being forced to work 20 hours overtime a month without pay. 7/00

Saha Gu

Several people giving negative reports about this school including contractual complaints and otherwise. Apparantly this branch isn't even a real Little Campus but just "borrowed" the name. Theres one attached letter. 3/01

Geje dong, Yunje gu

Actually at this one they have a Korean teacher with you in the kindergarten classes which makes it a comparative breeze. Highly recommended for this alone (a few schools do this but most don't). Also has a good reputation generally. 7/00

Dae yun dong, Nam gu

This ones reputation is okay. 7/00

Little John

Donghae, Kangwondo

One negative report. See the attached letter. 10/01

No contractual problems these days. Run by a Scottish guy and is a non-profit organisation. Top place really. Only problem might be if you don't have much money since you have to find your own apartment and the key money costs more than they provide. 7/00

LTRC

Seoul