ESL TEACHERS: There is a westerner who works for the Jeollanamdo Office of Education(JOE). His name is Chris and I believe he is Canadian. Anyhow, Chris provides information to ESL teachers in Jeollanamdo. I'm not directly on his email list but a fellow teacher has forwarded some of his recent emails. His email address is below. If you're not on his radar send him an email and let him know you'd like to be on his list.
Below is the email Chris sent on June 29th. I've included here as an example of the kind of information Chris sends to ESL teachers. Also, some of the contact information at the bottom is good to keep on file.
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From: Chris < chrisofficeofeducation AT yahoo DOT com>
Subject: updates
To:
Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 10:28 AM
Hi Everyone,
Hope all is well! Things are hot and humid and summer vacation is quickly approaching. I have a few things I want to update you on today. This is a long one so get comfy and please be sure to read everything carefully.
Blocked Sites
Some of the blocked sites are now open and more will be opening up. The local offices have all been contacted and they are working on them now. Please don't email back yet to tell me so and so site is still blocked, they are working on unblocking them now. Please give it a week or so, things move slow and it's out of my control right now. I'll send something out in the near future asking for anybody who still has problems with blocked sites. It easier to organize this way. Thanks for your patience.
Vacation Plans
Many of you are getting ready for your vacation. Please make sure you go over your schedule with your school. The schools should be giving some thought to summer camp / extra classes if they haven't done so already. Every school should have some sort of camp and the number of weeks will be decided by the principal. You will be expected to do these. Please discuss your vacation plans with your school and make arrangements with them so both you and the school will be happy.
Renewing Teachers
Those of you who are renewing will be given the renewal allowance. This is 2,000,000 and this will be given to you after your renewal date which for most of you is August 21st. You can expect to receive the renewal allowance within one month from this date. It may be safe to expect this on the September 25th pay. Also, your severance should be given to you within 14 days of the renewal date.
Some of the schools may be asking for flight information but they don't need it. They are a little confused and are still thinking back to the old way of renewals. You now get a renewal allowance. This is a set amount of 2,000,000 and has nothing to do with a flight. You can use this money for anything you want and if you want a flight home, that's your choice. If your schools are confused, they can call the office or you can call me and I'll put them on the phone with some one who can explain this to them. It's best to reach me in the mornings as I have appointments almost every afternoon.
If you are renewing you will also need to renew your visa. The visa renewal process is simple. You need to go to the nearest immigration office and they will put a nice new stamp in your passport and update your ARC. To do this, you will need:
passport,
ARC,
business registration certificate / 학교사업자등록증 (this can be obtained from your school's administration office)
30,000 W visa form. reference form
application form
The final two can be found in English and Korean at www.hikorea.go.kr under the quick menu on the upper right hand side of the page. You can apply up to 2 months in advance. There's also a foreigner immigration number you can call for assistance and its 1345.
You may also want to think about getting your re-entry visa at this time if you plan on doing some traveling. It’s an additional 50,000W.
Also, your current visa is going to expire before your contract does. This means, you need an extension. You can do both your renewal for next year and your current visa's extension at the same time. To do this, you will need:
Passport ARC Extension form which you will get at the Immigration office. The new contracts should be at your school late this week or early next week.
Teachers Finishing Contracts
When you buy your ticket for home you can give a copy of your e-ticket or a receipt to your school for reimbursement. Try to keep the flights at a reasonable price. They recommend 1.3 million but we all know that is impossible. A one-way ticket to the West will be more around the 2 million mark. Your school will honor this amount as long as it's a economy class, direct flight home to where you first flew over from.
You should receive your reimbursement on your final day of work along with your final pay, severance and damage deposit. You need to apply for your pension at the nearest NPS and this will be sent to your home bank account.
You have been paying into pension working here and you are entitled to get this, depending on your country, when you leave Korea. Canadians, Americans and Australians get a lump sum return and UK folks will get only their contributions back. Sorry to folks from New Zealand and South Africa, Korea does not have an agreement made with these countries for pension returns so you can't get it.
It's imperative that you leave the country to get it. You can’t get it if you stay here. You can apply for a lump sum return at the nearest National Pension Services (NPS) office and they are found in most cities. Here is a link to the NPS website providing contact info for the closest office to you.
http://www.nps4u.or.kr/apppage/english/contact/contact_01.jsp
When you visit the NPS you must fill out a Korean Lump Sums Benefit form. You must have:
a copy of your ticket home (E- ticket will suffice)
passport,
ARC,
social insurance
home bank info.
The NPS will arrange to have your pension transferred to you home account after your visa expires. It can take up to two months to process.
Your current visa is going to expire before your contract does because your visa was started in your home country by the Korean consulate before you came to Korea. This is normal. This means, you need an extension or your visa will expire before you leave and you will have a surprise (fine) waiting for you at the airport when you leave Korea.
To do this, you will need:
Passport ARC Extension form at office 10,000 W
Safety Concerns
I have some unfortunate news about an incident that happened last week in Suncheon to one of your colleagues who wishes to remain anonymous. She was at the bus terminal in Suncheon when a man came up to her and tried to forcefully pull her into an alley where he then proceeded to assault her. Luckily two other Korean men came to her rescue and helped her to safety in a taxi. Obviously the teacher was shaken up by this assault. She believes this to be an isolated incident but would like other teachers to be aware of it so they can take the necessary precaution to prevent a similar thing from happening to themselves.
This is not the first time I 've heard of an incident of this nature happening in Korea to one of our teachers and it's not the first time it has happened in a bus terminal or public place. You are a foreigner, and a as a foreigner you can be a target to criminals. I know not every incident is avoidable, as was the case here, but please take some extra steps necessary for your own safety. Don't travel alone, especially late at night and try to avoid any situations where you think there may be trouble. Unfortunate incidents can happen to anyone as I found out when I was assaulted and unfortunately this teacher just found out.
I'm not trying to alarm you, by no means has there been an increasing amount of acts of violence or sexual assaults against foreigners in Jeollanmdo. I want you to take some time to think abut your own safety and things you may be able to do to improve it so a similar event doesn't happen to you. I know this is also the wish of the lady who was assaulted.
If you find yourself in a bind try to find somewhere safe and keep my number handy. If you call me, I'll get you help. Some other places you might find assistance are:
24 Hour BBB Interpretation Services 1588-5644
Foreigner Travel Help Line and Interpretation 1330
School Violence and Violence Against Women Hot-line 117
Victims of Violence, Women and Schools Support Center 062-225-3117
Women's Emergency Hot-line 1366, 1577-1366
Canadian Consulate Busan - www.korea.gc.ca 051-204-5581
American Consulate - www.americanconsulate.com 02-397-4114
I think I speak for everyone when we say that we hope that teacher gets the justice she deserves and has only the best of luck in the duration of her stay in Korea.
If you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to contact me.
Be safe,
Chris
--
Program Coordinator, Foreign Language Department
Jeollanamdo Office of Education, Muan Gun, Samhyang Myeon, Namak Ri, 1457 Beon-Ji, 534-821 www.jne.go.kr
Office: 061-260-0538 FAX: 061-260-0535 Cell: 010-4526-1060 Home: 061-285-0804
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Cashing out of Korea
ESL Teachers: Hopefully you will have saved some money along the way but a good portion of the money you make in Korea comes at the tail end of your contract. For example, my contract ends on November 30th and I am paid on the 25th of each month. Therefore, in the last week before I leave I will be owed ￦8,600,000 (plus reimbursement for my flight home).
Last Paycheck ￦2,500,000
One Month Bonus ￦2,500,000
Korean Pension - Your half ￦1,350,000
Korean Pension - School match ￦1,350,000
Damage Deposit ￦900,000
Note 1: I have been told that the 1-month bonus should include any compensation you receive on a recurring basis. Therefore my bonus should be ￦2,500,000 (2,200,000 base, 200,000 rural, and 100,000 for multiple schools).
Note 2: One teacher who left recently was only paid his base salary as his 1-month bonus. Based on what I know now, I think he missed out on ￦300,000.
Note 3: Some legal language about bonus money appears at the bottom of this post.
In order to get your pension money you have to make a trip to the national pension service (NPS). Your school may not send the last of your money to NPS until after you leave Korea, so you won't get this money for a few weeks. You have a few options here, but most people bring their home bank account and routing number to NPS and have them wire it directly. I have been told that your school/co-teacher is not obligated to help you deal with NPS, but hopefully they will. If you are forced to go alone, you won't be the first westerner to walk in to NPS so they should have some understanding of why you are there.
Here are the documents you need for your visit to NPS:
- A completed NPS form requesting lump sum payment. You can download from their website or get it at the office.
- Your ARC, the bank information (routing and account number) for the account where the money should be sent, and a prinout out of your e-ticket showing that you have a departure from Korea in less than 60 days.
Assuming you have not inflicted major damage to your apartment you should get your deposit back. Some teachers pay in ￦600,000 (￦200,000 from each of your first three paychecks) and some, like me, pay in ￦900,000 (￦300,000 from each of your first three paychecks).
Some teachers put their return flights on their credit cards and then get reimbursed by the school. The reimbursement for this should happen while you are still here in Korea. So during your last week you should get your last paycheck, your one month bonus, your apartment deposit, and the cost of your return flight deposited into your Korean bank account. The school will likely do this in more than one transaction, or they may roll it all into one deposit. Either way, it should happen in time for you to go to the bank and either wire it all to your account back home or withdraw it in cash so that your bank account is zero.
Another issue you may run into has to do with the expiration date on your alien registration card (ARC). You ARC will have an end date on it that is exactly a year after you arrive in Korea. For example, I landed at Incheon airport on November 30, 2009 so my ARC expires on November 30, 2010. This should be the day I fly out of Korea. However, sometimes the date on your ARC does not exactly match the date on your contract. If this happens, you will need to extend your ARC by a few days at the immigration office in Gwangju. Again, this is ultimately your co-teacher's responsibility to handle, but you need to know about the issue so that you can ask the right questions.
Sometime during your last week your co-teacher and possibly vice-principal will want to do a walk through of your apartment. I haven't heard of anyone getting into trouble and losing their apartment deposit money. I think the deposit policy was more of a safeguard against midnight runners. The school will probably work with you using your previous month's bills to estimate what your last month's bills will be. The internet, electric, and building maintenance bills come after the fact so they will arrive after you're gone. For example, let's say those three bills total 120,000 won for the last full month before you leave and you're leaving on the 15th. You'll probably estimate the final utilities to be 50% (half the month) and give the school 60,000 won. The school will then be responsible for paying those bills when they arrive.
I have been told that once you decide to leave you should be proactive with your school in getting this process started. Do not wait until two days before your flight leaves to bring this up with your school.
=================================
From the Employee Retirement Benefit Security Act (commonly referred to as 13th month bonus or severance pay):
Article 2 (Definition)
3. "Wages" refer to wages prescribed in Article 2 of the Labor Standards Act;
4. "Average wages" refer to average wages prescribed in Article 2 of the Labor Standards Act;
From the Labor Standards Act:
Article 18 (Definition of Wages)
The term“wages” in this Act means wages, salary, and any other payment to a worker from an employer as remuneration for work, regardless of the designation by which such payment is called.
Article 19 (Definition of Average Wages)
(1) The term“average wages” in this Act means the amount calculated by dividing the total amount of wages paid to the relevant worker during three calender months prior to the date on which the event necessitating such calculation occurred bythe total number of calender days during those three calender months. This shall also apply mutatis mutandis to the employment of less than three months.
(2) If the amount calculated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is lower than the ordinary wages of the worker concerned, the amount of the ordinary wages shall be deemed the average wages
Last Paycheck ￦2,500,000
One Month Bonus ￦2,500,000
Korean Pension - Your half ￦1,350,000
Korean Pension - School match ￦1,350,000
Damage Deposit ￦900,000
Note 1: I have been told that the 1-month bonus should include any compensation you receive on a recurring basis. Therefore my bonus should be ￦2,500,000 (2,200,000 base, 200,000 rural, and 100,000 for multiple schools).
Note 2: One teacher who left recently was only paid his base salary as his 1-month bonus. Based on what I know now, I think he missed out on ￦300,000.
Note 3: Some legal language about bonus money appears at the bottom of this post.
In order to get your pension money you have to make a trip to the national pension service (NPS). Your school may not send the last of your money to NPS until after you leave Korea, so you won't get this money for a few weeks. You have a few options here, but most people bring their home bank account and routing number to NPS and have them wire it directly. I have been told that your school/co-teacher is not obligated to help you deal with NPS, but hopefully they will. If you are forced to go alone, you won't be the first westerner to walk in to NPS so they should have some understanding of why you are there.
Here are the documents you need for your visit to NPS:
- A completed NPS form requesting lump sum payment. You can download from their website or get it at the office.
- Your ARC, the bank information (routing and account number) for the account where the money should be sent, and a prinout out of your e-ticket showing that you have a departure from Korea in less than 60 days.
Assuming you have not inflicted major damage to your apartment you should get your deposit back. Some teachers pay in ￦600,000 (￦200,000 from each of your first three paychecks) and some, like me, pay in ￦900,000 (￦300,000 from each of your first three paychecks).
Some teachers put their return flights on their credit cards and then get reimbursed by the school. The reimbursement for this should happen while you are still here in Korea. So during your last week you should get your last paycheck, your one month bonus, your apartment deposit, and the cost of your return flight deposited into your Korean bank account. The school will likely do this in more than one transaction, or they may roll it all into one deposit. Either way, it should happen in time for you to go to the bank and either wire it all to your account back home or withdraw it in cash so that your bank account is zero.
Another issue you may run into has to do with the expiration date on your alien registration card (ARC). You ARC will have an end date on it that is exactly a year after you arrive in Korea. For example, I landed at Incheon airport on November 30, 2009 so my ARC expires on November 30, 2010. This should be the day I fly out of Korea. However, sometimes the date on your ARC does not exactly match the date on your contract. If this happens, you will need to extend your ARC by a few days at the immigration office in Gwangju. Again, this is ultimately your co-teacher's responsibility to handle, but you need to know about the issue so that you can ask the right questions.
Sometime during your last week your co-teacher and possibly vice-principal will want to do a walk through of your apartment. I haven't heard of anyone getting into trouble and losing their apartment deposit money. I think the deposit policy was more of a safeguard against midnight runners. The school will probably work with you using your previous month's bills to estimate what your last month's bills will be. The internet, electric, and building maintenance bills come after the fact so they will arrive after you're gone. For example, let's say those three bills total 120,000 won for the last full month before you leave and you're leaving on the 15th. You'll probably estimate the final utilities to be 50% (half the month) and give the school 60,000 won. The school will then be responsible for paying those bills when they arrive.
I have been told that once you decide to leave you should be proactive with your school in getting this process started. Do not wait until two days before your flight leaves to bring this up with your school.
=================================
From the Employee Retirement Benefit Security Act (commonly referred to as 13th month bonus or severance pay):
Article 2 (Definition)
3. "Wages" refer to wages prescribed in Article 2 of the Labor Standards Act;
4. "Average wages" refer to average wages prescribed in Article 2 of the Labor Standards Act;
From the Labor Standards Act:
Article 18 (Definition of Wages)
The term“wages” in this Act means wages, salary, and any other payment to a worker from an employer as remuneration for work, regardless of the designation by which such payment is called.
Article 19 (Definition of Average Wages)
(1) The term“average wages” in this Act means the amount calculated by dividing the total amount of wages paid to the relevant worker during three calender months prior to the date on which the event necessitating such calculation occurred bythe total number of calender days during those three calender months. This shall also apply mutatis mutandis to the employment of less than three months.
(2) If the amount calculated pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is lower than the ordinary wages of the worker concerned, the amount of the ordinary wages shall be deemed the average wages
Friday, June 18, 2010
Paying utilities
ESL TEACHERS: Here's some information about paying bills in Korea. I pay three monthly bills - internet, electric, and building maintenance. The building maintenance includes trash disposal, water, cable TV, and natural gas. Paying bills is rather easy because you can do it over the counter at the bank. I just walk in to my bank (NongHyup) with cash and my bill. They take the money, give me change, and stamp the bill as paid. I pay my building management fee at the front office of my apartment complex (also using cash).
My KT bill for internet service.
My monthly building maintenance bill (this includes gas, cable TV, water, trash). Note that payment is due by June 31st.
My electric bill.
Here's what I have paid so far:
12/01/09 Oil - Half Tank 100,000
12/13/09 Oil - Full Tank 200,000
12/31/09 Management, Water, & Gas 25,200
12/24/09 Electric Bill 10/12/09 - 12/17/09 9,440 82 kWh
02/03/10 Management, Water, & Gas 25,220
02/01/10 Electric Bill 12/18/09 - 01/17/09 9,440 192 kWh
02/01/10 KT Internet 12/24/09 - 12/31/09 9,440 Install 30,000
02/02/10 Oil - 3/4 Tank 133,000
02/21/10 KT Internet 01/01/10 - 01/31/10 39,600
02/25/10 Management, Water, & Gas 21,200
02/25/10 Electric Bill 01/18/10 - 02/17/10 39,200 283 kWh
03/22/10 KT Internet 02/01/10 - 02/28/10 39,600
03/29/10 Management, Water, & Gas 19,800
03/31/10 Electric Bill 02/18/10 - 03/17/10 55,740 339 kWh
04/21/10 KT Internet 03/01/10 - 03/31/10 39,600
04/23/10 Management, Water, & Gas 19,800
04/27/10 Oil - Full Tank 180,000
04/30/10 Electric Bill 03/18/10 - 04/17/10 31,740 244 kWh
05/28/10 Management, Water, & Gas 22,900
05/31/10 Electric Bill 04/18/10 - 05/17/10 17,830 163 kWh
06/07/10 KT Internet 04/01/10 - 04/30/10 39,600
06/25/10 KT Internet 05/01/10 - 05/31/10 39,600
06/28/10 Management, Water, & Gas 19,200
06/30/10 Electric Bill 05/18/10 - 06/17/10 12,270 120 kWh
07/23/10 KT Internet 06/01/10 - 06/30/10 39,600
07/28/10 Management, Water, & Gas 22,400
08/04/10 Electric Bill 06/18/10 - 07/17/10 21,850 194 kWh
08/19/10 KT Internet 07/01/10 - 06/31/10 39,600
08/26/10 Management, Water, & Gas 18,600
09/01/10 Electric Bill 07/18/10 - 08/17/10 38,050 275 kWh
09/24/10 KT Internet 08/01/10 - 08/31/10 39,600
09/24/10 Management, Water, & Gas 18,600
10/04/10 Electric Bill 08/18/10 - 09/17/10 63,150 361 kWh
10/19/10 Gas adjustment after meter was checked 7,000
My KT bill for internet service.
My monthly building maintenance bill (this includes gas, cable TV, water, trash). Note that payment is due by June 31st.
My electric bill.
Here's what I have paid so far:
12/01/09 Oil - Half Tank 100,000
12/13/09 Oil - Full Tank 200,000
12/31/09 Management, Water, & Gas 25,200
12/24/09 Electric Bill 10/12/09 - 12/17/09 9,440 82 kWh
02/03/10 Management, Water, & Gas 25,220
02/01/10 Electric Bill 12/18/09 - 01/17/09 9,440 192 kWh
02/01/10 KT Internet 12/24/09 - 12/31/09 9,440 Install 30,000
02/02/10 Oil - 3/4 Tank 133,000
02/21/10 KT Internet 01/01/10 - 01/31/10 39,600
02/25/10 Management, Water, & Gas 21,200
02/25/10 Electric Bill 01/18/10 - 02/17/10 39,200 283 kWh
03/22/10 KT Internet 02/01/10 - 02/28/10 39,600
03/29/10 Management, Water, & Gas 19,800
03/31/10 Electric Bill 02/18/10 - 03/17/10 55,740 339 kWh
04/21/10 KT Internet 03/01/10 - 03/31/10 39,600
04/23/10 Management, Water, & Gas 19,800
04/27/10 Oil - Full Tank 180,000
04/30/10 Electric Bill 03/18/10 - 04/17/10 31,740 244 kWh
05/28/10 Management, Water, & Gas 22,900
05/31/10 Electric Bill 04/18/10 - 05/17/10 17,830 163 kWh
06/07/10 KT Internet 04/01/10 - 04/30/10 39,600
06/25/10 KT Internet 05/01/10 - 05/31/10 39,600
06/28/10 Management, Water, & Gas 19,200
06/30/10 Electric Bill 05/18/10 - 06/17/10 12,270 120 kWh
07/23/10 KT Internet 06/01/10 - 06/30/10 39,600
07/28/10 Management, Water, & Gas 22,400
08/04/10 Electric Bill 06/18/10 - 07/17/10 21,850 194 kWh
08/19/10 KT Internet 07/01/10 - 06/31/10 39,600
08/26/10 Management, Water, & Gas 18,600
09/01/10 Electric Bill 07/18/10 - 08/17/10 38,050 275 kWh
09/24/10 KT Internet 08/01/10 - 08/31/10 39,600
09/24/10 Management, Water, & Gas 18,600
10/04/10 Electric Bill 08/18/10 - 09/17/10 63,150 361 kWh
10/19/10 Gas adjustment after meter was checked 7,000
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Household stuff for the KOPEC apartment
This is not really for a wider audience, I'm just storing some pictures and instructions pertaining to my apartment. However, most apartments are similar and we all have similar appliances so this will probably be useful for everyone.
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UTILITIES
=======================================================
The thermostat with the heat on (blue button) but the temperature all the way down 5 Celsius.This is how I leave it 99.9% of the time so that I'm not burning oil.
The thermostat in hot water mode (red button) - no change to the temperature setting. Note that the yellow light directly below the red button is on which indicates that you are burning oil.
The heating unit in the outside back closet.
These are the valves to the three heating zones. They are all closed to save money. Basically I just use the water heater for showers, laundry, and washing dishes - not to heat the apartment.
The same view but with all three heating zones open. This burns a lot of oil very quickly.
Three times I had my building manager call and have the oil company deliver a half or full tank of heating oil. Towards the end of my contract I needed a small amount of oil but didn't want to pay for half a tank (the minimum for delivery). It turns out that my building manager sells 20-liter containers of heating fuel for 20,000 Won each. I bought two and that should get me to Nov. 30th.
Once a month (on or around the 15th) I open the back door and look at the gas meter. I write the first three numbers (130 as seen here) on the front door of the apartment.
The gas company puts this sticker on the door. Note that I wrote 130 for both August and September. I don't actually know when they check it but I think they come by on or around the 17th of each month. If you miss a month they won't shut the gas off.
CHANGE: On October 19th and November 8th a Korean woman came to my door. The first time she looked at the gas meter and the second time she took my word for it. Both times she gave me this receipt and collected 7,000 Won. I have no earthly idea what she was doing but I am guessing that they no longer add gas usage to the building maintenance fee. I'm also guessing that the minimum monthly charge is 7,000 Won because I barely use any natural gas.
This is the electric panel near the front door. You shouldn't need to touch this but on the off chance that you want to turn off the power the main switch is on the left. Look at the opening on the left that is above the two blue stickers. The main shut-off switch for the entire apartment is two inches to the left of the red button (you can't really see it in this picture. I only know this because I helped the building manager change a light fixture.
=======================================================
AIRCON
=======================================================
NOTE: My building manager is buying my aircon unit so there will not be one when you get here. She offered me 275,000 Won (half of what I paid) so I took the deal.
I strongly recommend purchasing an aircon unit. The Korean summer from mid-June to mid-September is rather hot and humid. I purchased this Whisen unit from the LG store downtown. I had a Korean friend come along to help but the transation was so simple you could do it by yourself with a pen and paper. I got a unit that was rated for 26.2 square meters. That's a little small for my apartment but it worked well enough. The unit cost 550,000 Won and that included taxes and installation.
The aircon unit when it is not operating. Note that the flap along the bottom is closed.
The aircon remote when the unit is not operating. Note the three oval buttons just below the display screen. The light colored oval on the right is the on/off button. The two arrows just below this adjust the target temperature up and down.
The remote with the power turned on.
The aircon unit when it is operating. Note that the bottom flap is now open.
=======================================================
UTILITIES
=======================================================
The thermostat with the heat on (blue button) but the temperature all the way down 5 Celsius.This is how I leave it 99.9% of the time so that I'm not burning oil.
The thermostat in hot water mode (red button) - no change to the temperature setting. Note that the yellow light directly below the red button is on which indicates that you are burning oil.
The heating unit in the outside back closet.
These are the valves to the three heating zones. They are all closed to save money. Basically I just use the water heater for showers, laundry, and washing dishes - not to heat the apartment.
The same view but with all three heating zones open. This burns a lot of oil very quickly.
Three times I had my building manager call and have the oil company deliver a half or full tank of heating oil. Towards the end of my contract I needed a small amount of oil but didn't want to pay for half a tank (the minimum for delivery). It turns out that my building manager sells 20-liter containers of heating fuel for 20,000 Won each. I bought two and that should get me to Nov. 30th.
Once a month (on or around the 15th) I open the back door and look at the gas meter. I write the first three numbers (130 as seen here) on the front door of the apartment.
The gas company puts this sticker on the door. Note that I wrote 130 for both August and September. I don't actually know when they check it but I think they come by on or around the 17th of each month. If you miss a month they won't shut the gas off.
CHANGE: On October 19th and November 8th a Korean woman came to my door. The first time she looked at the gas meter and the second time she took my word for it. Both times she gave me this receipt and collected 7,000 Won. I have no earthly idea what she was doing but I am guessing that they no longer add gas usage to the building maintenance fee. I'm also guessing that the minimum monthly charge is 7,000 Won because I barely use any natural gas.
This is the electric panel near the front door. You shouldn't need to touch this but on the off chance that you want to turn off the power the main switch is on the left. Look at the opening on the left that is above the two blue stickers. The main shut-off switch for the entire apartment is two inches to the left of the red button (you can't really see it in this picture. I only know this because I helped the building manager change a light fixture.
=======================================================
AIRCON
=======================================================
NOTE: My building manager is buying my aircon unit so there will not be one when you get here. She offered me 275,000 Won (half of what I paid) so I took the deal.
I strongly recommend purchasing an aircon unit. The Korean summer from mid-June to mid-September is rather hot and humid. I purchased this Whisen unit from the LG store downtown. I had a Korean friend come along to help but the transation was so simple you could do it by yourself with a pen and paper. I got a unit that was rated for 26.2 square meters. That's a little small for my apartment but it worked well enough. The unit cost 550,000 Won and that included taxes and installation.
The aircon unit when it is not operating. Note that the flap along the bottom is closed.
The aircon remote when the unit is not operating. Note the three oval buttons just below the display screen. The light colored oval on the right is the on/off button. The two arrows just below this adjust the target temperature up and down.
The remote with the power turned on.
The aircon unit when it is operating. Note that the bottom flap is now open.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Finding a dentist
ESL Teachers: Tufts Dental Seoul. http://www.tuftsdental.net/
If you're here for a full year you should have the need to see a dentist at least once. There are dentists here in Yeonggwang but I know that the language barrier would make a visit difficult. I looked on Google and found an English-speaking dental practice in Seoul. It seems like a long way to go, but it's healthy to make Seoul trips on occasion and they have Saturday hours so you can tie it in to an Itaewon weekend.
The clinic is called Tufts Dental. Dr. Gina Sohn graduated from Tufts University Dental School in Massachusetts. She is licensed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
On the 'Appointment Request' page Dr. Sohn posts her email address. I emailed her to set up an appointment for August. She wrote me back the next day and confirmed the appointment. I asked for ballpark prices and was told a routine cleaning is 60,000 Won and a filling ranges from 100,000 - 150,000 Won.
I had a successful visit with Dr. Sohn in July. Everyone in her office speaks fluent English which I really appreciated. They asked for my national health insurance card which I didn't have. I don't think it changes what you pay very much, but bring it with you. Here's the cost summary of my visit:
- X-ray: 30,000 Won
- Routine cleaning: 60,000 Won
- Filling the cavity that I knew about: 100,000 Won
- Filling the other cavity they found: 100,000 Won
I challenge anyone to get that price for Saturday service in the States.
Here's a view of the building from the sidewalk.
If you're here for a full year you should have the need to see a dentist at least once. There are dentists here in Yeonggwang but I know that the language barrier would make a visit difficult. I looked on Google and found an English-speaking dental practice in Seoul. It seems like a long way to go, but it's healthy to make Seoul trips on occasion and they have Saturday hours so you can tie it in to an Itaewon weekend.
The clinic is called Tufts Dental. Dr. Gina Sohn graduated from Tufts University Dental School in Massachusetts. She is licensed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
On the 'Appointment Request' page Dr. Sohn posts her email address. I emailed her to set up an appointment for August. She wrote me back the next day and confirmed the appointment. I asked for ballpark prices and was told a routine cleaning is 60,000 Won and a filling ranges from 100,000 - 150,000 Won.
I had a successful visit with Dr. Sohn in July. Everyone in her office speaks fluent English which I really appreciated. They asked for my national health insurance card which I didn't have. I don't think it changes what you pay very much, but bring it with you. Here's the cost summary of my visit:
- X-ray: 30,000 Won
- Routine cleaning: 60,000 Won
- Filling the cavity that I knew about: 100,000 Won
- Filling the other cavity they found: 100,000 Won
I challenge anyone to get that price for Saturday service in the States.
Here's a view of the building from the sidewalk.
Odds & Ends
ESL Teachers: Here is a list of odds and ends that you may find helpful to know. I'll append the list as I think of more items.
RANDOM DAYS OFF:
Korea has many national holidays. They also have many other non-school days that pop up for various reasons. For example, I didn't have class at one school on Monday, May 31st because the students went on an overnight camping trip. We then had Wednesday, June 2nd off for the national election (this wasn't random). The following week I had Tuesday, June 8th off. Each school celebrates the founding day of the school by canceling classes. June 8th was founders' day at Baeksu-suh Elementary School. Founders day for Baeksu-nam Elementary was Nov. 15th so I had that day off as well.
Friday, October 15th was a school-wide picnic day at Baeksunam Elementary School. I was fortunate to find out in advance so that I could plan a weekend trip to Seoul. Tuesday, October 19th was picnic day at Baeksusuh Elementary School. I was not told in advance so I found out when I arrived at school which was rather frustrating.
The trick with random days off is to find out in advance. Most ESL teachers have stories about finding things out at the last minute. In the case of the camping trip a student mentioned it to me on Friday so I asked my co-teacher. He then confirmed that I did in fact have Monday off. If I hadn't heard about it and asked, I would have just shown up to a school without students.
BEER PRICES:
As a former student of economics I cannot figure this one out. A 355ml can of beer (12-ounce can) costs 1,200 Won at the market downtown. Interesting enough, a 500ml bottle of beer costs 1,150 Won. Normally in America bottled beer is more expensive and certainly you expect to pay more when you get more. Anyhow, stick to bottles.
SHOPPING BAGS:
In Korea you pay for plastic shopping bags at the market. It's very inexpensive (typically 40 Won) so it's nothing to worry about. However, since it appears on your bill you need to tell the clerk that you want a bag before he/she is finished ringing you up. I don't know the Korean word for bag, so I usually just gesture.
Random Rides Home
I have been given rides from school to my apartment by many people. It's not something I would ever do back in the US but Korea is an extremely safe country and they people are just trying to be helpful. Usually they just see me walking toward the bus and slow down, point to Yeonggwang, then point to the passenger's seat. Sometimes it's a little awkward because we can't converse but it has always worked out.
READING THE GAS METER:
Unfortunately my apartment only has gas for cooking. I wish it gas for heat but it has oil. Anyhow, once a month you need to read the gas meter and report your usage. I my building they put a sticker on your door for the whole year with twelve spaces numbered for each month. Some time around the 19th of the month I have to check the meter on the back porch and write the number on the door sticker.
WESTERN TEACHER FURNITURE:
This isn't really important, but I think it's funny. If you look at some earlier posts we have put up pictures of a few apartments in the area. I think it's helpful to have some mental image of where you will be living for a year. Anyhow, you may notice that we all have the same furniture. I don't mean similar, I mean the same. The same sofa, table & chairs, desk, etc. I'm assuming it all comes from the same furniture rental company. So don't complain to another ESL teacher that your couch is really uncomfortable because we know already.
ATM FEES:
ATM fees are minimal in Korea, but there is one quirk that makes no sense to me. If you use bank ATM during banking hours there is no ATM fee. However, if you use the ATM after the bank closes, even a free-standing ATM on the street you pay a 500 Won fee.
RANDOM DAYS OFF:
Korea has many national holidays. They also have many other non-school days that pop up for various reasons. For example, I didn't have class at one school on Monday, May 31st because the students went on an overnight camping trip. We then had Wednesday, June 2nd off for the national election (this wasn't random). The following week I had Tuesday, June 8th off. Each school celebrates the founding day of the school by canceling classes. June 8th was founders' day at Baeksu-suh Elementary School. Founders day for Baeksu-nam Elementary was Nov. 15th so I had that day off as well.
Friday, October 15th was a school-wide picnic day at Baeksunam Elementary School. I was fortunate to find out in advance so that I could plan a weekend trip to Seoul. Tuesday, October 19th was picnic day at Baeksusuh Elementary School. I was not told in advance so I found out when I arrived at school which was rather frustrating.
The trick with random days off is to find out in advance. Most ESL teachers have stories about finding things out at the last minute. In the case of the camping trip a student mentioned it to me on Friday so I asked my co-teacher. He then confirmed that I did in fact have Monday off. If I hadn't heard about it and asked, I would have just shown up to a school without students.
BEER PRICES:
As a former student of economics I cannot figure this one out. A 355ml can of beer (12-ounce can) costs 1,200 Won at the market downtown. Interesting enough, a 500ml bottle of beer costs 1,150 Won. Normally in America bottled beer is more expensive and certainly you expect to pay more when you get more. Anyhow, stick to bottles.
SHOPPING BAGS:
In Korea you pay for plastic shopping bags at the market. It's very inexpensive (typically 40 Won) so it's nothing to worry about. However, since it appears on your bill you need to tell the clerk that you want a bag before he/she is finished ringing you up. I don't know the Korean word for bag, so I usually just gesture.
Random Rides Home
I have been given rides from school to my apartment by many people. It's not something I would ever do back in the US but Korea is an extremely safe country and they people are just trying to be helpful. Usually they just see me walking toward the bus and slow down, point to Yeonggwang, then point to the passenger's seat. Sometimes it's a little awkward because we can't converse but it has always worked out.
READING THE GAS METER:
Unfortunately my apartment only has gas for cooking. I wish it gas for heat but it has oil. Anyhow, once a month you need to read the gas meter and report your usage. I my building they put a sticker on your door for the whole year with twelve spaces numbered for each month. Some time around the 19th of the month I have to check the meter on the back porch and write the number on the door sticker.
WESTERN TEACHER FURNITURE:
This isn't really important, but I think it's funny. If you look at some earlier posts we have put up pictures of a few apartments in the area. I think it's helpful to have some mental image of where you will be living for a year. Anyhow, you may notice that we all have the same furniture. I don't mean similar, I mean the same. The same sofa, table & chairs, desk, etc. I'm assuming it all comes from the same furniture rental company. So don't complain to another ESL teacher that your couch is really uncomfortable because we know already.
ATM FEES:
ATM fees are minimal in Korea, but there is one quirk that makes no sense to me. If you use bank ATM during banking hours there is no ATM fee. However, if you use the ATM after the bank closes, even a free-standing ATM on the street you pay a 500 Won fee.
Traveling to China
ESL Teachers: Many teachers make it a priority to get over to China while they are teaching in Korea. I am planning a trip in August so I'll share more when I am back. Here are a few resources and tips. Planning your trip revolves around airfare to/from China, getting the Chinese travel visa, and then coordinating a tour with a tour company in China.
A fellow teacher told me about Unique Travel. He used them to book his airfare and get his visa. The website is uniquetravel.co.kr. It's not the best website but their phone number is there and they do speak English. I bought my airfare from Incheon to Beijing on orbitz.com but I am using Unique Travel to get my Chinese travel visa.
Here's a quick description of the visa process. I called Unique Travel and told them I would be sending my passport. They told me to include one color passport photo. I also included a photo copy of my ARC, but they didn't tell me to do that. There is a form for a Chinese travel visa but the people at Unique Travel said they would fill it in for me so I did not send one. They emailed me their physical address. Their email address is uniquetravel@korea.com and the woman I emailed used the English name Judy.
Unique Travel
1st Fl. 131-34
Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu
Seoul, South Korea 140-200
A Korean from one of my schools then took me to the bank and post office. I withdrew cash from the ATM and had it wired to Unique Travel (their bank account information is on the website). Unfortunately for me, the price of the visa just went up. It cost me 195,000 Won. I'm pretty sure this was 170,000 to China and 25,000 to Unique Travel for the service. It also cost me 2,000 Won for the wire transfer. My Korean friend showed me the bank receipt which had my transfer name (my full name didn't fit) and the transaction number. Later when I got back to school I emailed this information back to Judy and she then wrote back saying that the money had arrived.
Next we went to the post office. My Korean friend wrote the address in Hongul. We used a simple envelop and put my passport, the color photo, and the copy of my ARC inside. I asked them to add a tracking number so the postage came to 1,860 Won. I left with a receipt that had the tracking number on it. Unique Travel emailed me the next day and told me that my passport had arrived.
My passport came back 12 days later with my visa inside. They sent it through the Korean postal system with a tracking number. I'm all set for China.
Two fellow teachers gave me the contact information for the tour companies they had used.
China Tour
E-mail: tour@chinatour.net (Tony)
Website: http://www.chinatour.net
China Tour Select
E-mail: peter@chinatourselect.com
Website: http://www.chinatourselect.com/
Both companies have standard travel packages. They are pricey, but I've heard from several people that having a tour guide is money well spent. You can save money by downgrading your hotels (to 3-star), traveling by train, reducing the number of meals included, and traveling with a friend. As it stands right now China Tour has given me a slightly better price for the tour I want. I'll report back when I return.
A fellow teacher told me about Unique Travel. He used them to book his airfare and get his visa. The website is uniquetravel.co.kr. It's not the best website but their phone number is there and they do speak English. I bought my airfare from Incheon to Beijing on orbitz.com but I am using Unique Travel to get my Chinese travel visa.
Here's a quick description of the visa process. I called Unique Travel and told them I would be sending my passport. They told me to include one color passport photo. I also included a photo copy of my ARC, but they didn't tell me to do that. There is a form for a Chinese travel visa but the people at Unique Travel said they would fill it in for me so I did not send one. They emailed me their physical address. Their email address is uniquetravel@korea.com and the woman I emailed used the English name Judy.
Unique Travel
1st Fl. 131-34
Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu
Seoul, South Korea 140-200
A Korean from one of my schools then took me to the bank and post office. I withdrew cash from the ATM and had it wired to Unique Travel (their bank account information is on the website). Unfortunately for me, the price of the visa just went up. It cost me 195,000 Won. I'm pretty sure this was 170,000 to China and 25,000 to Unique Travel for the service. It also cost me 2,000 Won for the wire transfer. My Korean friend showed me the bank receipt which had my transfer name (my full name didn't fit) and the transaction number. Later when I got back to school I emailed this information back to Judy and she then wrote back saying that the money had arrived.
Next we went to the post office. My Korean friend wrote the address in Hongul. We used a simple envelop and put my passport, the color photo, and the copy of my ARC inside. I asked them to add a tracking number so the postage came to 1,860 Won. I left with a receipt that had the tracking number on it. Unique Travel emailed me the next day and told me that my passport had arrived.
My passport came back 12 days later with my visa inside. They sent it through the Korean postal system with a tracking number. I'm all set for China.
Two fellow teachers gave me the contact information for the tour companies they had used.
China Tour
E-mail: tour@chinatour.net (Tony)
Website: http://www.chinatour.net
China Tour Select
E-mail: peter@chinatourselect.com
Website: http://www.chinatourselect.com/
Both companies have standard travel packages. They are pricey, but I've heard from several people that having a tour guide is money well spent. You can save money by downgrading your hotels (to 3-star), traveling by train, reducing the number of meals included, and traveling with a friend. As it stands right now China Tour has given me a slightly better price for the tour I want. I'll report back when I return.
Monday, June 7, 2010
An apartment in Beopseong
ESL TEACHERS: This apartment is currently assigned to the Beopseong Elementary School contract. This apartment does not have aircon.
The narrow side of the building.
The front of the building. Two elevator banks serve the whole building, this is very typical in Korea. A hallway runs along the back of the building on each floor.
The refrigerator.
The washing machine on the outer porch/balcony. No one has a dryer in Korea.
Double closets.
Looking out to the outer porch/balcony from the living room .
Like many Korean apartments there is no separate tub. There is a shower nozzle on the wall and your shower water drains through the bathroom floor.
The kitchen. Counter space is limited.
The kitchen. The 2-burner gas range is standard in Korea. Ovens are VERY rare.
The main living room/bedroom.
The bed.
The view of Beopseong.
The narrow side of the building.
The front of the building. Two elevator banks serve the whole building, this is very typical in Korea. A hallway runs along the back of the building on each floor.
The refrigerator.
The washing machine on the outer porch/balcony. No one has a dryer in Korea.
Double closets.
Looking out to the outer porch/balcony from the living room .
Like many Korean apartments there is no separate tub. There is a shower nozzle on the wall and your shower water drains through the bathroom floor.
The kitchen. Counter space is limited.
The kitchen. The 2-burner gas range is standard in Korea. Ovens are VERY rare.
The main living room/bedroom.
The bed.
The view of Beopseong.
An apartment in Yeonggwang
ESL Teachers: Below are some pictures taken by one of our teachers who lives in the Sajik Sky building. This apartment is currently assigned to the Baeksu Middle School contract. The same person teachers students from two small Baeksu elementary schools. The apartment is on the 16th floor so it comes with a good view of downtown Yeonggwang.
This is the main room. There is a small bedroom but you have more space when you set up the bed in here. It also means that the bed is closer to the aircon unit.
The TV and the aircon unit. This teacher was lucky, aircon is not usually provided.
The washing machine on the outer porch/balcony.
The home office.
Looking through the kitchen into the living room/bedroom
A hallway runs along the back of the building. From the hallway you can see Yeonggwang Hospital.
The view of downtown Yeonggwang from the outer porch/balcony.
A view of the hills and rice paddies behind the building.
This is the main room. There is a small bedroom but you have more space when you set up the bed in here. It also means that the bed is closer to the aircon unit.
The TV and the aircon unit. This teacher was lucky, aircon is not usually provided.
The washing machine on the outer porch/balcony.
The home office.
Looking through the kitchen into the living room/bedroom
A hallway runs along the back of the building. From the hallway you can see Yeonggwang Hospital.
The view of downtown Yeonggwang from the outer porch/balcony.
A view of the hills and rice paddies behind the building.
Dogs & Toilets
The primary purpose of this website it to share information with current and prospective teachers. I think it's only fair to let prospective teachers know about two things that they should be prepared for in Yeonggwang: the condition of dogs and toilets. This is probably true for all of Jeollanam-do but I can only comment on what I've seen. This isn't meant to be a rant and clearly pictures aren't necessary. This is just a 'heads up' so that you know what lays in store.
Dogs: It is commonly known that Koreans eat dogs. It isn't as common most western people think but it definitely happens. It's really not for me to say that the Koreans are wrong here. After all, cows are sacred in India and I still enjoy a good steak. My issue is with how dogs live in rural Korea. Large dogs are almost never allowed inside a Korean home. Sadly though, most of them spend their entire lives on short lengths of chain or confined to small cages. I prefer to see dogs that have room to run and more to enjoy out of life. It's not easy for me to walk past a dog that lives on 6-7 feet of chain.
Toilets: This is another part of life in Korea I would change if I could. The good news is that both of my schools have at least one western style toilet. The rest are squatter toilets. However, the facilities are not what we are used to back in the States. Plumbing isn't done to the same codes we have back home so the toilets can't handle toilet paper. Instead, there is a basket in the stall where the paper goes. This is common in many places around the world. Some schools don't provide toilet paper in the stalls. One of mine does, the other does not. There's probably more I could say, but I'll leave it there.
I hope this doesn't seem to critical of Korea. I think that the more you know before you get here the better prepared you will be to deal with everything you encounter.
Dogs: It is commonly known that Koreans eat dogs. It isn't as common most western people think but it definitely happens. It's really not for me to say that the Koreans are wrong here. After all, cows are sacred in India and I still enjoy a good steak. My issue is with how dogs live in rural Korea. Large dogs are almost never allowed inside a Korean home. Sadly though, most of them spend their entire lives on short lengths of chain or confined to small cages. I prefer to see dogs that have room to run and more to enjoy out of life. It's not easy for me to walk past a dog that lives on 6-7 feet of chain.
Toilets: This is another part of life in Korea I would change if I could. The good news is that both of my schools have at least one western style toilet. The rest are squatter toilets. However, the facilities are not what we are used to back in the States. Plumbing isn't done to the same codes we have back home so the toilets can't handle toilet paper. Instead, there is a basket in the stall where the paper goes. This is common in many places around the world. Some schools don't provide toilet paper in the stalls. One of mine does, the other does not. There's probably more I could say, but I'll leave it there.
I hope this doesn't seem to critical of Korea. I think that the more you know before you get here the better prepared you will be to deal with everything you encounter.
HomePlus in Gwangju
ESL Teachers: After months of relying on E-mart I finally found my way to HomePlus. Teachers from the UK are very familiar with HomePlus and it's parent company, Tesco. I was very impressed with the food selection. HomePlus is 15 minutes from the Gwangju bus terminal on a local city bus. It is also about a 25-minute walk from the downtown area (Speakeasy, First Nepal, etc).
Here's a map of the important areas in Gwangju. This shows the bus terminal, the baseball stadium, the HomePlus and the downtown Geumnamno area (look for the YMCA near the lower right corner of the highlighted area. These maps are available at the information desk in the bus terminal which is close to the arrival gates.
The bus run to HomePlus goes north from the bus terminal and makes a right around the baseball and soccer (Mudeung) stadiums. It goes past the train station (Gwangju Station). HomePlus is where the purple and red lines meet in the upper right corner. The red line shows the path you walk from HomePlus to Geumnamno. The bottom purple line that curves is the riverbed that allows you to walk from the bus terminal to Geumnamno.
You can also get back on the 151 bus and get the the Geumnamno area. It stops somewhere near the YMCA. Or, a cab ride from HomePlus to Geumnamno is only 3,000 Won.
This is a view of the city bus stop as you exit the bus terminal. I think Gate 3 is the door closest to this point, but don't quote me.
These are the local city bus lines that stop in front of the bus terminal. You want bus 151. Note the 2 in the blue circle. The bus stop has two sides. The 151 stops on the 2 side which is further to the left as you approach from the bus terminal. The city bus costs 1,000 Won and you pay on the bus.
The 151 city bus.
This is the train station (Gwangju Station). You'll pass it on your left as you continue on the bus down to HomePlus, which is on your right.
This speaks for itself. There is a bus stop about 25 meters past HomePlus so you can even hit the stop button once you see the building.
This is the HomePlus entrance from the street level.
When you leave HomePlus you can cross the street and get the 151 bus back to the terminal. Or, if you want to walk to the downtown Geumnamno area turn right as you come out the door. Head towards these buildings. Stay on the main road (between the building and the lamp post), don't turn where you see the two black cars heading.
A landmark so you'll know you're going the right way.
Another landmark.
A few minute away from HomePlus. This is where you turn right so that you're heading towards the Geumnamno area.
The view after you make the right. Notice the pedestrian overpass up ahead.
The U Sports Clinic on the left is another landmark to let you know you're going in the right direction.
Another landmark.
Another landmark.
This is the point where your path curves to the right. The tall building you see will be on your left as you continue walking.
Another landmark.
Another landmark.
Another landmark.
Another landmark.
I believe this is the street you're walking on after the bend to the right.
Another landmark.
Another landmark. When you see this you're getting close to the Geumnamno area.
Another landmark.
Approaching the intersection that leads to Geumnamno.
The view from the intersection. The pedestrian alley that leads to the Underground Market is straight ahead on the left just past the building on the left corner.
The view after you cross the intersection. Note the subway entrances on both sides of the street.
This is the alley that leads to the Underground Market.
Here's a map of the important areas in Gwangju. This shows the bus terminal, the baseball stadium, the HomePlus and the downtown Geumnamno area (look for the YMCA near the lower right corner of the highlighted area. These maps are available at the information desk in the bus terminal which is close to the arrival gates.
The bus run to HomePlus goes north from the bus terminal and makes a right around the baseball and soccer (Mudeung) stadiums. It goes past the train station (Gwangju Station). HomePlus is where the purple and red lines meet in the upper right corner. The red line shows the path you walk from HomePlus to Geumnamno. The bottom purple line that curves is the riverbed that allows you to walk from the bus terminal to Geumnamno.
You can also get back on the 151 bus and get the the Geumnamno area. It stops somewhere near the YMCA. Or, a cab ride from HomePlus to Geumnamno is only 3,000 Won.
This is a view of the city bus stop as you exit the bus terminal. I think Gate 3 is the door closest to this point, but don't quote me.
These are the local city bus lines that stop in front of the bus terminal. You want bus 151. Note the 2 in the blue circle. The bus stop has two sides. The 151 stops on the 2 side which is further to the left as you approach from the bus terminal. The city bus costs 1,000 Won and you pay on the bus.
The 151 city bus.
This is the train station (Gwangju Station). You'll pass it on your left as you continue on the bus down to HomePlus, which is on your right.
This speaks for itself. There is a bus stop about 25 meters past HomePlus so you can even hit the stop button once you see the building.
This is the HomePlus entrance from the street level.
When you leave HomePlus you can cross the street and get the 151 bus back to the terminal. Or, if you want to walk to the downtown Geumnamno area turn right as you come out the door. Head towards these buildings. Stay on the main road (between the building and the lamp post), don't turn where you see the two black cars heading.
A landmark so you'll know you're going the right way.
Another landmark.
A few minute away from HomePlus. This is where you turn right so that you're heading towards the Geumnamno area.
The view after you make the right. Notice the pedestrian overpass up ahead.
The U Sports Clinic on the left is another landmark to let you know you're going in the right direction.
Another landmark.
Another landmark.
This is the point where your path curves to the right. The tall building you see will be on your left as you continue walking.
Another landmark.
Another landmark.
Another landmark.
Another landmark.
I believe this is the street you're walking on after the bend to the right.
Another landmark.
Another landmark. When you see this you're getting close to the Geumnamno area.
Another landmark.
Approaching the intersection that leads to Geumnamno.
The view from the intersection. The pedestrian alley that leads to the Underground Market is straight ahead on the left just past the building on the left corner.
The view after you cross the intersection. Note the subway entrances on both sides of the street.
This is the alley that leads to the Underground Market.
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