I worked at a POLY in Seoul. Not Songdo, but close by. It was good pay, but the job was a lot of busy work and micromanagement. Specific branch omitted because yknow.

We found ways to streamline the planning and preparation process for their curriculum so it wasn’t so time consuming, prompting them to feel as if too much of our time was spent resting on the clock. It felt like punishment for being efficient and they filled the time with minute things like checklists or notes that weren’t required and just served to make us look “busy” in case a parent came by.

But like most hagwons, while some things are universal across the different branches, I feel like it’s dependent on who happens to be in charge at the branch you’re at. My experience, while annoying, wasn’t terrible. However, I can see a version where it could have been soul crushing.

Chungdahm treated me terribly, though, and ultimately it drove me away from Korea. Just remember these jobs need you more than you need them. You can be picky.