Moving to Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea? The following article digs deep into key aspects of living in Pyeongtaek-si with a focus on international resident life. This post takes a look at information relevant to the lived realities of the foreign-born population. Where is Pyeongtaek? You can see the Administrative District of Pyeongtaek-si (평택시) marked in blue on the map below. Pyeongtaek sits along the southern border of Gyeonggi-do. The Yellow Sea, Anseong, Osan, Hwaseong, Yongin, Cheonan, Asan, and Dangjin all border Pyeongtaek-si. Over the last decade, Pyeongtaek-si quickly developed from a rural farming area to a key player in modern Korea’s economic development. The development of massive Samsung factories and the relocation of many US military personnel to the area brought many changes. As of 2021, Pyeongtaek-si feels like a mix of city and countryside life mixed into one. Such high-paced development creates a wide range of economic and cultural diversity which may lead to certain social and cultural difficulties. For example, some areas of Pyeongtaek have housing and land prices similar to Gangnam, while more rural areas remain affordable (as of 2022). Pyeongtaek to Seoul Travel Times Travel time from Pyeongtaek may vary from 40 min to 2 hours depending on different factors such as where you plan to arrive in the city of Seoul and the type of transport you take to Seoul. Both Pyeongtaek and Seoul cover large areas so all estimated travel times vary widely. Such travel time differences may become an important point when choosing where to live in Pyeongtaek if you need to travel to Seoul often. Some employers or recruiters who wish to entice new international employees may pitch Pyeongtaek as “near Seoul’ or a “suburb of Seoul”. Such a statement may feel true or like a lie depending on where the new employee’s home or company exists in Pyeongtaek. South of Seoul recommends verifying any distances quoted via Naver Maps or Kakao Maps. Pyeongtaek-si is an Administrative District It’s important to know that the name ‘Pyeongtaek-si’ technically refers to the larger Administrative District of Pyeongtaek-si (평택시) and the area near AK Plaza which many refer to as “Pyeongtaek” is Pyeongtaek-dong (평택동). Understanding that ‘Pyeongtaek’ may be used differently in different situations is VERY important. In conversation or in online information, authors and speakers often call both the Administrative District of Pyeongtaek-si and the area of Pyeongtaek-dong just “Pyeongtaek” which may cause confusion and misunderstandings. For the purpose of this post, ‘Pyeongtaek’ refers to the Administrative District. If you have trouble understanding how this works, Consider New York, New York in the United States, or when people use “Washington” to refer to either Washington DC or Washington State in the USA. Such information about how ‘Pyeongtaek’ is defined may feel irrelevant now, but if you move to Pyeongtaek-si, accuracy becomes critical. When you ask for help and support, the lack of local clarity in the English-speaking population regarding the term “Pyeongtaek” may create negative communication experiences. Pyeongtaek-si Areas The administrative district of Pyeongtaek-si divides up into -eup(읍), -myeon (면), and -dongs (동). An area designated as an -eup, has a smaller population than an area designated as a -myeon. A -dong is larger than both an -eup and a -myeon. Additionally, each of the -eup, -myeong, and -dongs may divide up into even smaller neighborhoods. The Pyeongtaek-si government created the following 2021 map showing the different Pyeongtaek-si areas. You can see that the local government of Pyeongtaek also divides Pyeongtaek-si into three different areas: blue is West Pyeongtaek, dark purple is North Pyeongtaek, and light purple is South Pyeongtaek. Neighborhood ‘Slang’ Names Getting used to the Korean names of Pyeongtaek-si areas may feel overwhelming and complicated. In order to manage the confusion, many international communities often develop their own names for different areas. Such regional ‘slang’ names also often change over time. South of Seoul always recommends taking the time to learn the actual Korean name of your new neighborhood. Geography Primarily flat, the geography of Pyeongtaek-si varies in relaxing, beautiful ways. Let’s take a look at the different topographic aspects of the area: Flat with Farming in the Middle Pyeongtaek is mostly flat, flat, flat. It’s known as part of the bread basket of South of Korea because of all the farms in the area. The wide open spaces can be especially gorgeous during different times of the year. Be sure to get out and experience the countryside when you can. It’s easy to bike and explore. Mountains and Hills to the East It is important to note that even though it’s flat, you will often hear about the mountains in Pyeongtaek, which will feel misleading when you arrive and find rolling hills. It’s important to understand that in the Korean language there aren’t two different words for mountain and hill that match how English speakers use them. Sure, there is a word for “hill,” but it’s not used in regular conversation to talk about what we would call a hill. Everything is just “san” or mountain. Size doesn’t matter in Korean as it does in English. So, don’t be shocked when you are told to hike a mountain only to discover it’s barely a hill. Just smile and understand it’s a language barrier thing. That said, there are lovely hills to hike through in the Jinwee and Ichungdong areas in the northeast of Pyeongtaek. These hiking areas are listed in the South of Seoul app. The Lake to the South West Pyeongtaek has a ”lake” in the Southwest. This is actually where the sea has been contained to protect the farms from flooding, but folks call it Pyeongtaek Lake. This area has a park, paddle boats, water skiing, kite flying, and such. The Sea to the West If you go straight west, you are going to reach the sea. This is not a place with beaches. Instead, the west coast of Pyeongtaek-si consists of mostly grasslands and Pyeongtaek Port which does a ton of trade with China. The Rivers and Streams Throughout Pyeongtaek has rivers and streams that meander all across it. Many of them have beautiful walking and biking paths. In fact, there is a gorgeous bike path that runs from Pyeongtaek Lake all the way to Sosabeol. Get out there and make use of these paths ASAP or you will regret it. International Population Pyeongtaek-si is becoming an increasingly diverse place. The international population of Pyeongtaek includes around 40,000 international residents and 36,000 US military-affiliated residents (these populations are counted separately since they exist in Pyeongtaek under SOFA status). Combining the international resident population and the US military-related population means between 70,000-80,000 international people live in the area. This includes an estimated 17,000 multicultural households. Below you will see a quick look at a few different foreign communities that exist in the area. Factory Workers Pyeongtaek has a growing population of foreign factory workers from Vietnam, China, Thailand, Pakistan, Nepal, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and more. It’s not uncommon to visit areas around Pyeongtaek Station and hear more foreign languages than Korean. I went to a Nepali ex-pat party last year and had the time of my life. ESL/EFL Teachers The area has a solid population of English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers that work in Korean public schools, after-school academies or English kindergartens. There are also some university professors. On YouTube, many past EFL educators share their experiences in Pyeongtaek and other areas across South Korea. USA Military The US Military consolidated many of its forces into the Pyeongtaek area at two US military bases: Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Force Base. The US military personnel live in Korea under the SOFA which means they do not hold resident status. Active US military members live on base and off base. The following, wildly misleading video offers a look at Camp Humphreys. We say it’s misleading due to 1) the images of Korea shown in the video are mostly not of Pyeongtaek and 2) some of the base images do not realistically reflect the actual look of the base. Either way, the YouTube video provides a solid look at the base itself. Military Contractors In addition to the military themselves, there are contractors that work for the military but who aren’t actually military. DOD Educators & ICS Teachers There are a small number of foreign teachers that work for the International Christian School or the military schools (Although, I think the DOD teachers fall under the Military Contractor heading, I think (I thought I would note them separately, just because). Business Owners Pyeongtaek has many restaurants and businesses in the area owned by foreign business owners from places like Peru, Canada, India, Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Russia, the US, etc. International Spouses of Korean Nationals In addition to many people living here on visas for work, there are also plenty of foreigners living here because they are married to Korean citizens. Missionaries There are even a handful of foreign missionaries working at various churches in the area. In fact, the Church of Latter Day Saints has an outreach facility near the Camp Humphreys walk-in gate. Areas of Industry Pyeongtaek has a diverse number of thriving industries. Farming Originally farming was Pyeongtaek’s biggest claim to fame and it’s still a big part of the area. However, farmland is quickly shrinking as more and more corporations open factories in the area. These days, Pyeongtaek also leads in smart farming. International Shipping Port Pyeongtaek has one of the biggest ports in the country which does massive amounts of trade with China. In fact, they are building a “Chinatown” in the area to meet the cultural demands of the population there. Car Factories Kia and other major car factories have plants in the area. The proximity to Pyeongtaek Port makes it a smart place for them to do business. The auto industry is what has fueled the growth of Anjung-eup. For a very long time, this is where big money in town came from, but times are changing. Technology Related Factories A few years ago, Samsung started a massive expansion in Pyeongtaek that also created the foundation of a new city: Godeok-myeon. This new city, located just south of Osan Air Force Base, was slated to be finished in 2020 but development continues. It hosts not only a billion-dollar Samsung semi-conductor plant but also a similarly giant panel factory that’s being built right next to it. Not to be left behind, LG has been building its own factory in the area. Although it’s not even close to as massive as what Samsung has going on. As these two giant tech companies move to the area, many companies that supply them are also opening up shop next door. This has caused a massive rise in property costs in the area. There are also lesser-known semiconductor plants in the area. In fact, South Korea leads the world in semiconductors. Other Industry and Factories A large number of miscellaneous factories that produce everything from Purina dog food to vitamin drinks also exist in the area. USA Military Two of the smaller areas in Pyeongtaek (Shinjang and Paengseong) have economies that rely on the US Military Bases they are next to. However, generally speaking, the economic impact of the bases doesn’t extend too far past the English-speaking business districts by their front gates. If you are an English-speaking international resident looking for work, these two areas are where you are most likely going to find a job. Transportation Pyeongtaek-si has 5 stops on Line 1 of the Seoul subway system despite being outside of Seoul. Additionally, Pyeongtaek-si has an SRT station but not a KTX station. Pyeongtaek has a variety of inter-city bus terminals located in different areas of Pyeongtaek. Transportation between different areas of Pyeongtaek-si can be complicated without a private vehicle such as a car or scooter. Many residents who decided to stay in Pyeongtaek-si over time often choose to purchase a private mode of transportation as it greatly improves the quality of life near home. Immigration...

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  When you arrive in Korea there will be a thousand little surprises. Doesn’t matter how much you have prepared or how many blogs like this you have read. It’s ok and there is no judgement. You’ve spent many months building up this experience in your mind and when you arrive it’s going to get very real, very fast. Reality of culture shock is going to conflict with the comfort of the dream and suddenly teaching English abroad is going to be come a real job. A job you are expected to do with little to no guidance, information, or explanation. The expectations others will have of you will feel impossible to meet, because – well – they are. It’s going to take you a while to get good at this and that’s ok. It’s ok you are a little miserable and it’s ok that you are shocked by things. It’s more than ok, it’s normal. GEPIK and EPIK are going to do their best to help you get oriented, but they are going to leave out some very important things. Things they either can’t say, don’t know to say, or don’t want to say. They aren’t failing you. They have done their best in the framework of their job. The rest is really up to us, teachers working in the industry, to share with you.  This blog won’t solve all your problems, but hopefully we can help you feel less alone and more aware of things coming your way. We will attempt to offer solutions and empower you to meet the challenges head on. We love this job and want to make sure that you do to. None of these things are complaints, they are issues we overcome. Simple facts of life which is how we came up with the title for this list… 10 Facts of Life for English Teachers   ONE ***Everything Will Be Last Minute and Nobody Tells  You Anything*** This is the number one complaint of every new and old teacher. It’s a frustrating fact of life. Know it’s going to suck and just find the humor in it. Know that everything you are told is fluid like a river. Here is a list of some of the many things that will happen: Your class is cancelled and nobody told you. Your classes has been re-organized for the day or week and will happen at different times – nobody told you. Half of your students are gone because they need to work on another subject. Your students are expected to sing a pop song in the festival, but you aren’t told until 2 weeks before. Open class is next week and they need a lesson plan. Open class is suddenly cancelled. You made the open class plan and it was approved. Then they ask you to completely change it the day before. Students show up in your class with no notice.  Students leave your class with no notice. There is a school dinner after work, they tell you at noon the same day. (VERY common) There is a teachers trip over the weekend, you find out two days before you are expected to attend. You are required to pitch in an extra 30,000 won to attend said trip. A fellow teacher is getting married, you are expected at the wedding and need to contribute 20,000-50,000 won gift. A fellow teacher’s family member has died, you are expected at the funeral with a 20,000 – 50,000 won gift. That’s right. Some of the surprises have nothing to do with your actual work. They are the social requirements of holding your job. Yes, you could skip these. You could choose not to participate in local culture, but then why did you come? This is what life is here. You go to the weddings and the funerals. You show up at the dinners. You participate in the highs and lows of life. If you want to be happy in the job for the long run, you are just going to just have to become somebody who rolls with the punches.    However, when it’s work related you can get ahead of the game on many things if you insist they give you one very important docutment…   SOLUTION(s): Get the School Schedule   In March every school releases a school schedule. Usually they don’t give this to the English teacher because you don’t speak Korean. This schedule tells you when the open classes are going to be, holiday, vacations, when the kids are going on trips, etc. The schedule will look something like this but maybe not exactly:     Make sure that you have this. Don’t rest until you get it. Sit down in your first week and go over at least the first three months of dates. Get out your translation app and go to work. Know what is happening at your school and ask questions about the things you don’t understand. We can’t translate everything because each school is different, but these are common and important things: 학년 = You will see somethings labeled 1학년. This refers to their grade level. Some events are only for certain grades. If you see this you can ask your co-teacher about it and find out if the students will be absent that day or the schedule affected. 학기 = Semester. 월 = Month 주 = Week 일, 월, 화, 수, 목, 금, 토 = Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday Look for words that end in-절 These will be holidays. Example: 광복절 교육= education so it means there is some sort of special education event. 학습 = learning so it’s another study event. 페스티벌 or 축제 = Festival of some sort (you can ask if your students will be asked to perform any English activities like pop songs.) 방학 = School vacation 현장체험학습일 = Field Day, maybe your kids will miss class. Ask your co-teacher. 교원능력개발평가 = Assessment of teaching ability. This is when you will be asked to teach a special class. I recommend getting ahead of this. Try to be sure you get to choose what grade level you will teach so that you can put your best foot forward.  개교기념일 = School anniversary, sometimes this is treated as a holiday and you have it off. 졸업식 = Graduation, there wont be classes and you will need to attend if you have a soul. 수영 = Swimming. It’s possible your students have a week of swim classes where they will miss school. There is one very important thing that is NOT included on the school calendar: winter/summer camps. This will usually not be scheduled until the last minute. Sorry guys, you just have to accept the fact you wont be buying your vacation tickets early. Ask as early as you can to let the school know it’s important to you, but don’t expect an answer.    Plan For Pop Songs I plan on the fact someone at some point is going to ask my students to sing a song. Sure it might not happen, but I plan on it because I want my students to succeed. In preparation for that moment I teach all of my classes a pop song starting at the beginning of they year. Each week we learn 1-2 lines of the song together. When they memorized it slowly like this it’s very easy and builds their confidence. Maybe it takes 5-10 minutes of class each week. I treat the entire song as a way to work on vocabulary, grammar points, speaking, listing etc. By summer vacation they have fully learned and dissected the song. Then if they are asked to sing at the fall festival they are ready. This system has worked great because my students are always prepared, and even if they are never asked to sing it – they learned something helpful.   Find Out Who Your After School Class Manager Is If you teach after school classes you are not only being managed by your co-teacher, but also the person responsible for coordinating all the after school classes. This person is the one who will set your schedule for Open Classes. Meet them, make sure you are on their good side so that they let you choose which class will be taught and what time it will be taught. It’s very nice to be in control of this since you know that an Open Class at 3:00 on a Friday is gauranteed to go south.    They will also be the ones to notify you if after-school classes are changed or altered in any way. It’s great when this information is given directly to you instead of going through your co-teacher who might forget to tell you, or tell you late. Also, if you are friends with the person scheduling classes, they may let you have input on how your classes are structured or what time they happen. I always appreciated the fact my after-school manager always ran the plan past me and asked for my input. You can’t expect this the first year, but if you get to know them you can earn their trust and move toward this.   TWO ***Open/Special Classes*** You are going to have to teach in front of people and you are going to be evaluated. This isn’t weird. This should be expected. All the teachers at your school are going through the same thing with you. It’s not just for English teachers. It’s everyone. Suck it up and do your best. Nobody thinks it’s fun.   You will have Open Classes with your co-teacher AND you will have Open Classes for your after-school program. Some will be open to parents and others will be open to only teachers. Open classes are often held in the spring and fall. It’s possible that you might be asked to do between 2-4 of them a year depending on how many regular v. special classes you teach.   Each time you will be evaluated and sometimes the feedback seems completely rediculous. It can be hard to take, but you just have to take it. Thank them for their feedback and promise to do your best to improve. Then you call all your friends and blow off steam because you are all going through this together. You bond with your co-worker who is also frusterated. The first few years are the hardest but then you start to get a feel for it and you realize it’s not the end of the world and kind of an interesting riddle to unravel.   SOLUTION(s): Plan Ahead Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare for you special class. If you have the school calendar you know what week they will be happening. Work toward it:   Practice activities with your students that you might want to have them do during open class.  Clarify with your co-teacher who will be making the Open Class plan for Regular Class that you teach together.  Ask what the parents at your school value or what the principle usually looks for.  Ask you co-worker for the former teachrs lesson plans. Ask what feedback was given to the former teacher. Ask questions. Work on question answer patterns with the kids that will impress the parents. Create plans that highlight the students abilities instead of your power point skills. Don’t overwhelm the students.   The biggest key to success is making sure you don’t surprise your students too much on the day of class. Use activities and skills you know they are comfortable with. Don’t set them up to fail by delivering lots of new information in front of their parents or the other teachers. Remember that your students are also scared. Protect and support them and they will help you look good.   Remember that just because you received some negative feedback doesn’t mean you did a bad job. Sometimes people are required to find negative things so they REALLY reach. It’s possible they understood NONE of the lesson and don’t want to look silly. This is especially true for feedback coming from the school principles who might...

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