TOPIA English Zone (Elementary School) – Uijeongbu: Shingok-dong, Gyeonggi-do

I noticed a review of Topia English Zone listed, and I thought I would offer an analysis of my experience. Though the reviewer recommended that teachers should not choose any Topia English Zone for employment, I believe my experience was absolutely satisfactory. I don’t deny that what the reviewer said is true, however I must say the dynamics at my office were far different. To start, we received every last benefit we were entitled to in our contract. This should not be taken for granted, as numerous times people have been left high and dry with no recourse whatsoever. Secondly, the director was very fair, and office politics were never an issue. As long as you did your job satisfactorily, you would hear nothing but praise from her. Thirdly, the curriculum is simple, organized and easy to teach. For the first time teacher, I believe this job offers the experience needed to have a perfect segway to more lu! crative esl jobs.
My one and only complaint about Topia in Uijeongbu was the amount of vacation time. Most hagwons will close for a week in the summer and in the winter, but unfortunately, this does not happen at Topia. There was a 2 day work holiday, but I was not able to use my other vacation days, and was subsequently offered compensation.

If I were to rate Topia, I would give it a solid 8/10. I think what the company offers to its teachers outweighs what some may see as the “negatives” Granted, I am only speaking for Topia in Uijeongbu. I cannot vouch for other Topia franchises. I hope this was helpful to you.

My fiance and I worked at the Yeonsu branch from September 2010 to the end of August 2011 on a 1 year contract. We did not get our severance, pension, complete vacation time, or even the housing and furnishings stated in our contract. However, Topia did pay on time each month.

The owner, Mr. Lee, and the President, Jun, promised again and again to pay our severance and pension (they claimed they didn’t realize they had to pay the pension) at the end of our contract. Then they said they had to take out bank loans to pay us. It wasn’t until we got an excel sheet detailing over a million won in bogus deductions that we realized that in fact our bosses, who had pretended to be our friends, were actively trying to reduce their liability and inevitably not pay us what we were owed.

They succeeded. We went back to the US with our tails between our legs and they didn’t pay us a bek won.

It is also important to note that Topia headquarters ignored repeated cordial requests for assistance. If I had it to do over again I would not work for any Topia branch since they do not support their teachers and they look for every way to cut corners. And they do it all with a grin and a free bottle of soju so you think you are among friends.