Learning Korean
It is always daunting moving to a new country - especially one in which most donn't speak your language! You will find that while many people living in Seoul can speak passable English, the same cannot be said for Gwangju. Although it seems confusing, it is easy to learn how to read the Korean alphabet.
Learning how to read Korean and learning some basic survival phrases will add immensely to your time here. It will impress your co-workers, help your teaching, and assist you in exploring Gwangju and Korea at large.
KIIP
The Korean Immigration and Integration Program is predominantly designed for those wishing to stay in Korea indefinitely. Even if you are not aiming to become a permanent resident, it is still beneficial to take these classes, as they are free and often full of motivated learners. The only real downsides are that it can be difficult to find a cohort for the more advanced levels, classes are often scheduled very late in the evening or during your normal work hours, and application periods can be infrequent in smaller cities. The class sizes are generally bigger, as a result, so you will have less individualized instruction. Online classes are available but fill up fast. If you are not a complete beginner (alphabet, pronunciation, etc.), you'll want to take a placement test first. Both the KIIP Test and the TOPIK can be used to skip lower levels.
TOPIK
If you need further motivation to improve your Korean, consider signing up for the TOPIK. There are a lot of study guides and vocabulary workbooks to help with this. The tests are given several times a year. Most people pick a month at least one year into the future and then start studying for that particular level. While most Korean classes focus on listening and speaking, a large part of your TOPIK score is based on literacy.
Using your TOPIK score to get into a higher-level KIIP class
After creating an account on socinet, prepare the following documents:
사회통합프로그램 연계 신청서 (socinet.go.kr > 민원서식)
TOPIK Results page (verification number must be visible)
Residence Card (ARC)
Submit the documents via email to kiipgwangju@korea.kr. Contact the Immigration Integration Support Center (이민통합지원센터) at 062-605-5280 for more information.
Korean Classes
The Gwangju International Center (GIC) offers Korean classes. Classes run for 7 weeks at a time and they cater for numerous levels. Please email language@gic.or.kr to find out more.
TongTong is a language school in Gwangju which offers Korean classes. See their website or Facebook page for more information.
Online Classes/ Resources
There are numerous online resources available for learning Korean. Here are a few:
(1) Dom&Hyo
They have a website and Facebook page where they share useful Korean words and phrases.
(2) SAY Korean
For online tutoring.
Offers in-depth explanations and examples of the nuances of Korean grammar points from the POV of a KFL learner.
For self-study online lessons.
Cellphone Apps
There are a number of cellphone apps which can assist you in learning and practicing Korean. A few recommended ones are Memrise, Duolingo and Learn Korean - Grammar. For flashcards, consider Anki.