Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dhan89]

Many times, people say leave Korea if you hate it so much... So that's what I did... if you look at my old post, I defended working in hagwon and Korea in general but after a year of living, I changed tunes through more experience...

I came to Seoul 10 months ago... got a job at private hagwon... big and established... got paid about $4500 a month... and hated it...

There's so many reasons why I like Korea, but reasons why I don't like it are more pronounced, and it was enough for me to quit my job and come back to America.

Several reasons why I left and probably never coming back... please don't judge, just my experience....

1. Judgmental/Shallowness

I'm a gyopo, so I kind of got lucky to get a sneak into Korean culture by hanging out with various Korean people and listen to conversations, etc....

And I realize that Korean people in general have materialism and shallowness as their base outlook on life. Yes, I know there aren't people like that but in general, in seoul, shit is all about how you look, how much money you make, how superior you are (in career, friendship) etc... not to say it isn't in LA or NY, but here in seoul it takes a more crass and unsophisticated approach to it all... hence why I realize to Koreans commercials featuring celebrity is a big deal...

2. Rudeness/Arrogant

This saddens me. Koreans are rude/arrogant. You can argue with me otherwise but I truly believe the stress of people living in seoul makes them hollow and isolated... and rude and mean. When people are like this collectively, it stresses you out.

3. People Aren't Happy.

Just ride the subway. I've ridden subways in NY, Spain, Paris, LA, Sacramento... and no where are people more sullen and lifeless than in Seoul. Wifi and cleanliness don't matter when the people, the culture you're within isn't feeling the good feels... Yea, as a tourist, it may be so wonderful and amazing, new experiences,, but as a lifer, grinding and living, you start to see that people are generally... not happy

4. XENOPHOBIO.... racism... I don't even know.

Even as a gyopo, I sensed xenophobia.. not from everyone but let's say about 1/4 of people I met. People are extremely standoffish/rude if your Korean falters... but as soon as you bring out your English they get all giggly kind of nice, intimidated... I hate that... why can't you just be open from the get-go and why the heck are you suddenly nice when I speak English? Just don't understand....

5. Appearances

This is a more personal factor. Appearances are huge in Seoul. People dress too well. I'm not saying I don't care about my look but It stressed me out many times because I always felt I had to look good before I went out. ALL THE TIME.

6. Kids/Parents

Srs... not worth it. No respect to teachers. I realized that there was no way I could stand taking abuse of my integrity and intelligence to placate parents and students. I felt pathetic for being a little bitch for hagwon/parents/students to prevent them from quitting. Many times parents complained that my classes were too hard or students made up bs stories saying I was going to fast, etc. In the end, I was responsible for all these things.... coming from a consulting bg, I realized I didn't need to deal with this...

7. Education system

It's all about memorizing stuff. Not really improving critical thinking in English. I started to go crazy teaching the same crap over and over again. I realized hagwon wanted me to just teach whatever book they had and didn't want me to test students mind and help them think independently.....

I would get odd stares when I tried to have the kids voice out their personal hypothetical solutions to challenges/ideas/etc... they just want the answers and A... only some kids that lived abroad understood what I was saying...

8. Collectivism vs Individualism

This is a land where standing out is a big no no... There is no such thing as rewarding uniqueness or pursuing individuality... People strive to work together here, pursue a solution for the common group... Sacrifice individualism for the group... I realized how this stressed me as I took granted the varying freedom of experiences I had living in other parts of the world...

Do I regret teaching in Korea? No, not at all. I learned so much about myself and the kind of tenacity I have.... I learned that if I could do hagwon for 1 year, then other things are a breeze.. currently in America with own business set up and I really really really value my freedom. Literally everyday I am grateful for my freedom.... lol.

Do I regret leaving Korea... not at all. I don't plan on returning for a long time ... and even that, it'll be a short stint as a vacation...

I am proud of Koreans in general being able to become wealthy, strive anywhere in the world, but teaching in Seoul, left me with a bitter taste which I am oddly grateful for. I'll never forget my experiences here... kinda corny but it made me stronger... and this is something no one will understand, except other english teachers who've taught in Korea...

So cheers to us past and present k teacher in Korea.

[matthews_world]

Seems par for the course.

Haven't you perused the experiences of others on this board who have come before you?

[dhan89]

[PRagic]

So in a nut shell, another one year wonder.

Not everyone is cut out to make it abroad long term. It takes a special kind of crazy.

And you were performing at a kiddy hagwon, not actually 'teaching' at an actual school. Big difference.

But, hey, at least you called it like you saw it, and recognized early on that it wasn't for you. Good luck with the new venture.

[dhan89]

[tophatcat]

@ OP

I remembered some of your previous posts so I took a look back. You belittled some other posters. Example, claimed Americans were lazy and stuck on 2.1 while you were rolling in the big bucks. Claimed you had the DNA for it. Yet, some of these posters have been here for many years and perhaps they were bringing in more than you. All, or most, of these posters are still around. I believe some of them may even be married to Koreans.

Being a GYOPO, you probably had it much easier than most of the NETs here. Seoul is probably the easiest city to work in, less xenophobia than most in general. You didn't have near the barriers and problems most people will face here in Korea.

How are things back home on mom's sofa?

[tophatcat]

[dhan89]

[dhan89]

[CentralCali]

[dhan89]

[radcon]

You berate Koreans for being overly materialistic and then you go spend your entire savings on the #1 car for douche bag money grubbers: BMW. Nice.

[CentralCali]

[dhan89]

[World Traveler]

Don't be a crab in the bucket, radcon. The man used his fiat money wisely.