Job Discussion Forums

[Noelle]

Hi all

I've never been on this forum. I finished up a contract in Korea 3 months ago. Before that I was teaching in China. Now I'm teaching in San Diego and studying full time for a Masters in TESOL.

I have every intention of finishing up my MA and going abroad again. For me Korea seems the perfect fit but I have a lot of adult students here in California who are from Japan and they've really gotten me to start considering Japan. I want to pay off my graduate student loans in no less than 24 months (about 14,000.00 USD when I finish in 2008) but I hear Japan is so expensive compared to Korea.

I guess my main question is why should I choose Japan over Korea? My students keep telling me Japan is better and even the Korean students (much to my astonishment) are over here saying they want to live in Japan.

For those of you who have travelled and worked in both places... any input on this? I'd really appreciate it!

[ripslyme]

[Glenski]

$14,000 / 24 months = $583 per month. Roughly 60,000 yen.

It's doable, and you have to consider only the following.

Half of a 250,000 yen/month salary is basic necessities (groceries, rent, utilities, and phone). Insurance is cheap the first year but skyrockets the following ones tenfold. So, if you have a moderate lifestyle and are money-conscious, you should have no problem setting aside 60,000 yen from that remaining 125,000. I mention 250,000 yen/month because you should expect that in the way of an entry level salary. Sadly, many/most jobs here won't count experience outside of Japan for much. So, you should think about how to survive mentally in a conversation school or on the JET programme (deadline soon! salary 300,000). You could take a chance with an ALT dispatch outsourcing company, but I don't recommend them. As a JET ALT or dispatch ALT, you'd have evenings free to supplement your salary if you like.

You know Korea better than me. I hear there is no rent for most jobs, but do you want to go back there?

[ironopolis]

It seems that paying off debts/saving up some money is important to you - that clearly points to Korea as a much better bet. Japan isn't as expensive as is often made out, but the general cost of living (particularly everyday essentials like food) is still considerably lower in Korea, in spite of the gap having narrowed.
In addition, the yen is very weak agaisnt other currencies at the moment, whereas the won is quite strong, which probably means you'd be better paid in Korea, even before factoring in the free accommodation and lower cost of living.

The other main reason I'd say Korea is a better bet for you, is that there would probably be a greater range of jobs there where your MA in TESOL would be valued and would get you a better deal.

I've lived in both, now in Japan and have been overall fairly happy here, but unless you particularly didn't want to go back to Korea, my two cents would be that that's your best bet. With an MA, you should be able to land a job in Korea giving you plenty of holidays, which would enable you to explore a bit of Japan.

[Noelle]

very helpful info...

thank you so much. I unfortunately have to consider salary before signing a contract abroad when I finish my masters...
before it was not an issue.

I do love Korea and would prefer to return to the familiar but guess I had some curiousities about life in Japan... nothing a little summer vacation might not satisfy.

Thanks again for the input!

[Big John Stud]

[quote="Noelle"]Hi all

I've never been on this forum. I finished up a contract in Korea 3 months ago. Before that I was teaching in China. Now I'm teaching in San Diego and studying full time for a Masters in TESOL.

I have every intention of finishing up my MA and going abroad again. For me Korea seems the perfect fit but I have a lot of adult students here in California who are from Japan and they've really gotten me to start considering Japan. I want to pay off my graduate student loans in no less than 24 months (about 14,000.00 USD when I finish in 2008) but I hear Japan is so expensive compared to Korea.

I guess my main question is why should I choose Japan over Korea? My students keep telling me Japan is better and even the Korean students (much to my astonishment) are over here saying they want to live in Japan.

For those of you who have travelled and worked in both places... any input on this? I'd really appreciate it![/quote]


Yes! Japan is a lot more expensive than Korea. I was able to save a lot more money when I taught in Korea. I hated every moment there, but saved loads of money. If you like Korea and have dept you should go there.

[Trumpcard]

now living in hagwan hell in Korea, after an almost 2 year stint in Japan, i can honestly say that i found groceries to be far cheaper in japan. korea is very very expensive, most items everywhere are a minimum of 1000 won. compare this with the 100 yen supermarkets... things like chicken, meat are also exorbitant here (maybe im just shopping at the wrong places? - i really miss japan

[sushi]

The 100yen stores are the equivalent of the W1000 stuff you can pick up at the discount stores. Give yourself a chance. The Korean restaurants are very cheap. Try Kimbap Nara. It's a chain that has a lot of the regular Korean dishes for cheap.

You need a Korean person to point out a lot of the eating places, or someone who has been around.

Unfortunately it takes time.

There are cheap Food stores and expensive food stores. I'd say follow the crowds and or ask someone who speaks Korean where the bargains are

[Khyron]

I've lived in both Japan and Korea.

If your goal is to pay off student loans, then Korea is better. I *think* I prefer living in Japan, but I did like Korea a lot. How you fare in Korea, as you probably know, definitely depends on your job. If you have a decent boss, it'll should well.

You can pay off your loan in Japan, but you'll either be on a tighter budget, have to work more, or luck out and get a good paying job.