Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Derrek]

Before coming to Korea, I worked in TV for eight years. I was always BEHIND the camera -- not ON it. I never did on-camera work unless we needed an "extra" shopping in the background or something.

Now that i'm in Korea, I did something sort of on a whim -- I gave my name to a talent agent, and BAM -- auditions. Inside, I'm smiling because I don't have the look of an actor, but in Korea, sometimes I think they are just desperate to find white people to fill the parts.

Actually, I have only tried out for one thing on-camera, and was offered another, but declined. Until I get the correct Visa, i'm not going to chance being recognized by the doofs at immigrations (due to recent problems there).

So for now, I'm just doing voice work. I voiced over 800 commercials in the USA, and because it's apparently not easy to find good English-speaking announcers here, it pays much better than acting. Those jobs seem to be somewhat more frequent -- I've had one this month, and two more after Chu-sok (in case you are curious, my last job paid 150,000 for what should have been an hour of work, but it took three, because it had lots of Korean mixed in -- yikes)!

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone on this board is doing on-camera stuff, so I could chat about "the biz" in Korea.

[Coffeecup]

Voiced over 800 commercials? Sheesh.

I did stage acting in the past and took a number of acting classes. But never employed to directly in "the biz."

[masuro]

I did a television program in Daegu for 10 months. My 'corner' was only about 10 minutes long and it involved travelling around Kyeongbuk Province to visit famous traditional restaurants and take part in the cooking process. Then my partner and I (former Miss Daegu) would taste the finished meal and give our comments. It was a lot of fun to do and the people I worked with were wonderful. There was also the studio portion of the program to record on saturday mornings. It wasn't live but we usually did it in one cut unless someone really messed up. The program was all in Korean so I got a chance to practise my language skills as well as eat great food! I was somewhat 'famous' in Daegu and I would often be greeted by people in the streets and in the shops. It's a strange (even unsettling) feeling to walk into a shop for the first time and be greeted by name. Doing the program was nice while it lasted but I moved to Gangwon Province. If I had a chance to do another program I think I'd do it.

[Hoju Nick]

I keep telling the missus that I'm going to be an actor on the Korean show, "Surprise". Anyone seen it? They use a lot of east europeans, a couple of NAs and a Kiwi. Can't understand the Europeans half the time.

I think it would be a blast! Its obvious that no acting skill is required.

[Jensen]

My boss would sometimes get calls to send teachers to the studios for little acting jobs, language-training video stuff, etc. He explained this to a group of us my first week, gave me a hard stare, and told me (in front of everybody), "but you sure won't have to worry about it!" I was thinking, "And I love you to you little weasel" Guess there's not much need for us Chris Elliot doubles on Korean tv.

[denz]

a friend of mine is a regular on the show "surprise surprise" or whatever it is called in korean. usually centers around three stories, one of the stories is untrue and the participants have to determine which one is false. anyway, you can barely walk down the street without being mobbed. he tried to hook me into it, but i think most foreigners come across as goons on tv.

anyways, have fun.

[Hoju Nick]

[ulsanchris]

Ever see the show English Cafe (i think that is the title). It has some foriegners on it. The korean actors act normally and aren't that bad, but the foreign actors over acted so badly. YOu would really have to try to overact that badly. I can't imagine that they were not doing it purposely. I just wonder why they acted like that. Have they no pride? all the koreans acted normally why couldn't the foreigners?

[peppermint]

Just a theory, but could it be because they are used to hamming it up in the classroom, so the students will understand?

[Ryst Helmut]

Worked for EBS for a 8 months, maybe more...don't recall exactly. It was a good experience, but something NOT for those looking for The Dosh.

Pay was shittake, and I was on a popular show with 'famous' Koreans, so can't believe any other show would be different now (we all were paid the same <2001?>). Work sucked for me, in that, lived 90 minutes from Seoul so commuting sucked right off. Second, since I was one of the few with univ. gigs (no Saturdays) I got the morning shift, as well as afternoon. That meant that I'd do my run from 9-11 break while the nooners came in (but had to stick about as we were on and off sets/travelling) and then finish up the day. I was only paid for each segment making on air...so an 8-hour day could end up (at worst) netting me 10,000 won (minus everything). Of course, I think that only happened once, when I pulled a 14 hour day (birthday, no less!) for only 4 scenes...had to drive all over Seoul in lovely traffic with crew, camaras breaking, a slew of mishaps while shooting (curious spectators/car horns/the works)...so I think I got paid some 50,000 won gross for 14 hours....ummm, yeah, I much prefer my 60,000 for one hour now....

But, I've loads of videos of my 'adventures' for my kids to laugh at!

Shoosh,

Ryst

[Mankind]

I worked for a straight to video company. Shoot on weekends. They paid 35,000-40,000 an hour. They paid from the time you showed till you went home. So a 10 hour day netted you 350,000 to 400,000, plus lunch and a crapload of acne from all the makeup.

HAND

[dogbert]

[Mashimaro]

I once worked as a soup man in Japan. I got payed 2000 yen a pop, great job but a little tiring.

[Stunted Wookie]

I worked on two movies back home + voicing (deep woodsy, manly voice)

What agency did you go thru here? Its been a while but I would love to try a few bit pieces here and there..