Korean Job Discussion Forums

hanney · Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Location: korea

Hi, If anyone ever work in Japan ? Is it better than Korea in term of pay and living cost and people and sight seeing. I read some article said that we can work 2 job legally as the Visa is ours ( not sponsorship visa ) ? .Please share the info if anyone have. Thank you.

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

I think you've got a lot of research to do. Asking such open-ended questions like that on here is a bit silly. Here's a brief low-down:

Pay is generally similar, but living costs are much higher in Japan, so it is more much difficult to save money.

Many people would argue that the potential quality of life in Japan is better due to more interesting things to do and a more globalised society which while open and varied manages to preserve a lot of its history.

Overall, you have to choose between quality of life and quantity of savings. However, personally, I like living in Korea for now as the extra cash means I can enjoy myself with trips abroad etc, so it all depends on what you want and what you expect.

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

I agree with what Butlerian just said, but an interesting avenue to look at is the Westgate Corporation. They have some sweet stuff to offer, from where I see it. I haven't worked with them, and if anyone around here has I'd love to hear their take.

Ginormousaurus · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit

Now I don't want to be one of those guys...but is English your first language?

europe2seoul · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Location: Seoul, Korea

Depends where - I guess Osaka and Tokyo is good to meet chicks and stuff....some other parts not so - in more rural areas you can't see people walking on the street to "ask for directions" or bump into them etc
Twisted Evil

Korea is more vibrant for that, IMHO.

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

Why not go to Japan and see for yourself?

Travelous Maximus · Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Location: Nueva Anglia

If you like Japan, don't go to Korea. You'll be shunned like a bastard stepchild.

plutodog18 · Joined: 01 Feb 2007

Here is the url for Westgate.

http://www.westgate.co.jp/

I read over the information. Maybe I am missing something, but their program does not seem that great to me. Long hours, Less pay than Korea.........

stumptown · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: work In Japan

JJJ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

Well, the job situation in Japan, as far as I am concerned, has gone down over the past few years. I was there for 7 years and was lucky for 6 of them to work directly with the school board. So, I was a City Hall worker with 8 to 10 weeks off if the school was closed (no camps of course), National days off and 20 "personal days" off per year. Oh yeah, and a 2 bedroom cottage for 10, 000 yen/month and 300,000 yen/month salary. It was a sweet job UNTIL the dispatch companies came calling and said "we'll take care of everything" and the city was lazy and said "sure". So, of course they didn't tell us until a week before we have to sign a new contract, so I was stuck.

Here's what happened. Our salary dropped 50,000 to the standard 250,000yen/month. Our city supplied house now became the dispatch company's responsibility and they charged me 80,000 yen/month. We lost all our personal days. Only 14 days off/year (plus National days) and we had to sit in the boiling hot or freezing cold school if we didn't have vacation days to use. I lasted 1 year and switched to Korea last July.

Dispatch companies have taken over a lot of the good school jobs and the eikaiwas (hogwans) there are pretty much the same as here. Good and bad but not really super pay. I save a lot more here than I ever did in Japan. Do I miss it...sure, everyday. But my free time is important and I can now save more money to see the world.

Westgate has good stories and bad on a lot of Japanese threads. Check it out. Anyhow, this is just my experience. Just do your research.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

I worked two jobs during my stay and didn't have any troubles. Side gigs tend to eat into your time, especially since you'll probably be working 40 hrs/week.

Base salary was around 270,000 and I earned another 50,000 for 12 hrs/ month at an independent conversation school.

I was in Osaka so I spent every f***ing yen and had a good time doing it.

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

I taught in the public school system for a year in Japan near Tokyo. The pay is about the same and the BOE subsidized my apartment rent so I still payed the equivilent of a month's rent back home. They have to subsidize because of the cost of living.

Yes, it is that expensive there. Newspaper? $3US. Date: Movie, popcorn, drink, hotdog, subway/train expensese - $100US easily. The only thing cheap were the cigarettes and that's because they smoke so much.

As for sight-seeing, sure lots of places once you get there but seen one temple and you've seem'em all. Plenty of local and national festivals which are interesting, but the major festivals are too crowded to enjoy. Over-crowding is a huge problem. A subway ride during rushhour is an interesting if the most uncomfortable experience. People sleep standing with no fear of falling because they're supported by the crush of other bodies!

Teach private students as many as you want as long as you want. Actually, that's the only way to make any money is to teach your a$$ off. And stay home. Heck, you can even become a fake preacher at western style weddings and make good money. I turned the offer down, but knew a guy that did it.

Overall, it studied near everything about Japan before going, but I didn't have a single good experience during my time. Hope it turns out differently for ya!

refikaM · Joined: 06 May 2006 Location: Gangwondo

I did two 4 month contracts with Westgate.. There are good points and not so good. PM me if you want more info...