Korean Job Discussion Forums

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

I, too, realize that spending so much time and money on learning Korean may not pay off financially, but I'm trying to keep the attitude that I'm not in it strictly for financial gain but rather just for the fun and challenge of learning it. It will only truly be a waste if after I leave Korea I forget all that I've learned.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

If you're a native English speaker with Korean fluency living in Korea and can't figure out how to make that bread, then you deserve all the nada you get. It's not like people get rich because some happy wizard tosses out good jobs from a candycane rainbow.

PimpofKorea · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:43 am Post subject:

You really can't make much more if you know Korean or don't know. Nobody is going to pay you more money because you have some Korean language skills. There is only so many hours in the day you can work as well. Do you really think one white guy is going to get a block shift paying 30,000 an hour for 5-6 hours (this is the standard rate..one on one privates are a bit higher) and the other white guy with K-language skills will get 40,000 for the same schedule? No freaking way....a white guy is a white guy is a white guy.

Homer · Guest

pimp...dude...perhaps a native english speaker with fluent Korean can get jobs outside of teaching that pay a hell of a lot more......think outside the esl box for a second man.

I for example speak Korean. This allowed me to get contract as a consultant for Korean companies. I do not teach for them and they hired me because I have korean language skills and other credentials.

These contracts pay a heck of a lot more than teaching does. But, I love to teach so I limit myself to a few contracts per year (they tend to run about 1-2 months).

Others have found work for companies or in other areas because they speak Korean....so being fluent in Korean can indeed lead to much higher income and better jobs.

PimpofKorea · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:57 am Post subject:

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Homer's right. Although the addition of an F-series visa is pretty important.

My first 8 years in Korea consisted of work, save money, quit, study, go hungry, work, save money, quit, study, go hungry.

I took a full year off work once and I studied for a 6 months and did some other things for 6 months.

PimpofKorea · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:03 am Post subject:

PimpofKorea · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:05 am Post subject:

Francis-Pax · Joined: 20 Nov 2005

I would like to learn Korean well because I am going to marry my K-girlfriend and there is a chance that I will be here for a long period of time. I would also like to speak to her family.

robot · Joined: 07 Mar 2006

i'd love to take a year off to study

but tens of thousands of dollars in lost wages and school fees isn't worth it.

better to study on your own. i work full-time, but i'm still making substantial progress just thru independent study and chatting up whoever i can find...

ROBT.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I am elarning b/c I want to get into related fields of work and teach a little less. Maybe translating, recruiting, or book making.

If an office job came along, I would take it if the terms were good. Not if I get paid 3 million for working 8-11 everyday sleeping at my desk.

Also, I have the family thing. Tough I would love to study full time again, it's not in the cards.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

I would love to study full-time, but I don't see it happening, at least not soon. My friend did it full-time for 5 months and went for good to great. Right now, I study at YBM 2 or 3 nights a week and that is good, but I need more. I don't like studying on my own because I really need the opportunity to talk about what I am learning. Hopefully, I will be able to really study in the future.