Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Woden]

(This is for the, "I am only here for the wage" brigade)

Firstly, I am not in Korea but I frequent this board as I am about to leave...so I am sure you will all try to tear me to shreds, but...

When your sole purpose of being in Korea is to make money and then take it out of the country to spend at home why do you expect sympathy for your bad working conditions?

The bitterness that pervades this board is untrue yet the only reason you are here is to make money...don't you think your whining is at best selfish, at worst despicable?

OPEN YOUR EYES! The real world, the world in which the majority of the world works, involves scraping for a meal, involves dodging the bullets of sectarian violence, involves back-breaking labour, involves STRUGGLE.

The fact is most of the teachers in Korea aren't even qualified to teach, yet they are paid unimaginable amounts of money, with unbelievable benefits (for those with an eye on the real world) and are just driven by the green hue of their hearts.

It is embarrassing the read the spoilt white kids overcome with greed thinking of themselves as professionals and moaning about free rent, free airfare, above average wage, etc, etc.

Please experience the world, learn to think relatively, the world is not your dinner plate, you have had your serving yet you are already demanding dessert!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[nautilus]

I see your point sometimes, but you talk of third world struggles. That is relative, we are not living in Liberia. we're in a country supposed to be in the top 10 most advanced nations on the planet. If they're going to claim that title, then they should live up to it.

Koreans enjoy equal rights in our western countries, so why shouldn't we get the same deal here?

The complaining of westerners here actually serves a useful purpose in advancing Korea and bringing it into line with the norms of more advanced countries. We are opening their minds to what is expected in a more free and open society. If they listened to our views more, they'd be doing themselves a favor. It takes the perspective of an objective outsider to see what is right and wrong in any particular society.

[ED209]

"Unimaginable amounts of money" How much have you been offered. I'm on 2m not too hard to imagine or spend.


"Firstly, I am not in Korea ....Please experience the world"

So you haven't been here yet and you're telling people to experience the world.


Anyway enough of that.

I agree there are some awful moaners here for just the money and never make an attempt to adapt to the culture(which can be very difficult for some). If you want to come here and eat, drink and shag your way through the year then go ahead just keep out of my way.

Many are moaners because they are lied to by their employer and have no where to turn.

This site is also a good place to rant and let off steam about things that aren't too important like subway seats and lack of imported goods. These people I'm sure aren't always a pain.

And we all moan about our jobs back home too.

Good luck when you get here
You will join us
become a moaner

[Woden]

[Woden]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[gdnchg]

pm

[Woden]

[quote="Yu_Bum_suk"][quote="Woden"]

[Kimchieluver]

I am not in that brigade nor ever was. however, if someone is in that brigade they would have plenty to whine and complain about legitimately. Some people have bills to pay and things to save for. Getting screwed out of money, legal benifits, etc, does exactly that.

[gsxr750r]

The reason we are paid "so much money" is because there's a lot more to it than this or that degree in English teaching, or whatever.

If this job were indeed paying tons of cash, then there wouldn't be a huge demand. The reason there is a demand is because the pay is NOT high enough. Educated educators don't want to work here for the money being paid. That creates demand.

If it were huge sums being paid, then I assure you, people would come. But they don't.

Now, let's also take another thing into account: the ability to live and function in a country like Korea. Many can't. In fact, the truth is that those with "real" education degrees tend to float out of here faster than anyone. They just can't deal with the crazy dynamics and bass-ackwards way of education around here. They run for it just as fast as those with no experience do. I read somewhere that the average stay for a teacher in Korea is something like 8 months. If that is true, then a lot of people are turning tail and getting the heck out of here before a 1-year contract (the standard). What does that tell you? This fact alone is enough to justify our pay. Jobs nobody wants to do, or are difficult, tend to pay better.

You may feel we are overpaid for what we do. The truth is that we're paid what we're paid because that is what the market demands. Just look at how many public school jobs there are. They can't fill them all. If they paid a lot more, I guarentee you a lot of people would fill in the holes. They refuse to raise pay, so they don't fill the jobs.

We can make what we make for the above-mentioned reasons -- and it's not a huge pile of cash by any means (I took a large pay cut to come work here, but I do pay less in tax, so that helps).

[bellum99]

[The Hierophant]

Woden, I was similarly naive, arrogant and self-righteous before i set foot in Korea. I thought I'd be better than the 'whiners', that I'd be different, that I'd be carefree and successful and Koreans would welcome me with open arms because I would be more humble and open-minded than all the other horrible expats... my first six months in-country broke me of such silly delusions, and thank heavens for it!

[pkang0202]

Remember that negative things will get posted more than the positive ones. Its just the way it works. Think about a customer service center. Do you think they get more phone calls praising their product or complaining about it?

There are good things about Korea too that people do write about, but often get overlooked in the negativity.

It is important to remember that you have to take the good with the bad. There IS a problem with Korea with regards to being a good host to foreigners. However, the problem is being addressed.

Korea is taking tremendous strides to try and be more "friendly" towards foreigners. Despite all thats changed in the past 5-10 years, there is still much work to be done.

My biggest gripe is with the Korean Resident ID number. You can't do anything without one. Even the temporary number you get with your ARC doesn't do jack squat as far as the internet goes.

Getting anything here is a tremendous headache you have to jump through hoops to get simple things like a cell phone or a bank account.

If something bad happens to me, I want to post it so that maybe someone reading it will remember to look out for it so they don't get screwed over. We are all foreigners and guests in this country. We have to look out for each other.

For anyone that is waiting to come here, remember to keep an open mind. Going to Korea isn't like going to the Bahamas or Cancun where everyone speaks English and accept US Dollars. Its a different country and a completely different culture.

[kimchi story]

Seriously? Is this for real?
OP, you have noooooo idea.

This is by far the most active forum of its kind. The negative stuff is balanced out by the good stuff - but the nastiness is more enticing to the eye. Think about it that way before your next rant.

Woden wrote: