Korean Job Discussion Forums

superacidjax · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Location: Seoul

Compared to other countries, foreigners in Korea seem to make fairly good money, especially when compared to similar workloads in the US.

Would any of you be here if it weren't for the money?

I sure wouldn't be. I returned to Korea last year because I had some nostalgia for the place and of course there are opportunities around. However, after continually re-observing the level of cheapness and fundamental corruption in this country, I would certainly have chosen another country in which to live.

The food is more expensive here, it's infinitely dirtier and the people are more concerned about appearances than with actual substance. I saw a Hyundai yesterday with a Mercedes Benz badge, professionally installed on the hood and trunk! Products here, with rare exceptions are just cheap crap that is overpriced, especially when compared to the value of the Won versus the dollar and Euro.. The people are rude, crude and lack a certain common sense.

Child abuse is rampant, spousal abuse is even more common, not to mention a culture of love hotels and visiting prostitution as a business ritual. How often in the States or in Europe would you go to a prostitute bar with your office from work?

Korean immigration practices towards Americans are ridiculous. Tourist visas are good here for only 30 days, while most other countries get 90 days and Canadians get six months. I understand that this is about reciprocity, as it should be.. Of course, in the name of reciprocity, I expect Korea to start stationing their troops at the American border to assist in American national defense. Each time the US proposes shifting denfense responsibility to the Koreans, there's a big uproar from the Korean defense community. My country, (the US) is funding a high percentage of Korean national defense, yet, the Korean Immigration continues a hostile policy towards Americans.

Oddly enough, F-series visa applicants don't have to leave the country to recieve their visas.. but if you don't have Korean blood (whatever that is) or marry a Korean, you have to leave the country to receive your visa.

This official hostility towards foreigners is unacceptable. Foreign teachers can't unionize, there are few practicle legal resources available if a school breaks a contract (just try going to the Labor Board) -- we've all heard the common stories of schools cheating teachers, causing trouble with immigration, even causing physical harm. Schools have locked people out of their apartments, refused payment or even called the police on teachers. Private lessons are illegal, yet so is breaking a contract, yet more people are deported for teaching privates than are school directors punished for breaking contracts.

I curious as to who would stay here if the money were less..

samd · Joined: 03 Jan 2007

I can make the same money, if not more, back home. I would have less free time though.

I like Korea.

Vicissitude · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: Chef School

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Yeah. I'd flip burgers to stay in Korea. Yeah.

Homer · Guest

I could not stay in a place I despised just for the money...that makes no sense at all to me considering life is short enough as it is...

There is a hell of a lot more to life than money.

VanIslander · Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 4:27 pm Post subject:

JZer · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Location: South Korea

jdog2050 · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

Homer · Guest

JZer · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Location: South Korea

JZer · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Location: South Korea

Well the best is when Koreans complain about unprofessional teachers yet most schools want to hure young people with no experience and/or are unwilling to pay for a professional teacher!!

Homer · Guest

Jzer..because they want to catch long term cheaters....like those who got in with fake papers before.

It is an annoyance to show new transcripts each time however.

Also most schools...by that I assume you mean Hakwons...prefer the cheaper solution: inexperienced teacher but also many schools cannot afford to pay for a professional teacher with comensurate salary demands.

willneverteachagain · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

why would u give ur gf your passport?

sojourner1 · Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 5:53 pm Post subject:

I would not say this is alot of money as you should be starting around $40,000 US per year or more after college. It is alot better than a department store or restaurant job at home like so many college gradutates end up in due to the lack of career opportunities for young adults in matured markets like Canada and the US. Connections and nepotism plays a large part, besides having a job market that only offers jobs that either are too high paying or too low paying. In fact, many graduates who do have a connection in getting a decent career opportunity start out in the $50,000 to $60,000 a year, that is if your qualified to be some sort of engineer, doctor, or finance executive. However, a degree in one of the hot career fields does not actually qualify you for a hot job; experience and connections do. In one of these hot high paying professional jobs, you may never get to travel and often work 80 hours a week dealing with horrible control freak managers, often camping out in the office, which is why I was always interested in non-traditional international jobs such as teaching English. I tried corporate cubicle life after college, hated it, and ran for the nearest airport as soon as I feasably could.

I preferred to be an international business consultant or agent for a large American company doing business in Asia, but that is not happening without experience or connections in high places so I am hoping my fling to Korea looks good on my resume and gives recruiters and managers a reason to see interest in me as a candidate. There is life after teaching English in Korea!!!! I hope, becuase you can't do this all your life and it's going to take alot more money than this to make it well into this new and very expensive 21st century we live in.

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

I voted "only for hte money" which isn't entirely true, but it was the only "no" option. If I couldn't save so much in Korea while living a pretty simple, laid back lifestyle then I would leave. We were making more back home, but costs are a lot higher there, and we are able to save more here. I don't hate Korea. In fact, I enjoy my life here, but if I was saving the same here as at home, I wouldn't be in Korea.
Would I be at home? I'm not sure.