Korean Job Discussion Forums

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

So, have you? And how was the experience compared with Korea?

Me? Japan - I had a nice time. Lots of activities, festivals and sights to see. You do have to watch your money though as Japan is pricey especially for transportation and vacations with in Japan. Food and everyday items are priced similarly to Korea. Their beer is good. Smile

I've heard from many people that because you have to pay your own rent and living costs are generally more expensive in Japan than in Korea you don't save as much. That's not always true. There are some lucreative part-time jobs you can get in Japan. They're not illegal to do on top of your regular job. Some months I was doing really well getting up to 500,000 yen (about 4.5 million won) and banking about 3 million won. I was lucky. Got some good breaks. But it's true. If you just do your full-time job alone, you'll probably save less than in Korea.

Guri Guy · Joined: 07 Sep 2003 Location: Bamboo Island

The privates being legal are great. Owning your own Visa is awesome since if your school is screwing you around you can go elsewhere provided you have some money saved up. I have found Japan to be actually reasonably priced for a lot of things. Transportation is the real killer I think. If you live in a smaller city you can save a decent amount of money.

Satori · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all

Same experience as you guys. Been in Japan for two years, five in Korea before that. I miss Korea, and think about returning all the time. Its good here, but Korea just has that special something for me.

wo buxihuan hanguoren · Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Location: Suyuskis

Japan for 2 years, Taiwan for 2, Vietnam for 6 months, Cambodia for 8 months, and China for 1 year.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

faster · Joined: 03 Sep 2006

Doogie · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: Hwaseong City

Dev, thanks for starting this thread. I'm finishing up in Korea and I'm ready to experience another country and culture. I'm thinking about Japan or Taiwan right now. I'd appreciate any advice (pros and cons) on either of these countries.

postfundie · Joined: 28 May 2004

Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, England for a summer, and the US...

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

Binch Lover · Joined: 25 Jul 2005

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

rockstarsmooth · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Location: anyang, baybee!

canada 4 years. loved the academia, hated the bureaucracy.
korea 2 years. little i love, lots i like, some stuff i dislike. nothing i actively hate.
rss Cool

right now i'm listening to: black mountain - no satisfaction

Bondgirl · Joined: 26 May 2007 Location: in my Aston Martin

Japan, NZ, Australia, Italy:
I did two years in Japan. Although it's a fairly costly place to live, you earn plenty if you don't go berserk and drink it all away. I saw and did some amazing things and made the best, most steadfast friends there. I lived in Osaka and enjoyed great nights out, access to fascinating cities like Kyoto, Kobe and Nara, unbelievable food... It was great. Plenty of really tough frustrating times too; but that's more because it was my first time overseas in a wildly different culture from my own- most of you will agree that it's often hard to cope when you're in a new country for the first time and nothing is familiar, so everything makes you cross sometimes.
Also taught EFL in NZ for 1.5 years, which was a lovely job, but you know, it's home and so doesn't seem like much of an adventure. Did 2 months in Australia on a short EFL contract but it wasn't for me so I didn't renew. Since then I've worked 1.5 years in Italy, which is amazing and so much fun (although I was cooking there, not teaching). I understand EFL teaching income is rubbish and it's hard to make ends meet there. Living costs are really high in Italy nowdays, similar to Japan actually, but the vino is really cheap, food's good, the sites to see blow your mind and Italians are hyper social, anyone would have a great time. However, at times they can do your head in- things that would be simply done in any other country are a big deal in Italy. Stand in the wrong line at the bank or post office and it's back to the beginning and another 2 hour wait. Also, they do yell a lot which takes a while to accustomize to, and they can get cranky about trivial things.
I arrive in Korea next week. I'm hoping for another cool adventure-interesting colleagues and students, skiing in winter, hotsprings and bathhouses, another language to learn, weird food to explore, wacky things to see, lots of karaoke to sing, beer to drink....

poet13 · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject:

USA, Mexico, Greece, Philippines, Korea.

USA was uni. Others were English. Mexico, Greece, Philippines and Korea, were and are all special for their own reasons. USA was not special.

The Bobster · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

America. ESL. Both privately and at schools. I liked the work, but it didn't pay very well, just enough to get by, really. I like it better here, and for a lot of reasons. Pretty sure I'll stay.