Korean Job Discussion Forums

[StructuredChaos]

I am currently working in Tokyo, Japan about a year and a half now. I was curious about working in Seoul, South Korea. While I do love Tokyo, I have school loans and bills that I would like to pay off asap. I am finding it extremely difficult to save a large amount of money while living here. I checked this forum about working in Korea vs. Japan, but the sticky is from 2004, so I am thinking it might be a little outdated or things may have changed. I am a 31 y/o American working in a public school in Tokyo. So the job itself is easy, but the pay is low.

I noticed reading this forum, that many people have worked in both Japan and Korea. Ultimately, I do love Japan and would like to return. But financially, I am not saving much. I visited Seoul this year for vacation and had an amazing time.

I have been offered a position in an affluent part of Seoul, with free apartment, etc. I have done extensive research on the school, via internet and my friends, and it will always pay me on time. The salary is 2.2 million won per month.

Is it plausible to go to South Korea for a couple of years and then return to Japan? It seems people can have the best of experiences in South Korea or the worst in their working and personal lives. So your input would be greatly appreciated.

I apologize for the long post in advance and appreciate any advice given.

[bosintang]

I've lived in both countries, but only a short time of that was in Japan.

I think most people find Korea a little more challenging, both living and work-wise than Japan. I didn't find the lifestyle that different between Seoul and Tokyo, but I think Tokyo is the more interesting and more livable city of the two. There are more eating options at all budget ranges, it's much more varied, cleaner and quieter, and people aren't pushy and noisy like they are in Korea.

However, I found people in Japan to be too constricted and conservative, for my taste. People are conservative in Korea, too, but in a different way. I also think Korea is a better place to be for people who are trying to make a career or semi-career out of EFL rather than just backpacking through.

In Korea, on top of living expenses, most people have no trouble saving at least half their salaries, and it's possible to save substantially more if you're thrifty. If you have a TEFL certificate or other qualifications plus two years experience, you should be earning at least 2.3m/month plus the usual benefits.

[Bibbitybop]

I've only been in Tokyo, not worked there, but my friends (both foreign and Japanese) work more at their teaching jobs in Japan than people do in Korea, especially if they work for one of the big four English businesses (NOVA, AEON, GEOS, etc.)

Jobs in Korea are easier unless you get into a bad hogwan, so do your research. It would be easy to live in Korea for a while, then return to Japan. Why wouldn't it be.

You can save $1000 US a month on 2.2 million, easy.

[Treefarmer]

if you have experience as a teacher you should be earning more than 2.2m

ask them for 2.5 and negotiate

[Len8]

If you do come to Korea, make sure you go to your local immigration office and get a stamp in your passport saying you will return in such and such a time. Do this to preserve your Japanese work visa. I think you can have the best of both worlds while you work in Korea if you keep your Japanese work visa active. Getting a work visa in Korea is not a problem, but if you have both visas you can go between countries for work at your leisure.

I went from Korea to Japan for six months, and at the place I was at there was another guy who had come from Korea who still had his active Korean ID and visa. Wasn't as beneficial as the other way round, but it did give him some advantages when he went back to Korea on the odd trip.

[Mosley]

I LOVE Japan but if money is numero uno then Korea is a far better bet. Period.

My experience: 5 yrs. Japan A little over 2 yrs. S. Korea

'Nuff said?