Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thepeel]

[R-Seoul]

Well looks as though i'm off to KL for a business trip in the first week of July so be able to make a judgment call then.

[thepeel]

Be sure to check out the Batu caves..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Caves

[articulate_ink]

I love KL. I've been there 4 times and would move there in a heartbeat... except that salaries are so much lower than they are in Singapore and Hong Kong. To live, I'd still choose one of those two. I'd also buy an apartment in KL to use as a vacation home. KL's a great base for travel within the region. The food and shopping are amazing (much better than here). It's cleaner than Seoul, too... or no worse, anyway. Yes, there's been a bit of an uptick in street crime but it's not as bad as people seem to think. I lived in DC in a neighborhood where gunshots could be heard most nights and friends were experiencing drive-by shootings in their front yards. I'd still vote for Singapore over KL because of the money issue, but if they were on par I'd go to Malaysia first.

[gmat]

wow BJWD, those are amazing prices on Tigerair: example Singapore-Perth one way for U$92.

[mindmetoo]

[thepeel]

[mindmetoo]

[thepeel]

Singaporeans tell me this is the "hot and dry" season. Which means, I gather, that is only rains horses and cows for 30 min every day (rather than 45) and reaches 35 instead of 33.

[gmat]

BJWD: Looked online at apartments in Singapore and they seem Really expensive. Mostly above $2000 per month for a small 1 BR. Where the heck does everyone live?

[mindmetoo]

[thepeel]

In Singapore there are, for the needs of our discussion here, basically two types of properties that you would be in the market for. The first is condos, which are privatively owned buildings with rather extravagant facilities etc etc. I lived in one for about 10 months. It was lovely, and horribly expensive. The other places to live are called HDB's (Housing Development Board) and they are built by the state. Around 90% of Singaporeans live in HDB, as do an increasing number of foreigners (like myself).

HDB's are quite aggressively controlled to eliminate speculation. I pay 1,000$S (650usd or so) all in for a furnished flat near Commonwealth station (very close to downtown). If you wanted to live farther away from the CBD it would be cheaper. If you were teaching esl (though, many other opps would be available to you) you would likely be in the suburbs.

To get an hdb you have to be a legal resident of Singapore (students pass, employment pass etc). So, you wouldn't be able to move here, get a place and then look for a job. You would have to get a job and then a place as you may not rent without a visa. I would suggest, if you are a single guy/gal, renting a room in a condo for 3 months or so and learning the city. Rooms are quite easy to find.

The condos are generally rented to expat employees of very wealthy firms. Singapore has an entirely different 'foreigner pool' than Korea. The expats here (the Westerners, at least) tend to be damn wealthy. That brings a couple of major outcomes. First, the middle and high end of the housing market is obscene and 2 the nightlife can be very stuffy.

[jaganath69]

What's your assessment of employment chances for someone with an MA (you know what I am doing since we PM'ed earlier) at the moment? I have contacts down there and would love to settle either in Singapore or Jakarta.

[thepeel]

Jag,

I remember we spoke of this. I do not exactly remember what your MA was in...

[jaganath69]