Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blondieLass]

Hi everyone,

I have been using this site as a great source of knowledge for the past few weeks and have found it to be really helpful. I also have loved reading the FAQs.

I am hoping to be in Korea mid September/October and am currently finishing off my current IT contract, here in Scotland.

I am so excited it is unbelievable, and I am boring all the people around me by repeating little snippets I discover about Korea!

There is one thing on my mind though and wondered if anybody had any reassuring stories or snippets, or any advice, or tales of what can go wrong. My main worry is the language barrier in achieving simple day to day tasks (shopping, paying bills, getting a bank account etc). I have read lots of posts and FAQs about this stuff but haven't really seen any that mention how much language is an issue.

I am totally accept most people won't know much English, if any, but wondered how helpful they are when they realise you don't speak Korean?Anyway, thanks for your time.

(An excited but slightly nervous newbie)

[Tony_Balony]

Sure...my biggest problem was money availability and food.

Money ... if you are not in Seoul, international ATM service is spotty. The machines give out misleading error messages. Be prepared to have cash by any other means necessary ie take out W400,000 instead of W40,000 just in case or even western union some to yourself.

Food - the food is a little hard to get used to at first, then learning what to order. The stores have plenty of mayo, whitebread and luncheon mystery meat. Canned corn and Del Monte fruit salad is readily available.

A chain called "Hansot" (Lunch box) was my godsend. Its fast korean food but still good (to me). They have a picture menu and everything is $2. I still love the place, I eat there when I can.

The problems will be with your school and owner. That makes the above trivial. Good luck and welcome!

[swetepete]

Just point your eyebrows upwards and look simultaneously hopeful, apologetic, and contrite, and the locals will generally be super helpful and friendly.

If you find otherwise, make sure you're doing the eyebrow thing...if still you find them being mean, they're just mean people and should be ignored.

But if you got a bit of time before you come, do learn a couple phrases; it'll save you some eyebrow strain.

/ \
* *
~

...your face should look like the above emoticon.
Works like a charm...
Wait, no, better than that. Charms don't work.

[eamo]

[blondieLass]

Thanks for the advice guys, will look out for Hansot and work on my eyebrow action (maybe I can get them waxed in a design that make them look permantently raised....)

I've bought a book and so far I know Annyeong haseyo and can read bits of the alphabet (so atleast I may be able to read out bits of a menu - I won't know what I'm getting but that could be part of the fun!)

[Flash Ipanema]

For food, my saving grace was Mary Eats blog on kimbap restaurants. Learning to read hangul also makes things much easier, and learning to at least recognize the letters and some idea of the sound (even if it isn't exact) makes a world of difference.

http://maryeats.com/2006/11/16/kimbap-nara-menu/

[vexed]

Hi,

Some of it depends on where in Korea you are. A big city is more likely to have more English language speakers than a small town. Having said that, it can depend on what kind of store you go to. I've found that the people in bigger chain restaurants, supermarkets, marts etc speak better English than those people in small one-off shops. Generally, a lot of initial language barrier problems can be solved with pointing, gestures, a positive attitude and a big smile.

As far as more advanced issues are concerned such as paying bills and opening a bank account, you should get help from your school. If not, then ask a co-teacher or friend to assist you.

Koreans are generally very helpful, and usually have a basic knowledge of English. Also, you'd be surprised at how many Korean words are the same in English (some examples: banana, melon, sauna, shower, shop, cola etc etc).

Keep a positive and friendly attitude and you'll be fine!

[wo buxihuan hanguoren]

[beachbumNC]

well, a large part of the negative things you read on this site are just crap. if you are nice to people they will help you out. the language barrier isn't bad at all. yes, learn some basic phrases and it will help out greatly, but don't be afraid to use pantomime and make funny noises! they get a kick out of it and usually will understand what you want.

the food...is AWESOME. korean food is totally freakin' super bad-ass awesome. just don't eat grocery store food. that stuff really sucks. but you can eat huge delicious meals fairly cheap at the restaurants. and who cares what you're eating? it looks good, it smells good, and it tastes good. korean food ROCKS.

one poster mentioned the cash situation...yes, bring a load of cash. say 500 dollars or so, just to get you around until you can open a korean bank account (which could be a couple of weeks). the ATMs generally won't work with a foreign card.

basically, your first couple weeks in korea will be nonstop fun if you let them be. sitting on the floor and eating out of community bowls might put you off, but then you can just laugh at the koreans who wear gloves to eat hot wings. it's a ball, really.

soju ain't great. but it ain't as bad as everyone says. korean beer...is as bad as everyone says.

oh, and watch out for buses. there are buses everywhere (even the sidewalks) so you need to make damn sure you don't get hit by a bus.

have fun!

[blondieLass]

Thanks for the http://maryeats.com/2006/11/16/kimbap-nara-menu/ link!

It is the most comprehensive list I've seen and I'll be printing it out and keeping it to hand at all meal times.

Thanks everybody for all the words of wisdom, it's also good to get more positive experiences (the volume of negative ones can be a bit daunting)

Can't wait to be where you are!

Keep them coming

[Hellsmk2]

I am in exactly the same boat - Planning on making my way over to S. Korea in Sept/ Oct. I was just about to post a thread just like this as I am absolutely terrified that I'll get off the plane and fall flat on my face.

One thing I would like to know - What is the tea like in Korea? Being typically British I cannot go a day without several cups of tea. Do they have anything on par with PG Tips out there or should I take a few boxes with me? :)

[edit] Heh... finishing my IT contract down in sunny Manchester.[/edit]

[Smee]

Yeah, as someone up there said you'll be relying a lot on your coworkers for a little while. They'll show you where to eat, what to order, where you can shop, how to use the bus/subway, etc.

It'll be helpful for you to have your address written in Korean, in case you get lost. I spoke passable Korean before I came, but everything in my old neighborhood looked the same, and as I didn't know my address I spent a good while wandering around the neighborhood. Also, get the address (or a business card) of your school. My whitey wrangler didn't tell me where exactly my school was, so I spent about two hours wandering Bundang looking for it. If you happen to be put up in a motel for a few days---it happens to the best of us---get either a business card or swipe a matchbook, a lighter, or something with the address and phone number on it. Again, I wouldn't have been able to find my motel had I not taken a lighter from the room that morning.

Just curious, do you know where you're living? The city or neighborhood? Chances are people on this site have been/lived there, and can give you some more specific pointers.

[eamo]

[Flash Ipanema]

On another note, the address system here isn't actually a system. So you can't write down your address and expect a taxi driver to find it. You also can't look at other addresses on a road and try to count your way back because they aren't in order. You'll have to look for landmarks to find your way around. Luckily I have a Lotte Mart on the corner which makes it decently easy to get home, even when I'm 45 minutes away.

[peppermint]

get someone to write you up cards in Korean for things like work and home, if they're any distance apart. They're very helpful until you get the hang of pronunciation.