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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Polaroid Princess
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
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 Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject: What's the best you can say about Korea? vs China |
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| I have taught English in Japan over the last year and I would like to go back to teaching and living in an East Asian country again. I enjoyed the students -- all ages and I found I loved the trains and the 24 hour noodle shops and the shopping and the fast pace and the comraderie amongst the teachers I worked with and the locals (who were interested in "foreign culture" and they numbered many). I would like to teach abroad again but I'd like to try a different country, and at this point money and the ability to pay outstanding bills is a strong consideration. I would like to teach in the PRC but from what I understand it is very hard to save a fraction of what a person can save in Korea. Its not just a money thing for me, because I could probably earn a similar amount at home, but the culture and ambience is completely different. I am not a fresh out of uni graduate, I've worked ordinary jobs before, and I could settle down to work at home, but I find that there's just something missing about it. I could stay home but I find the idea of teaching abroad more interesting and rewarding. What I would like to know is, has anyone been to both countries (Korea and China), I have read the threads on Korea vs Taiwan vs Japan, I don't know about Taiwan because I haven't been there but I do know a bit about Japan. Taiwan seems interesting but I've heard the savings are much bigger in Korea. Is it true? For those that are here, do you prefer Korea over other countries? And if so, why? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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Savings:
highest = Korea (by far)
Taiwan would be about the same as Japan (about...)
lowest = PRC (saving 500 a month is a good job)
What else do you want to know? I have worked in China, Japan and Korea, so I can help. |
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Mosley
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Like laogaiguk(hey, now I get the moniker!) I've been in all three and moneywise S. Korea is tops. With many jobs in Red China(hey, can I still call it that?!  ) you're lucky to save 100-200 bucks a month. |
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Polaroid Princess
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject: Working life |
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| Thank you for the quick response laogaiguk, what I would like to know is how does the everyday working life compare? In Japan I worked for one of the big 4 chains and it had its ups and downs but I always had a place to stay and always got paid on time. I'm considering working for a hogwan (bigger chain school) I think I would also like to teach adults? Are there any reputable schools where the students are mainly or completely adults? Have you worked for a hogwan or uni and if so what was your experience? What do you like most about Korea in general? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Mosley wrote: |
| Like laogaiguk(hey, now I get the moniker!) I've been in all three and moneywise S. Korea is tops. With many jobs in Red China(hey, can I still call it that?! ) you're lucky to save 100-200 bucks a month. |
Laowai
Gaijin
Waiguk
I was making 7000 kwai a month with all the normal benfits, but in a small town. I could save between 300 and 500 a month, but I didn't really have much of a social life |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: Working life |
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| Polaroid Princess wrote: |
| Thank you for the quick response laogaiguk, what I would like to know is how does the everyday working life compare? In Japan I worked for one of the big 4 chains and it had its ups and downs but I always had a place to stay and always got paid on time. I'm considering working for a hogwan (bigger chain school) I think I would also like to teach adults? Are there any reputable schools where the students are mainly or completely adults? Have you worked for a hogwan or uni and if so what was your experience? What do you like most about Korea in general? |
teaching adults in Korea = split shift. The chances of having a block shift only teaching adults is very, very small. I worked for AEON for a couple of years, and they were much more professional than even the public schools or universities I have worked in here in Korea. I work for a uni now, and AEON was still better run and much more structured and professional. Still, the money is better.
Korea offers a high salary with a much lower cost of living (even if you party a lot), plus bonuses and flight tickets. You will find Korean and Japanese are fairly similar in structure if you learned the language. In the end, I preferred Japan, but not by that much. I don't miss the suits. I can wear anything I want here |
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Polaroid Princess
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject: Life in Korea |
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| Again thanks for the quick replies I understand Korea is the highest paying, but how about working life and outside work? Is there much chance to socialize with expat and local alike? Are many teachers happy in Korea? |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Life in Korea |
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| Polaroid Princess wrote: |
| Again thanks for the quick replies I understand Korea is the highest paying, but how about working life and outside work? Is there much chance to socialize with expat and local alike? Are many teachers happy in Korea? |
Many teachers are happy (being financially secure leads to happiness), so don't listen too much to the people on this site. Still, you have to be careful here. You CAN get screwed. Many do (compared to Japan). In Japan, it never entered my mind that I wouldn't be paid or couldn't take vacation. Here you have to be more careful about the place you choose. The big hagwons are fairly straight forward though (stay away from Wonderland). In Seoul, you will have no trouble finding other peopel to hang with (especially if you go to a big hagwon). Outside of Seoul or Pusan, that becomes more sketchy.
There is a lot of time to socialize. Most jobs are pretty much like Nova (hagwons), no prep and just go in and dance a bit Most people are happy, though you will probably be better off since you have experience in another country already. |
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stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:10 am Post subject: |
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princess wrote:
| Quote: |
| Again thanks for the quick replies I understand Korea is the highest paying, but how about working life and outside work? Is there much chance to socialize with expat and local alike? Are many teachers happy in Korea? |
Sorry to cut in, but what are your qualifications and what are your minimum expectations in terms of student motivation and learning? That would help me to give you better advice.
Korea might have a lower cost of living than Japan, but not by much, especially if you work in Seoul. China, of course, beats both hands down in this regard.
If money is an object, you'll have to forget mainland China unless you can land a job teaching business execs or new hires in a joint venture, in which case you might save more than in Korea.
Another factor to consider: the people and culture. Personally, I find most Chinese far more engaging than either Koreans or Japanese. The students are also more forthcoming, generally speaking, although the flip side is that they are usually more likely to chatter at all levels of schooling (jianghua).
Food is a non-starter as a topic of discussion here: China wins hands down in this department and also has a cheaper and better selection of Western food, at least in its larger urban areas. Although you have to be a bit more careful about what you eat, mainland Chinese markets generally offer fresher vegetables and in much greater variety than in Korea, too.
In the main, Chinese are now far less xenophobic than Koreans, and even most Japanese, in my view. You're more likely to make a dear friend of them, too. The Chinese are much more secure in their own skins than the Koreans I might add and take a more bemused, annoyed view of Japanese cultural claims.
As for cultural diversity, China again wins hands down, in my opinion over both Korea and Japan, although of course it is to some extent like comparing apples and oranges. But the minority cultures, the deep history of the Chinese, and the sheer variety of traditional expression I find more interesting than Japan, and certainly more than Korea.
And this I find revealing: if you scan the forums for Korea, China, and Japan you will quickly note that the frequency and tenor with which expats criticize living and working in Korea is greater.
Taiwanese buxibans and Korean hagwons are considerably different working environments, as a general rule, from what you'd find in a comparable mainland Chinese setting.
Again, if you state your case in more detail, I can likewise offer comparisons in more detail. |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:17 am Post subject: |
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| stevemcgarrett wrote: |
| Food is a non-starter as a topic of discussion here: China wins hands down in this department and also has a cheaper and better selection of Western food, at least in its larger urban areas. |
Do you enjoy worms in your chocolate Steve? How anyone could put anything made from China in their mouth these days, is beyond me. A few tips about China:
- Dont have kids. The toys will give your baby lead posoning.
- Dont get a cold. The medicine is more likely to kill you than cure you.
- Dont have pets. Feeding them with Chinese pet food is akin to Russian Roulette.
The facts about China are dire. Its a cesspool. |
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stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:20 am Post subject: |
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OP:
Please be forewarned if you're new to this forum. Jinju is our resident malcontent.
jinju wrote:
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| Dont get a cold. The medicine is more likely to kill you than cure you. |
Whenever I had a cold, I used traditional Chinese medicine. It worked wonders to alleviate the symptoms without the usual side effects of Western medicines. As a matter of fact, medical interns in Australia are now required to study traditional Chinese medicine.
Now carry on with your diatribe... |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:33 am Post subject: |
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| Good for you. I guess you can always turn to hocus pocus and quacks for much needed placebo. Now, how about fish..you know they raise fish on farms where they hang chickens above the tanks and the fish eat the chicken droppings. Mmmmmmmm tasty. Theres a reason why the most virulent viruses mostly come out of China. DIRTY DIRTY DIRTY. A true cesspool. |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Location: at my wit's end
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 4:21 am Post subject: |
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steve, as usual I wholeheartedly disagree with everything you are saying. The food in China is substandard at best, thanks to the absence of an FDA. The air quality is the worst of the 3 countries by far (yes, I've lived in all 3). And I was sick for weeks at a time, as well as my coworkers, due to rampant filth and poor air quality.
Korean food wins by a long shot when it comes to taste, Japanese food when it comes to health, and Chinese food when it comes to price.
China is a lot like living in the wild west. For the life of me I couldn't figure out their way of thinking, and I did try. Koreans are quite sane in comparison. And I find it very hard to believe that one could save more in China than Korea (are you baiting us , steven?).
For money, come to Korea. For a weird (albeit potentially wonderful and definitely filthy) experience, go to China. |
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stevemcgarrett
Joined: 24 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: |
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Jizzo wrote:
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| Korean food wins by a long shot when it comes to taste, Japanese food when it comes to health, and Chinese food when it comes to price. |
I know you're dressed up as a clown but no need to clown around in this forum. You can't be serious: I have NEVER heard anyone say that Korean food tastes better than Chinese food except Koreans. Oh, sure, I imagine they're those posters married to Koreans who would beg to differ with me. Fine for them.
But I'll bet my hefty monthly salary here that if you asked most seasoned tourists to this region which East Asian country has the most varied and delicious food, they would not even mention Korea. Both Korean and Japanese food is likely to be healthier across a range of choices, I'll grant you that. And Japanese food is presented very well, although so can Chinese at a good restaurant banquet.
Aside from street food, I cannot count the number of exquisite, flavor nuanced Chinese dishes I've had. There are five schools of cooking in China--all unique cuisines. Korea has only one that I can discern. And they seem to put the same spicy paste on half their dishes. And, sorry, but kimchi every day is not very imaginative or appealing to me.
Usually I find that tourists to China or those passing through haven't sampled homecooked Chinese food, nor have they tasted the wide range of offerings. They often have memories of egg rolls and other greasy food attributed to Chinese but not really Chinese. The Chinese food to be had in Korea is in the main Koreanized beyond recognition. Same goes for Japan.
As for price, you're smoking weed if you think that the same ingredients in China are more expensive than in Korea. In fact, Korea now gets much of its produce from China and--guess what?--it's produce most Chinese wouldn't touch. For freshness, Chinese food can and often does match Japanese food too with the notable exception of most seafood, except in Guangdong and Hong Kong.
Air quality is indeed deteriorating in much of China but is still excellent in many locales including, notably, most of Yunnan, Xinjiang, Tibet, and the eastern seaboard of Shandong, parts of Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia. But the air in Seoul isn't exactly pristine either.
As for filth, I see it around me all the time in the large city where I live and work right now in Korea. Yes, as a developing country and inadequate environmental policy enforcement, you will encounter a lot of filth, especially where it's densely populated. But to suggest that all or nearly all of China is a filthy and that most Chinese are filthy is just plain ignorant. |
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Polaroid Princess
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:54 am Post subject: Qualifications |
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Everyone's points have been insightful, thanks. To answer Steve's question, I have a BA in History and a TEFL certificate, it was a year long certificate done part time at a college. As far as expectations I prefer students that are interested in actually interested in learning, I find its tough to sit through students that don't want to learn.
You said something interesting about business execs and joint ventures, is it possible to get into one of those from overseas? Is it possible to get involved once you're there? I'm not really sure which country is "best" but the only thing I know about Korea is that its higher paying, I'd imagine its similar to Japanese culture.
For everyone that is in Korea, including yourself, Steve, what lured you there and what makes you stay? |
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