Korean Job Discussion Forums

[davetw]

First of all, if this post appears twice, then my bad 'cuz I posted this same topic but afterward couldn't find it in the forum. Anyway, feel free to delete one of them, admin, if that occurs. Anyway, I'm an American English teacher in Taiwan where I've taught for 3 years now. It's been good but I see in the Korean job listings that the pay seems, on average a little higher than in Taiwan (not a LOT higher but a little higher). Also free accomidation or housing subsidy seem common-place in Korea, from the postings I've read. Here's my big 3 burning questions, to help me decide whether to "upgrade" to Korea or not. 1st question: Will Korea's tough new visa requirements (face-to-face interview with consular staff IN the home country and police records check made IN the home country, make it impossible for me to get hired directly from Taiwan to Korea? Or will I have to return to the USA and do all this stuff even though I haven;t lived in the USA for 3.5 years now. So is it possible for foreign teachers to come from a 3rd country directly to Korea, now?
2nd question: I read in the forum that outside employment (part time) and private tutoring are strictly prohibited in Korea, subject to deportation. Is this true and if so, is it enforced? 3rd question: How is the cost of living in Korea? In Taiwan it's so-so. Taipei is expensive but as you go south, the COL scale goes down steadily cheaper. I have lots of other smaller questions but these are the big 3 that will allow me to make an informed decision as to wether I should sty where I am (Taiwan) or make the move to Korea. By the way, my taxxed pay here is 6%. What can I expect to have deducted in Korea? Any info anyone can provide for part or all of the questions is greatly appreciated. If any of you have already taught in both Taiwan and Korea I would be really interested to receive your feedback, but any info from anyone will be appreciated. As for Taiwan: You can work anywhere and have all the jobs you can stand, as long as as least one of those employers provides you with a working permit. The red tape of coming to Taiwan to teach is minimal and certainly none of the hassles of the newly instituted Korean teaching visa procedures.

[sadsac]

Tax 3.3 - 5%.

Possibility of getting caught teaching privates: minimal

Police checks and medical: You have to go home. The interview will now be conducted in Korea at a university. You will also have another medical in Korea prior to the issuance of your Alien Registration Card. You also will not be permitted to use an ATM for the first 3 months that you are here. All transactions will be over the counter.

Hope that this is of some help.

[Snowkr]

You can't use an ATM card within your first three months in Korea??

Where are you getting this from?

[ttompatz]

[crusher_of_heads]

I returned Sept 1, 2007.


All my withdrawals have been from ATM and all requests have gone through without a problem.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[widespread123]

What if you are leaving Korea this year and plan to come back in the future? Can I just keep my bank account open for an undetermined amount of time and when I return be able to use my ATM card? How long can you keep your bank account open?

[regicide]

[Optimus Prime]

I'll trade jobs with you if you come to Korea! I am on my way to Taiwan because of all this B.S.

As a bonus, I'll leave 1000 won in my bank account and give you my bank card so you can put money in the bank as opposed to under your pillow for 3 months.




Don't worry, Koreans forbid foreigners from owning international bank cards, so i can't withdraw money from Taiwan.


Wow, it really hasn't hit me on how much Korea sucks until I wrote that post. I lived in COmmunist Russia back in 1989, and I had vastly more freedom than here. Sure, I couldn't take photos in certain areas, or talk smak about the government, but they let me bank and have a credit card no questions asked.

[Faunaki]

Taiwan is way more fun than Korea. Stay where you are.

[TECO]

[TECO]

[articulate_ink]

Standard Chartered will issue an ATM card that works outside of Korea. If your ATM card isn't working, or if you're dubious, go open an account with SC.

Although Korea may have more earning potential, the quality of life here is not always great.

[davetw]

Thanks for those you that responded to my post. (TW vs Korea). I got some good information. Still, I'm wondering about the Korean cost of living nationally and regionally. Those posts about choosing Thailand: well, if I was a packpacker with no financial baggage from my country and income wasn't an issue, sure I'de go to Thailand and get butt-wild, laid, drunk and party every single day. But the salaries are poverty-level in Thailand for teaching. I know the cost of living isn't bad but it's not as low as it used to be. In fact, Thai baht and Taiwan NT have equal value 33 to 1 to the dollar now and last time I went to Thailand on holiday things were about the same price as in Taiwan (October). I'm going for the money. I can still get laid in Taiwan, ok. There's 200,000 Filipina workers here and 150,000 Thai workers, so its almost as if I live in Thailand right now, anyway, party-wise. I'm leaning toward Korea but going back to the USA first and applying from there--well, that's just inconvenient as hell. I was hoping there was some way around doing that. It's not possible to get the interview in Korea and the medical check from Taiwan, where I've lived for 3.5 years now? And maybe get the local Police in my home of record to FAX me (or the school) a report? Damned poedaphile teacher messed it up for everybody! Someone asked about TW salaries. On average 50,00 to 60,000 NT per month. If you wanna bust your ass at night you can make another 15,000 to 20,000 NT. 100,000 per month, even working day and night is hard to do.......but I knew a guy who actually made that much but that is exceptional. Figure on average 50,000 to 70,000 which is not bad at all. The writer who said they don't have housing benefits is generally correct. A few Taiwanese schools offer a subsidy but that is not comon. You pay your own airfare there and back. A few schools offer to pay half the airfare if you complete a contract. For the most part, you get a good salary and nothing else...no perks. There's a national health insurance card for legal residents...you pay a share and gov/t pays a share of healthcare visits. Taiwan banking is convenienet. None of this 3-month waiting period thing and I can use my USA credit cards here no problem to purchase or withdraw money. As long as your card has the visa/Mastercard logo, you can use your Korean ATM card in the USA, as well, to withdraw funds from your Taiwan bank.

[jajdude]