Korean Job Discussion Forums

[twg]

Was going to go to Japan, started dating a Korean gal.

Free rent and airfare cinched the deal.

[plus99]

im under the probably delusional impression that this is the easiest way to save up $50K US. Once ive got that, ill do something else. I dont like waking up before noon and I cant think of another job that pays this rate and would let me do that.

[yetanotherSarah]

I came to continue my studies in ceramics. I live in the country and two months into my contract I found great pair of teachers who are currently teaching me everything they know. After I pay off my student loans, I will use the amazing saving power of teaching English to study in Europe and start a studio. Plus, I love to travel.

[ryouga013]

1) The money
2) I couldn't get a job fast enough in Japan (and had bills to pay) -> the money
3) I wanted to see what the deal with the whole "Korea Explosion" thing was all about... still lost on that
4) needed experience to get any job and Korea would take anyone...
*the TESOLcertificate, linguistics major, and year abroad didn't matter
5) getting out of a bad relationship, if I stayed in Japan, I would undoubtedly go back to her... not a good idea
6) wanted to study another language (which i haven't really started to do... )

[isthisreally]

Originally I came for all the reasons people give. Travel, immersion in a culture, cuisine, women, money, new experiences etc etc. After 3 months I was ready to move on. Why did i stay? Money. Why am I staying an additional year? Money. As far as this motive being ulterior, well if anyone asks I just tell them straight up. Money.

[littlelisa]

Yeah, my reasons for wanting to stay are a bit different than the ones that brought me here. Some of them are still the same, though.

Mainly what keeps me here are my friends (very sweet, wonderful people), and the swing dance scene. I'm not sure what I'd do when I go back, and that is still part of the reason, as is the liking teaching part, but the money is a motivation now too, though it wasn't part of the list of reasons that brought me here.

[PRagic]

I came to study. My 'first job' here only paid 1 million/month, so it sure as helll wasn't for the money!

[Cheonmunka]

Left school and left a sold-up and disbanded 'family' home at 15. Worked in various industries and places earning little for seven years. Enrolled in uni on an adults' intro program. Studied Korean language at night school for interest. Took Korean the following year at uni as second major on a BA. Got a scholarship to study Korean at Yonsei. Came here then and met a wonderful woman who would change my life. Reluctantly returned to NZ for final year of study. Finished study and came back to Korea on a one-way ticket, married the girl, worked, and started a family. Returned to NZ five years later with family intending to stay there. Suddenly lost a mother. Got public school teaching certification. Bought a house to do something with Mom's legacy, rented it out (to a Korean family) and returned to Korea. (Tenants still there three years on.)

Ultimate reason for staying here = Family. Stronger family ties with living grandparents for my kids ...
Secondary reasons: Work interests and a slightly higher income to support them better.
Tertiary reasons: Korea was good for me and Koreans generally good to me. Too much crime in NZ. Less 정 in NZ. I like the service here and people work hard to get my money. When I work here I am paid for the amount I put in and what I can give, not a fixed salary determined only by length of service.

[xingyiman]

Nonexistent job opportunities back in the states. Higher pay and the interview process was much easier than the freak "reality show" thing we've got going on back in the states now.

[Are they the lemmings]

[skeeterses]

The reality show thing? You kind of have to be from America to really understand how these job "interviews" work. For the good jobs, the employer will often call you in for several interviews before deciding whether to hire you or not. And if you're fresh out of college, many employers will not even read your resume. Also, America is mostly a low-paying service economy with hotels and retail outlets for employment, which means that its not really a land of opportunity unless you work with the Government or work for Wall Street.

Here in Korea, the employer will let you know in 5 minutes if they're going to give you a chance at teaching in their hagwon.

[crusher_of_heads]

[Draz]

[Rock]

Basically because it's no where and the last resort, a place where people try to fit a round peg into a square hole, and that by proving their superior education background verses this nonsense they call teaching, thereby making them somehow the over-qualified-but-nonetheless-not-so needy-no-where man.

[RobbJK9]

Worked 20 hours a day between a factory and a pizza shop for about three months, then quit the factory so my friends and I could test our hands at professional gaming. That lifestyle quickly adapted me to an Asian sleep schedule (going to bed at 7AM Central Standard Time--10PM Seoul Time and waking up at 3PM--6AM Seoul Time).

The pizza shop was quickly blocking my arteries, the professional gaming tournaments were too far from my hometown to travel without sponsorship (which my friends got about three weeks after I left--probably as a result of my leaving), and student loans from a private, liberal art college was quickly bleeding me dry.

So, as I'm sure many ex-pat stories go, I came for the money, but I'm staying for a girl (I'll save everyone that story, since they're probably all the same); however, if anyone else can spin a yarn similar to working 20 out of 24 hours a day and then attempting to pursue a lucrative MLG career, I'll eat my hat.