Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marlow]

So, is it worth coming to Korea for a year or so if you are Canadian? For personal reasons I'm stuck here for the medium term, but if I were in Canada with no family ties and looking for something to do, I would totally not bother coming to Korea.

First, it's likely you'll get slammed for Canadian income tax if you only come for a year.

Second, the exchange rate sucks. Basically it's never been so bad since January 1998.

Third, there is the fact that wages have basically been stagnant for about five years, while many everyday prices have gone up about 20% in the same time.

Fourth, and least annoying, there are the added regulations involved in coming here.

Honestly, if it weren't for my family and the need to think about shit before just cutting loose, I'd be gone and never be back until salaries go up to 3.5M and the exchange goes to about 500 won per dollar.

[blaseblasphemener]

agreed. if you're going overseas for a year, Korea would be one of my last choices. Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, all would be more interesting, better weather, and more foreigner friendly, not to mention easier regs.

Korea is on the decline, I would say. Good still if you have an F2 though.

[Draz]

[bogey666]

[ajgeddes]

I voted Yes. Not everybody is paying off loans.

[earthbound14]

low wage, no recognition from either Koreans or Canadians (doesn't look good on your resume), lower over all standard of living (sometimes I get so sick of paying so much for such a crappy apartment when I could be putting money into a really nice house back home), inhaling bad air 24/7, stupid laws that are rigidly enforced while really intelligent laws like running red lights are not enforced, poor representation in the media, poor treatment from Korean employers (which I find tough to handle, as I feel as if I was invited to help people in Korea and really let's face it having some newly modernized azz wipe telling me how things are really chafes my butt...) and on the flip side all the annoying westerners I meet who give us all a bad name by acting like they are god's gift to the world because they come from the most modern places on earth....

The only reason I'm here is for the experience of being somewhere new, travel and of course my future wife. In that respect I love being here and I don't actually plan on leaving terribly soon....despite the fact that this is really not the best situation in terms of money or equal treatment I still feel being in a new culture more rewarding, especially since my family will forever be entwined here. I just wish Koreans knew that and would start treating me a little more equally as someone who is willing to love Korea rather putting me in a situation where I like it but I put up with a lot.

[jajdude]

[kimchipig]

When I was first in Korea in 1994, I got one Canadian Dollar for W524. My base salary was W1.2m and I made another W800k in privates.

Today the rate is C$1=W1044. Salaries have not kept up even with inflation in Korea, let alone exchange rates.

The xenophobic nonsense and abuse I took in Korea was worth it when I was saving $3,000 a month and paid all my student loans in a year.

It sure would not be now.

[Draz]