Korean Job Discussion Forums

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:39 am Post subject: How many PhD's in Korea

I have noticed more and more jobs in Korea wanting MA required PhD preferred. So, I was curious to know how many there are at this site.
And it could be interesting to also have posts from those who are getting one or are thinking about it.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

BA., B.Sc., MBA - and not interested in getting it Piled higher and Deeper.

There are no tenure track positions here for non-f2/4/5 visa holders and I have no intention of getting married to a Korean just for a visa.

An MBA gets you farther in the real world (employment wise) than a PhD in a related field (except perhaps Economics - my undergrad).

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OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

When I finish my MA, I'll start on my PhD.

It has nothing to do with employment prospects...it's something I'm doing for myself.

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:50 am Post subject:

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:53 am Post subject:

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

skdragon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

MBA and Ph.D. here. There are more and more US$60K assistant prof jobs popping up every semester here, and most provide housing and relocation assistance to boot. They're getting serious about attracting (and hopefully keeping) foreign Ph.D.s.

I had three job offers when I was finishing up. I went with the highest salary and the tenure track. Being here now is like what my older profs told me it was like in the 60s and 70s in the U.S. and Canada. If you didn't like you job, or got scouted, you moved. Profs moved for better money, personal reasons, or even for better weather! There was a shortage of Ph.D.s, and the market was hot.

I still think you have to stay active in your field, though. Publish at least a paper a year and get around to conferences and think tanks to do talks and paper presentations. Kind of a no brainer, especially is one plans on shifting back to home turf in the future.

Jimskins · Joined: 07 Nov 2007

Can I ask if any of you who have PHDs did them part-time or through distance learning (or know anyone who did)? What was it like? I won't be starting mine for at least a good five years or more but would like to know what you think about doing a distance-learning PHD part-time whilst working in Korea.

SeoulFinn · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: 1h from Seoul

I'm planning in enrolling on a PhD program sooner or later. I haven't decided if I should (or is it even sane thing to do?) go for one of the best Korean universities (snicker all you want) or stick with a European one. By the way, my major in uni was East Asian Studies and Koreanology, which is not the way to riches and fame!

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Well, it started in Japan in the late 1980s, and is still going strong. Why? Because it starts at the big universities, and eventually trickles down (no, I didn't like Reagan that much). So at first, the top universities step up to the plate and recruit foreign Ph.D.s, then the medium, second-tier schools, and then, finally, the smaller, private universities in less urban locations. Now you have small, local universities in Japan paying competitive salaries to foreign Ph.D.s in a load of diciplines...and they're getting a decent number of applicants!

I think it's just getting started in Korea. The problem here, however, is the administrative red tape. We'll see how that pans out later on down the road.

kiwiana · Joined: 29 Nov 2007