Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BigMikeAbroad]

So, I am to the point of having days left to work at my current job, and I am getting excited about being abroad again. I have heard that most hogwons make you shave your beard. Not hold you down against your will or anything. So are beards really frowned upon? Any help would be cool.

Big Mike

[ttompatz]

[Bibbitybop]

Don't most employers want to see your photo? If you get hired with it, they know you have it. If they ask you to shave it, show them that its not in the contract. If they talk about Korean customs, show them a 1,000 or 10,000 won bill.

[blurgalurgalurga]

Should be no problem, dude. As long as it doesn't have old chicken bones and algae and little insects living in it, you're fine. It's all part of the foreigner mystique they adore so.

[seoulsucker]

Tell them that you're a big fan of Korean historical dramas, and that all the grown men with status and respect in those shows are sporting goatees or full beards, you spent some time learning about Korean culture, etc.

If he says something about that being old fashioned just say, "Oh, I didn't know that people don't think history and culture here are important, etc."

A friend stumped his supervisor with this one a few years ago and had a blast doing it.

[Captain Marlow]

i sport a beard... my koteachers have never said anything about it, but the students have said that i look like a dirty criminal... imagine if they saw my tattooos

[Whirlwind]

Captain Marlow, that avatar is freaking awesome. I love it..so hilarious

[D-Man]

I don't know how anyone can go around with a bird's nest on their face especailly during the hot,humid summer months.If I don't shave every day,I feel so wretched.

[Lekker]

[livinseoul]

[piratebryan]

i shaved my beard before i came and regret it. it had about 5 and half months worth of good solid growth on it, sans trimming. but my recruiter led me to believe that i would catch lots of flack with my school because of it.

keep it.

[Big_Crazy_Ape]

you should keep it, unless it's stated otherwise in the contract.
if anything, keep that bad boy trimmed and you'll be fine.

[carrotpatchkid]

i've worked at three now and i've never had an issue with my beard... kids love it

[crusher_of_heads]

I've had a goatee, and I've gone for the Gregory House look-even in wintger I will not grow a full beard-only time I have heard anything was when I shaved off the military style crewcut.


rockstarsmooth, right now I am not listening to any Michale Jackson stuff, as it's a sick freak and should be destroyed.

[blaseblasphemener]

Hagwons are so desperate for warm bodies, they will even hire you if you are black or Japanese-American. You could probably even get hired with a tattoo on your face.

Do you have a tattoo on your face?