Korean Job Discussion Forums

[suki]

Given the recent economic developments, I am wondering if I can even get by on starting pay with GEPIKs or EPIKs. (I have chosen them because I hear Hagwons practice age discrimination in hiring and because I hear the scripted lessons in the Hagwon curriculum gets tedious) I read somewhere that one can expect living expenses to run about $800 U.S. a month. I'm assuming that is old information. I am currently paying PLUS parent student loans for my son in college $300/mo. along with $150/mo. of my own credit debt. And then there is storage for my stuff, about $100/mo. Will I be able to make it coming to Korea with $550 -$600 a month going to the U.S., considering the economy has still not bottomed out? What are you spending currently to pay the bills and eat?

My current job has been directly hit by the market here in the U.S. and will probably not last to next year...This was seen as a fortuitous yet unhappy event that strangely coincided with my desire to learn more about my birth culture. However, I also do not want to shoot myself in the foot! Any advice welcome.

Should I take a job remote from Seoul, how difficult is it or how often do remote teachers actually make it there? I am also in search for my birth family and all the resources are in Seoul.

Thank you again - I am glad a board exists where I can ask.

ADDED - I will also require taking Korean lessons

[Underwaterbob]

If you work in the countryside with EPIK you make an extra 100'000원 per month and you can get by on considerably less than $800.

[afsjesse]

I am in a similar situation as you. I am paying my student loans at 450 USD per month. Now living expenses vary depending on where you are. I can get by on 400 USD per month here in the country. If your in Seoul or another city it could be more depending on if you go out, cook your own meals and like western amenities. I'd say you'll get by fine, you will just have to budget carefully and hope the exchange rate doesn't plummet more.

Good Luck.

[suki]

I thought that sounded like a high figure, but not knowing the Cost of Living, I couldn't tell. I'm pretty frugal in general.

So I guess my only questions left are how hard is it to frequent Seoul from out in the sticks and also how many of those little rural places can you get Korean lessons in...

thanks!

[Underwaterbob]

[Otherside]

Suki,
To answer your first post; In the past when have people have said you will be living pretty comfortably on $800 a month (myself included), they meant W800,000, just the rate was practically 1000/1 so was a simple conversion. Now days, you can still live pretty comfortably on W800,000 a month (the major effects of the won's loss of value haven't hit the Korean market yet, I'll leave the questions of when/if/what this effect will be to others).

So, look at your salary, deduct W800,000 (make it 900,000 to be safe..) and get to a figure in won, convert that figure to $, and if that is amount is enough to keep you afloat, then you'll be fine. You said you are pretty frugal, so W600,000 is VERY possible (except perhaps the first month or 2 where you'll be setting yourself up)

Regarding your second post, getting to Seoul will be pretty easy for almost all rural areas. The duration/cost will obviously depend on where you are and how far you are from Seoul. For more specific advice, post a location.

[suki]

thanks everyone! feeling better about my decision.

confused though - cooking your own meals is more expensive than eating out?

[afsjesse]

That would depend on what you like. If your like me and enjoy a Tuna Kimbap or two, then yes It's cheaper. If you want chicken or steak at a restaurant then it would be more expensive.
I don't cook at all. I don't even have a cooking pot or pan, HONEST! If your frugal and enjoy simple things, Korea can be a cheap and wonderful place to be a Scrooge with your money!

Food prices here can be insane, especially for beef and sometimes chicken. Vegetables vary. For me I eat to my hearts content for pennies if I were back home!

[Temporary]

[ciccone_youth]

It depends what/where you eat, but for me cooking is cheaper. I stock up on food from Costco and HomePlus and mostly cook at home these days. I can't stand to eat at restaurants anymore, even though some places are so cheap.

I feel a lot healthier.

I think you can get by, just be frugal, ie. no shopping sprees and too many fancy places. I think you'll be okay!

[eamo]

Don't worry. Cheap living is still very possible. Even in Seoul.

I would always strongly recommend that new teachers live their first year in Seoul if possible. Much easier than the sticks.

Just come on out and stop worrying!! You'll love it!!

[Draz]

[GreenlightmeansGO]

This isn't 100% accurate, but I worked out that my monthly expenses last year were around 700 000. I was eating out quite a lot and drinking more than I should have.

If you were really frugal (and I'm guessing outside Seoul - I live in Daegu) you could probably get by on 400 000 - 450 000. Think of it as 10 000 a day (more than enough) and then bills at the end of the month (telephone, cellphone, TV, internet, gas).

[loose_ends]

How do you guys live so cheaply???

Geesh I am lucky if I spend less than 1.4 million a month and I don't even go out much anymore.

Weird.

[livinginkunsan]

my wife and I spend between 2-2.2 million a month.