Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TpaK]

hey everyone. I found this forum while searching on google and found it very helpful to see what im about to get into in the next couple of weeks. I am a 19 yr old HS graduate from the state of VA. I recently got accepted into Seoul University and will leave the states for Korea on the 22nd. I was in Korea for a month in September and experienced as much as I could during my stay. I have a large family in Korea (im mixed Korean/Caucasian) so I know I have some support during my life in the country. I just wanted to know from all of your past experiences, what it will be like for me actually living in the country? The dorm im residing in sounds pretty nice so housing shouldnt be a problem. My main concerns are how difficult is it to find a job? I dont have a degree for teaching english..how can I get one? what will it be like attending the university?

input is much appreciated

[machellebelle]

I'm also mixed, and even though my family members aren't direct-- they're my grandfather's brothers and such, I'm obligated to spend at least 2-3 Sundays a month with them. It's alright, a bit awkward, but hey, free food!
Are you from NOVA? I'm from Williamsburg.

To teach English at a PS or Hagwon you need at least 2 years of undergrad to do TaLK, or a bachelor's. You can probably do privates. I'm not if it's legal to do it on a student visa, I'm sure someone here will tell you. What kind of job are you looking for?

good luck!

[TpaK]

I am from NOVA actually, Gainesville/Fairfax. Went to Williamsburg during the summer for Busch Gardens haha. Thanks for the info, im not trying to be too picky about a job..I just need some type of part-time work that'll let me be able to live on my own for a good while. My father is retired from the army and I have a military ID to let me enter the military base n such so maybe that'll help? I was hoping I could teach english but after reading some of the post on the forum, I guess its illegal if u dont have a degree. Not trying to get deported and waste all the money my family is spending to send me there lol

[sojourner1]

I know one Korean/American and it's a confusing ordeal for him. You might want to learn to speak Korean if you haven't done so as Koreans don't speak much English and looking Korean, you will surely be perceived as another Korean which you won't find too funny after a while. I understand Koreans will expect you to speak Korean and not understand nor sympathize that you don't. They won't treat you lightly in giving you breaks and excusing you for being a foreigner like they do white people. They'll come off as pushy, demanding, and inconsiderate, but not very nice; actually kinda cold and rude. Despite you being Korean/American, you're far very different upstairs than a Korean, mostly because you grew up in the West so you have Western values. It was like that for me in Germany, because I'm part German, but didn't grow up in the culture so I lacked necessary knowledge I should have so people thought something was very wrong with me which wasn't so. Of course, my German situation was not such an extreme example as the Korean case as Germany is very western and I made many new German friends I related very well with since they're very cool people. I haven't made any special or close friends with Korean people. yet. Nothing close to it, but you might since you look Korean.

Not sure if you can get another kind of PT job college students typically get such as wait staff, server, dishwasher, etc. You'll need to know Korean quite well as they won't speak much English unless going somewhere like Itaewon to work in a foreign restaurant.

[ReeseDog]

You don't that ID forever, right? I sure didn't.

Fairfax? Which high school? Curious, because I went to high school up there.

[Toon Army]

[machellebelle]

.[/quote]

He might not look Korean at all. I`m half Korean also and the Koreans never guessed I was Asian at all......just assumed as another waegookin. In western countries I`ve been perceived as South American, Mexican etc. This is the case with MANY mixed people.

As for working.... you get an F4 visa (which you`re entitled to get) you can teach privates legally.[/quote]

Hey! That's me in a nutshell!
Especially in summer, I get Latin American mix a lot...

You can keep renewing that ID until you graduate from college, or reach a certain age, 23, I believe.
You can get on base, but unless your dadis here, you can't get a ration card to buy things in the PX/BX, Commissary, Shoppette, etc. You can go to the food court and get Taco Bell and such, and they'll have a few things like drinks, chips and whole wheat bread (my favorite! haha). If your dad does come, if its just him I think the ration allowance is $200/month for up to 3 consecutive months. The more dependents he has with him, the greater it is.

Ah, busch gardens. Fairfax is a nice area, my family lives up there too, my cousins went to TJ and then to GMU

[PeteJB]

What will you study at Seoul Uni? I'm currently there too.

[moosehead]

[DCJames]

[TpaK]

Thanks for the replies everyone, Ill clear up some stuff about myself in order:

Sojourner: I can see where ur coming from about ur friend. I could probably end up the same way. I guess the only thing thats going for me over there is my Korean ethnicity and background. I understand the culture and dont find it too unusual when I have a bunch of Koreans staring me down as a foreigner. (seems like the korean chicks dig mix boys ). I can read Korean, and I can speak and understand the language fundamentally. About the job, is it possible to find a foreign company to work with? or even a job within the university? If I have to do dishwashing to survive, then I cant really complain.

Reesedog: I had my military ID renewed not too long ago. Im pretty sure it will last me a good amount of time before it expires. I attended Fairfax HS and Battlefield HS..but I am aware of the many Highschools in the Fairfax area and have many friends from those schools..which HS did u attend?

Toon Army: Its kinda wierd. Whenever im with my caucasian friends, they think I look straight up korean. but when im with my korean friends, they say I look straight up white lol. But personally, I would just say I look straight up mixed. Can u clarify what exactly an F4 Visa is?

Machelle: My father told me about the ration system in the base during his time in 89 while he was stationed in Korea. He wasnt sure if it still existed but I guess u pretty much clarified that part, thx for the info. I had a friend who went to TJ and I live pretty close to GMU. not a bad school at all although I heard its pretty lame and gives a more HS environment lol.

PeteJB: As of the moment, my only plans in SNU are to attend the Korean language academy for a year. After I learn the language, Ill be able to take the exam to see if I can attend my 4 years in the university. Maybe we can introduce ourselves sometime when I get there.

[Toon Army]

[ReeseDog]

[TpaK]

Thanks Toon. Being able to get an F4 visa because of my ethnicity...lucky me

[machellebelle]

I'm here on an F4, the process isn't that complicated, especially since you live near the embassy in DC. I'm not entirely sure about, but your mom may have to be here when you register with immigration.
My mom had to verify herself on the family registry and formally renounce her Korean citizenship, even though she'd been an American citizen for 25 years. I'm not sure what was completely required because she was doing a crap job of translating.

And no luck on the commissary, spouses don't even qualify for the ration card. You can always make some friends! When my dad and I first went, all we were doing was looking for the commissary and a married couple offered to buy us whatever we wanted
You can also make friends by bribing to take the ones that want on base for Taco Bell