Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Css]

Yes I do believe its simply laziness. I do not believe its any kind of intended dishonesty or deception.

Governments, or rather police forces and the judiciary of all countries cannot be everywhere at once. In the scheme of things, a very small number of foreign english teachers getting some unpaid holidays is pretty far down on the list of priorities.

If the crimes were taken to the relevant body, then they I believe they would be dealt with correctly...but as you said, for whatever reason, its sometimes difficult for teachers to take these matters to the courts. However, if they arent brought to the attention of the courts by the victims, how is anything ever going to get done? How are the authorities even going to be made aware?

Thats why i dont believe it to be corruption..

If your boss is doing something illegal, and you take it to the relevant authorities, i believe 100% that it will be dealt with according to the law.

[Ilsanman]

I hear ya, bro.

I am totally opposite of Adventurer. I have had great luck with jobs, save a few. I have had rotten luck with the locals. I have a broken finger now because of a drunken man who wanted to pat me on the head and touch my wife and daughter. I had a broken elbow before and had to go through the medical system here, which I can tell you from personal experience is a total joke.

The police are a joke too. When this court case is settled, I will be letting everyone on here know what happened.

Almost everyday, I get some high school punk mouthing me off for no reason better than me waiting at a bus stop.

I used to love this place, but not anymore. Any good feelings I had before have been squeezed out. Even my wife is getting this way, after she sees the way I get treated.

[Adventurer]

[jkelly80]

[seosan08]

Uni's can be just as bad. A good example is Kyungnam Uni in Masan for the last 10 years or so. It may have gotten better, but I doubt it!

[jkelly80]

I can't find the article, but I know a few weeks ago it came out that the head of Education in Seoul was caught taking loans (billions of won, I think) from the Jongno Hagwon, which conveniently avoided any hagwon crackdown.

[Ukon]

Such bad jobs could be avoided by speaking to current and/.or former employees....I'm susprised how many people didn't do their research before coming.....

[hugekebab]

Korea has lots of backward aspects to it.

The employment situation here is borderline untenable, due to their hierarchical 'shit drops down' system.

The visa rules are horrific.

Koreans are generally pretty racist.

The people here are often quite cold, yet warm on the surface.

Friendship seems to be a matter of utility for many Koreans; especially international friendships.

The food is poor, but they think it's amazing.


However, there are positives; lots of them.

It is the safest place I have ever lived (apart from the traffic!)

The living cost and money situation here are brilliant; there is zero money stress; you are never living on the borderline of poverty.

The experiences here are weird! The novelty of this does wear off after about 6-9 months.

The teaching community can be pretty tight knit (but is also full of whack jobs.)

The weather is brilliant outside of summer. It has barely rained in the last 2 1/2 months.

Try and look at the bottom list, not the top. Either that or move on where you have more visa freedom e.g. Taiwan/Japan/Europe (if you are European)

[jkelly80]

^
I agree with your positives and negatives, except for the food. I think the food here is great, but they're wayyyyy too protectionist about it. As good as it is, I can't eat it 21 meals a week. A 10% VAT on a Middle Eastern Restaurant? Give me a break.

I've never seen a country so hung up on its own culture.

[Cheonmunka]

I'm a married guy, two kids, Korean wife, long term ressie, studied in Korean etc. I tell yah, if I were single my experiences would be much wierder than now - so I reckon I gotta hand to you guys.

One thing though, you are teachers here. In the US you could be teachers, too, and earn the same money - if not more. I guess with tax high and housing there's a difference there, and it feels like one is traveling. To me though, those differences are slight.

Maybe it's more like Westies are drawn to the Orient, like I was. Like a dream from the past or something ... or the Playboy centerfold of the Asian chick I saw when I were a boy ...
In which case, nothing about people's personalities is going to take a new traveller here away from his wee dream. Then one day reality will hit in and will realise that though things appear different there is not a lot between the West and here when it comes to shady people and rip offs. Just a different way of going about it.

[Adventurer]

[Css]

[Adventurer]

[mises]

Dude why don't you just head back home or elsewhere? And I don't say that in a "hate it then get out" sense. I enjoyed Korea until I didn't. And then I left. If you aren't enjoying it, leave! It is a big beautiful world. Places to go, people to see...

[Bramble]