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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Isti
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
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 Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:30 am Post subject: Wantin' to come to Korea |
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Hey,
Ive got an interview set up tomorrow with Teach Away for a job teaching in Korea and there was a few things I have questions about. Ive been reading posts on here for a while now so forgive me if a great deal of my questions have been answered before.
1. What are the best places to work in Korea? I like the idea of Busan for being a coastal city, but being a newb what would be the best place to start out?
2. What salary should I hold out for? Ive seen alot of people say no less than the equivalent of 2200-2400 US dollars a month but with WON where it is right now is that realistic?
3. Any particular recruiters or hakwons I should avoid like the plague?
4. How hard is to to make friends among the Koreans being an american?
5. And lastly and slightly most embaressing, how hard is it to get involved with those of the female variety not being a "Brad Pitt"
I appreciate any and all responses, including the prospective flamers for that last one... Thanks |
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KSH
Joined: 23 Dec 2008
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Isti
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:51 am Post subject: |
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Thanks KSH, Ill check that out.
Does anyone know much about Teach Away in Korea? |
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Isti
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| BUMP |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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Has Your K-Boss Ever Screwed You Out Of Money?
Yes: 75% [47]
No: 24% [15]
Total Votes: 62
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=129843
Late pay... worth the wait?
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=37989
Newbees....
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=114266
WARNING: Foreigners are being watched.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=88076&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45
Banks cite non-existent law on expat cards
By Kim Soe-jung and Park Yeon-soo, JoongAng Daily (January 28, 2008)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2885625
UN Panel Faults Korean Emphasis on Homogeneity: Discrimination against foreigners found widespread
By Lee Eun-ju, JoongAng Ilbo (August 20, 2007)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2879475
UN Concern at 'Ethnocentric' Korea
Chosun Ilbo (August 20, 2007)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200708/200708200011.html
Foreigners Have a Hard Time in Korea
Chosun Ilbo (January 30, 2007)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200701/200701300016.html
Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448
Last edited by Real Reality on Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:26 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Isti
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Yikes... any positive stuff? |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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Isti
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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| So, the bad news is they dont like us there and discriminate... but if I bring my copy of WOW, Neverwinter Nights, and Everquest I might be ok... |
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nate2008
Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Wantin' to come to Korea |
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OP, you are getting some overly negative responses, Korea is not nearly as bad as they are making it out to be. I'll try to give you the rundown with little bias.
| Isti wrote: |
| 1. What are the best places to work in Korea? I like the idea of Busan for being a coastal city, but being a newb what would be the best place to start out? |
There's no such thing as "the best place", it all depends on what you are looking for. Do you want a big city or a small city?
| Isti wrote: |
| 2. What salary should I hold out for? Ive seen alot of people say no less than the equivalent of 2200-2400 US dollars a month but with WON where it is right now is that realistic? |
Not gonna lie, I laughed out loud at this one. Standard starting salary with only a non-english/education degree and no certification is 1.8million won at a public school. Not sure about hagwon, but it's maybe around 2 million. At current exchange rates, this is nowhere even close to 2200-2400USD. So to answer your question in on word about this being realistic: No.
| Isti wrote: |
| 3. Any particular recruiters or hakwons I should avoid like the plague? |
Someone linked you a blacklist. Use it.
| Isti wrote: |
| 4. How hard is to to make friends among the Koreans being an american? |
Not hard at all. I work in a public school and consider all my coteachers, even some of the ones who aren't English teachers and speak very little English, friends. We go out from time to time after work, and I play ping-pong after school with some of the upper level teachers (vice principal, head teacher, etc) from time to time. Many hagwon people I know bring their Korean co-workers out on weekends with them as well.
| Isti wrote: |
| 5. And lastly and slightly most embaressing, how hard is it to get involved with those of the female variety not being a "Brad Pitt" |
Very easy, if you are outgoing and not socially retarded. I've seen the most awkward, unattractive western men strutting around with beautiful Korean women. Just watch out for the crazies, there are many of them in Korea.
My final piece of advice would be to avoid hagwons. If you are just starting in Korea, I think a public school would be a good safe way to go to get you some experience here. In a public school, your pay will (99.9% of the time) never be late, your pension and proper taxes will be paid, and you won't have to worry about randomly getting fired in the 11th month of your contract. |
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Real Reality
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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AussieGav
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Uijeongbu
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not going to quote it, but Nate hit the nail on the head (as he often does). There are a lot of negative comments here, as indeed there can be some negative aspects to Korea. But, overall it is pretty good if you have the right frame of mind.
As for location, it all depend on what lifestyle you want to lead when you get here. would suggest staying away from smaller places even if you are looking for a quieter time as a lot of new arrivals I know who live in these locations struggle a bit. Try living in a decent size place or near a big city.
Bring an open mind and a warm coat and you should be fine. |
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nomad-ish
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: On the bottom of the food chain
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: Wantin' to come to Korea |
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| nate2008 wrote: |
| Standard starting salary with only a non-english/education degree and no certification is 1.8million won at a public school. Not sure about hagwon, but it's maybe around 2 million. |
the 1.8 starting rate is for the metropolitan cities (seoul, incheon, etc.), i believe GEPIK starts at 2.0. as for hagwons, 2.2 would be a decent first year wage |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Yikes... any positive stuff? |
Um, it's Real Reality you are reading. Real Reality doesn't do positive. |
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Goku
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| AussieGav wrote: |
I'm not going to quote it, but Nate hit the nail on the head (as he often does). There are a lot of negative comments here, as indeed there can be some negative aspects to Korea. But, overall it is pretty good if you have the right frame of mind.
As for location, it all depend on what lifestyle you want to lead when you get here. would suggest staying away from smaller places even if you are looking for a quieter time as a lot of new arrivals I know who live in these locations struggle a bit. Try living in a decent size place or near a big city.
Bring an open mind and a warm coat and you should be fine. |
Like Aussie Gav said:
Korea is what you make of it. The people who are miserable here tend to be miserable out of their own doing. Granted there are valid complaints about employers not paying you or getting hit by reckless drivers, but honestly those aren't common enough to be concernced (especially in terms of pay if you are going to public school)
However, things like pushy old ladies, spicy food, or bad fashion.... All really minor things and people will whine how terrible Korea is for all these small things added up. These things bother people because they have INGRAINED preferences. They are too afraid to accept or try new things. These people shouldn't have come to Korea in the first place, and I feel sorry for them if anything. If you are this type of person really stray away. There's a lot of things that will be... not what you're used to.
If you can deal with adventure and a new life then it's certainly going to pay off. There are a lot of little things here to enjoy and you have to make the most of it. You can see differences from your home country and Korea as blessings. I'll mention a few. For example, food here is amazingly unique from Western food. Children here can be REALLY funny (or absolutely annoying depending how you view it). There are always things to do, Karaoke, Video games, night life. Music is pretty cool, I enjoy the BigBang, and the Lee Hyori. If you are a womanizer, you'll have a great time here. I love Asian women... I won't lie, and it's like heaven here with sexy and cute girls the left and right of you all the time. You'll definately hook up with someone in a short time :> (granted you aren't a psycho). I'm ok looking myself, and I've hooked up with 2 girls in a short time. I'm no brad pitt by any standards but if you're clean, wear a good colon to a club and know how to send subtle signals, you'll have Korean girls swarming all over you.
Real Reality, Honestly, you really should not post negative threads for the sake of it. Are any of those things going to affect his daily life? Does it really matter if Korea has the highest suicide rate? The highest internet addiction rate? Korea has a thousands of things "wrong" with it, but none of them affect his time here. You're only scaring him... unless that is your agenda.
Lastthing:
Might I really really really suggest working at a public school your first year? It's a lot less work for the pay ratio and you will have time to enjoy Korea. I find I have plenty of time to work out, post on daves, play WoW, spend time with both girlfriends, and go out with friends all in the same day. Can't say the same for the hagwon friends I have. They have weird hours, work longer, and have to deal with more crap. |
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Isti
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Nate, Aussie, Goku, thank you all for your perspectives on things... thank you too Real, not sure how much of what you've posted Ill take to heart but I understand you may have had a really crappy experience, as several people seem to have had. If I do get a job and end up going Ill do my best to be cautious and aware of the situation.
I think Ill do my best to take the collective advice about public schools and will mention it tomorrow in my interview with Teach Away.
I understand place is personal preference but I am curious as to the average opinion on what places are better than others. Ive looked up info on Seoul, Gangwando and Busan... anyone have any advice on which of these would have a good balance for a newb? Im a bit scared of jumping right into Seoul having grown up in a town under a 100k, but hell, this IS supposed to be an adventure.
Er... oh, and Goku I hope you meant something different about wearing a nice colon to a night club... if wearing rectums is a cultural dating ritual I dont think Im gonna hack it.  |
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