Korean Job Discussion Forums

whatever · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Location: Korea: More fun than jail.

Recently got engaged (to a Korean woman) and am interested to know...whether you're married to a Korean or not...

What do you consider the most significant pros and cons for you to being married now, relative to your previous single life? Also, if you've been married for say, 5 years or more at this point, would your list be any different if you were asked a few years back? If married to a Korean and you've moved between here and your home country or elsewhere (or even back), did any of the pros and cons change?

I know it's a broad question, but I have maybe only one or two married acquaintances that I'd even bother to ask, and perhaps they considered the question too personal or didn't want to be too candid. Since this is basically an anonymous forum, I'd appreciate any observations that you care to share...thanks, and have a good week!

CRAP, I MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE THE OL' AVATAR...

Jeff's Cigarettes · Joined: 27 Mar 2007

Married life is the best. My wife is my lover and my best friend. It is great to have a partner to go through life with.

shaunew · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Calgary

It has been great. I'm married to a Korean. There will be problems with different culture things, but you can make it. I think the biggest is the family. If they like you its good, they hate you bad or good.

My situation was they thought I was a walking ATM machine and always wanted pocket money. I have one son and my wife is pregnant again.

When I was younger my old married friends told me to enjoy the sex while I can because after the kids and a few years of married you will not be having sex that often. So true, so true.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

^ poor ajeoshi

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

My wife have been married three years (our anniversary is Tuesday). I can't think of all the pros and cons right now, but I'll post a few. Pro: a very supportive Korean family who have adopted me as one of their own and think of me as their son. Con: Nagging about my bad habits.

shaunew · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Calgary

hamlet712 · Joined: 16 Mar 2007

Of course everyone is different, but My wife is Korean and There are many benefits.

She has a strong family ethic, including a desire to see me happy, and take care of me ( not being sexist, but thats a nice feeling) She is dedicated at any job and is highly intelligent.

to be honest there are no distinct advantages of her being Korean, although i did get an F2 Visa for being married to her.

There is a cultural difference. Lately we are torn between trying to save money and the Korean expectation that money goes back to the family to pay for things. We need to save money because we are moving back to Canada, but her family makes us feel guilty because her sister is paying for things and we dont.

Nearly ANY disadvantage is cultural differences or misunderstandings. I hate that my wife beleives in Fan death and that she swallows some of the things Korean society tell her. I dont like that our goals are questioned because we are not doing what her parents want us to do, especially when we are here now to see them for a longer period BEFORE we move back to Canada.

Anyway, I can go on, but this is VERY IMPORATANT ADVICE, make sure you talk about all important issues with your fiancee and find out where you guys are at.

Kids, where youre going to settle, money etc

The last thing you wanna do is get married and she springs that you are never allowed to leave Korea, all your money has to support her family and whatever else

skconqueror · Joined: 31 Jul 2005

Riddle · Joined: 19 Jul 2006

I'm also very interested in this topic. Keep up the great responses.

Oreovictim · Joined: 23 Aug 2006

I'm curious about this topic, too. I'd think a lot of cons would be with raising mixed kids in Korea. They're probably a novelty and get a lot of attention at first. But then I'm sure that they'd get singled out and bullied later on.

I met one foreigner who said that while his little son was on the playground, the other kids were pointing and shouting, "Kway-mool!" (Monster) Here's what's even more annoying: the mothers who were watching were laughing.

If I ever had kids here, I'd raise them here for several years, just so I can save some cash. Then I'd get them the hell out of this country.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Jack Meiov · Joined: 13 May 2008

sucker

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

kentucker4 · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Location: Georgia

fortysixyou · Joined: 08 Jun 2006

I hear all the time from my older divorced brother the following about marriage:

"You'd better be ready to live close to her family. Because a girl pretty much never wants to leave her family."

So I worry about marrying my K-GF, whereupon we agree to stay in Korea for a few years, then go back to the USA to live. Then, what if she backs out and can't be away from her family? What if she can't hack it in America?
So then I'm stuck in Korea for the rest of my life?

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!