Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yangachi]

[Lostone7]

[michaelambling]

[bogey666]

this may come as a surprise, but I agree with about 90% of what fromthewaziristan says in this thread.

frankly, what's keeping me here (I will almost surely resign for another year) is my particular job and my particular relationship with my VP who will become a principal next year. Then if I decide to stay in Korea, I'll go work for wherever he becomes principal.

I can pretty much outlast whatever crappy exchange rate we have for quite some time. The only time I'll feel it is when on vacation. (which will be twice a year of course, maybe thrice

[pidgin]

[Straphanger]

[Ya-ta Boy]

OP,

You asked the wrong question. With the perception of Korea that you have, the question is, "Why do you stay?"

[dimitri31]

I got a lot of responses, and many of these responses were given within the first few hours of posting the question, "Why stay in Korea?"

Well, my time here has generally been pretty good. Of course, I've run into a few A-holes and biatches here, but hey, people like that are everywhere. no?

You know, there's no doubt in my mind about being able to earn a decent salary in this country as a teacher (not taking into consideration the current exchange rate which we all know fluctuates), however, I can't deny the fact that this country has some bigots and racists not different from those in our own home countries.

I can also not deny that I've sensed some Koreans walk around with a sense of superiority over foreigners in this country. I mean, come on, how many times have you heard kids making fun of people from Africa or calling dark-skinned people "dirty". They learn this from somewhere right. So to say that all Koreans are racists is wrong, but to blatantly deny that racism exists here is wrong as well.

As you can see, I left the original message with a negative tone to it. This was purposely intended to receive some positive feedback from you, the readers. Not everyone that uses this site wants to keep a negative perspective of things.

For the most part, the responses were straightforward, objective, and even some positive. Of course others were not, but what can one expect from posting in the forum.

As for me, I am still here because of personal responsibilities that I refuse to walk away from. I am also here because although the work can be very stressful, I am receiving a paycheck for my services...I got a job, you know.
As we all know, these aren't the best of times in the world right now.

I want to especially thank 'fromtheuk' and those of you who can be brutally honest whether other people like it or not. I think it is these responses that help some people remain focused and objective.

anyways, to everyone out there....have a good night.

[ryoga013]

I'm hoping that I'll finally get paid what I'm owed via help from the labor board. Then, that the won stabilizes at a OK number so i can go back. I guess that's my reason for staying here...

[Ilsanman]

There are some good things here to keep me for the time being, but we're out of here next year.

1. Before the won hit the shitter, I was making a damn good wage when exchanged into CDN dollars.

2. I really like my adult students. Legitimately as people.

3. I don't have to deal with chugs, and PC culture that prevents us from telling the truth about them.


Now, if I got into the list of things I don't like, this thread would become 10 pages. But I can do it for another year.

[bundangbabo]

We are living in South Korea's 'golden era' the same as it was for Americans it was in the 1950s, the British - the 1960s, West Germans - the 1970s and the Aussies - the 1980s.

I'm sure your older co-teachers have told you about their childhoods - they were dirt poor, spam was a luxury item - and now you see the wealth around us and you sense how much has changed in such little time.

As for Korean racism against British racism - I am from a mixed race family and was brought up on a 99% white Anglo/Irish, Merseyside council estate - basically - no foreigner has been firebombed out of their house, had dogshit put through their letterbox, racist graffiti scrawled on their home and had a harrasment campaign to get them out of their home here in South Korea - it has never happened here - nor has anyone been lynched for being non Korean - yes - black people have been lynched in England - as late as 1995 in Telford Shropshire. Read about any black or Asian persons experiences of trying to live in Belfast today and that will tell you another story - you know - Its not like the British didn't have an empire for 400 years that encompassed every race and creed on the bloody globe.

There is racism here in South Korea like there is in most societies but to compare the violent thuggish version that exists (still) in Britian is ridiculous.

Why do I like living in Korea - its safe, the women are beautiful, fitness culture is valued and gyms are cheap, we have a nice summer, I am good at my job and it has all mod cons, there is also a growing cafe culture - it is not up there with Spain or Italy yet but it is getting there - I'm starting to see this place as my home - like fromtheuk - I'll probably stay here until they kick me out!

[bundangbabo]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/how-racists-forced-storeholder-to-shut-up-shop-556096.html

Imagine if this happened in South Korea to a white man and his Korean wife who ran their own business - what uproar there would be on here - especially if it carried on for 13 years!

[Adventurer]

Granted, Korea is a relatively safe country. Many crimes are not reported. Also, some foreigners have died here, and those incidents were labeled as suicides. So, maybe foreigners have not been lynched, but several have died for mysterious reasons. So, they could have been possibly victims of hate crimes. We have this false sense of this place being super safe. It is safer than some countries for sure, but I am not sure how safe it really is. A foreign girl who lived in Cheonan was almost raped. The cops did nothing. Her neighbors helped. After the first incident, she got a baseball bat. He tried it again. She beaned him on the head. Then, the cops wanted to do something. They told her not to go anywhere. She did a midnight run, needless to say.

Korean culture does have some nice things. The kids can be cool to teach, the women are beautiful, they pay for your housing, but sometimes or too often there is not enough help or team work between Korean teachers and foreigners.


I have not really encoutered down and out xenophobia, personally, but I feel it's generally hard to be part of this socetiy. Foreigners are not really welcomed whether as investors, tourists, or teachers.
We are also not adequately protected, and the services to us are not satisfactory. Is it getting much better? It is getting better year after year.
They are catering to tourists more, the banks are somewhat better.
I have even seen a mail box for dropping mail recently on a side-walk.
I can't remember seeing one before.

There are more services for us. The currency is low, the place is okay, but not what I would call a stellar country for expats.

I think the place is okay. I somewhat like it. It has its moments for me.
I wish I could say I love the place. I once did.

[Ilsanman]

[jkelly80]

The currency is at a 11 year low. The law of "it can't possibly get any worse" is motivating me to stay at least until December to see if it does. If it gets even to 1300, that's a 30% return on my 'investment'. Plus living in Itaewon would be a debauched good time.