Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kurtz]

Personally, I wear a suit. I don't wear a tie. In Korea I have two suits and some nice shirts, pants and good shoes which are used for work.

It may seem over the top, but I think it makes life a lot easier here. Korean men seem addicted to suits, so when in Rome right?! and it shows you are making some kind of effort at being professional.

The old and new Principal have commented on my appearance, and are proud to have me as their native English teacher. I think how one presents themselves here in the land of "appearances mean everything" goes a long way to making your life a little easier.

I also feel comfortable riding on public transport. I feel no bad vibes, and often ajummas who have a seat offer to hold whatever is in my hands.

I often see the backpacker set in the mornings on the subway, unshaven, unkempt, wearing shabby clothes and I wonder how they are treated in their school.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an outdoors man, my favourite environment is in the mountains, I love bumming out in my spare time and vacation time, but think making an effort in how you look can make your working Korean experience much better.

[esetters21]

A suit? Good for you. You seem to be fitting in quite well.

I used to dress in a more formal manner when I started my ps job, but I have set a new standard for "casual Friday" almost every day of the week. The other male teachers at the school are catching on to this and have started dressing the same.

What can I say? I am popular at my school.

The proverb states that "clothes make the man" is complete and utter bullshit. I have a closet full of those clothes, but they rarely see daylight. I used to work in a corporate job that required that kind of attire.

[Robot_Teacher]

Sure you get more respect the more dressed and groomed. You'll be a star if looking pretty handsome as a perfect doll. While not quite a Hollywood movie star, I have short hair, shave every day, wear cotton khaki Dockers, and button down shirts, but don't have a suit and get by just fine without it. At my PS, one male teacher wears shiny pin stripe business suits with sparkling ties all the time and another male teacher wears T-shirts and strange jeans and another male teacher wears polo style shirts with jeans or trousers. The women are mostly very casual with one wearing forming style skirt suits with rhinestones and sparkly styles. She's a gorgeous glamor woman ready for a Paris fashion show runway any day.

There seems to be no dress code and you dress by what fits your personality and body appropriately. Like at home, teachers dress in varying manners from super casual stoner backpacker to super formal CEO. What we have here are lots of ex-stoners maintaining the super casual party animal look, a few gentlemen and ladies, and a few wannabe high professionals who may achieve a great Koreer after Korea when the economy improves. It's OK, Korea has low standards and it's up to you on what you want to do.

[Joe666]

esetters21: The proverb states that "clothes make the man" is complete and utter bullshit.

This proverb is bullshit in the spiritual sense, but not in the actual. There is a time and place for almost everything. How many times has looking really good changed the way you were treated/viewed. I can personally list plenty. Yes it's empty, yes it has nothing to do with who you really are, but it means something whether you are in Korea or Britian.

If wearing nice clothes at your respective school is going to help you settle in nicely, "wear em". I do. Sometimes a suit/tie, sometimes just plain dress shirt/dress pant, sometimes shirt/jeans.

[esetters21]

[cruisemonkey]

My choice of clothes are dictaed by:
the weather; and,
what's clean.

On 'special' days, I'll put on a suit and (anyhing but a pink) tie.

[sharkey]

my school is pretty liberal when it comes to clothes.. i wear whatever i want and no one says a word to me ... and sometimes i go days without shaving, and again, no one says anything.. only the vice principal and principal are the ones who wear suits.. all the other teachers wear casual formal. i just found out that we can wear shorts too, so ill be taking advantage of that

[gregoriomills]

[cruisemonkey]

They don't say anything to me because they're incapable of doing so (in English). The consternation on Mr. Kim's face is amusing when it's 25+ degrees C... he's sweating in his shiny silver suit & pink tie while I'm dressed 'resort casual'.

Poor Mr. Kim... he can't wear certain clothes until a certain date - just as he can't go swimming before or after a certain date.

[marlow]

Depends on the weather. Early spring was a blazer, shirt and cotton pants. Now it's cotton pants and short sleeved untucked collared shirts.

[Kurtz]

I'm the only teacher that wears a suit. The mainly female teachers wear quite casual clothes. I kind of started the suit thing as I was told the VP is strict, and likes the teachers to be looking good. Now I feel like if I stop wearing one that will look like I don't care any more.

I have to admit, I feel foolish walking out of school wearing a suit after talking about Zeeto and his friends and playing some games with my students, it's not the same level as clinching a multi-million advertisement deal and proudly leaving the office looking and feeling good.

As mentioned, I feel that wearing a suit in some ways makes life easier. The P and VP love it, and I don't seem to get the day to day hassles like I read from many on this forum, like unwanted stares, and rudeness. I honestly think wearing a suit makes people think you're a gentleman and are kind.

[esetters21]

That is great. Wear the suit if it makes you feel like people have a higher opinion of you. To each their own, I guess.

[The Gipkik]

Every school is probably more or less lenient about the clothes you wear. It depends. My co-teacher discouraged me from wearing a tie, so I don't. I am not a tie wearing guy in the first place so that was good. I usually wear LL Bean Chino pants and a nice shirt, silk or cotton. Once or twice a week, I'll wear a pair of baggie jeans and a long sleeved T-shirt, untucked. It all looks good. I teach kids and I want to be able to move around easily. Suits and kids don't really go together, but it depends on who you teach and what kind of teaching style you have. I'm usually all over the place. Clean and comfortable, but I do shave everyday.

[Ukon]

[T-dot]

usually a T-shirt and pair of pants.

Sometimes all throw on an NBA jersey, jeans and a pair of kicks.