Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sboix23]

how much money did you bring to korea to support yourself for the first nonpaid month

[climber159]

I brought about $500US when I first came to Korea. Two days into my public school contract they gave me a 300,000KRW settlement allowance. It was enough to get me through. But, my apartment was stocked with furnishings. Do you know exactly what's included with your apartment? You may need to buy dishes, bedding, A/C, etc. Prices have gone up since I arrived two years ago. I'd say bring $1000US if you can swing that.

Don't change your money to Korean Won at home. Bring Dollars, Euros, or even Yen and change some at the airport and the rest in one of the REGULATED money changing shops in Itaewon or Myeong-Dong.

[kabrams]

I came with $350 USD and my public school gave me the 300,000 won settlement the first night I was there.

For me, that was more than enough, but then again, my apartment had everything I needed (bedding, shower supplies, cleaning supplies, books, a new laptop--yes, they gave me a laptop--dishes, cups and utensils, and even food!). The last teachers were really good about that, a sort of "pay it forward" type thing.

Ask what your school has for you, if you are going to work for a public school.

[ChinaBoy]

I brought this thing called a "credit card" which let me buy anything I wanted and get cash out of select ATMs.

My school didn't have much for me, I have had to harass them to get what was in the contract for the apartment. As if a friggin' FAN was too much to ask for the summer!

[kiwigirl :O)]

I bought 1000 USD to tide me over...

I was the first foreign teacher at my school when I came in 2006

so I had to buy a lot of things to set up the house (my boss had got the basic stuff like bed, table chairs and cutlery) I also had to pay the special price of 250 000 won for my cell phone...

I just made it to pay day...

but after the house is set up (and everyone is different) then you can get by on quite a small amount each month

good luck

(also I used the VISA cash passport card which was good...but I recommend get a VISA debit card...they are awesome)

[bulldog]

I think it mainly depends on how much you drink and the contract you have with your school. Drinking is expensive here as it is in any country. Gone are the days of the 10,000 won night on the tiles. Different schools provide you with different arrangements, so to be safe I would bring $500 U.S and a credit card back up. The first three months are usually the most expensive when you are settling in and getting yourself set up. Both in terms of socializing and on the home front.

[PatrickBateman]

I blew over a grand during my first month. Reason being, I had to buy a lot of crap for the apartment and I was out trying new things. New things tend to cost money and add up.

[AliciaJC]

is 700,000 won a feasible amount to live off of my first month? Im surviving strictly on charity. One friend already there is loaning me 500,000 won and the school is giving me 200,000 won.

Im used to scraping and being poor, I just want to know how hard I have to scrape until my first paycheck!

[asams]

700 should be plenty. It also depends on whether you're working at a private or public school and where you live. I would say that you should definitely try as much Korean food as you can when you get here because eating pizza and Western food all the time will vaporize your bank account.

[AliciaJC]

i'll be at a private school and living in the Korea Uni area.

How often do teachers leave stuff behind for the next folks? Could I email my school and find out?

didnt mean to hijack this thread sorry

[PatrickBateman]

The girl that had my apartment before left me all her dishes and stuff. My Hagwon gave me a bunch of that stuff too when I moved in. 700k should be enough. Just don't go out drinking on the weekends, that's where I end up blowing the most of my money. If you stick to Korean foods you'll be fine. Avoid cabs and learn the subway too, it's easy and cheap.

[blade]

[PatrickBateman]

^ Why?

We've had holding period for nearly two weeks at my Hagwon. All I do is show up, goof on the internet for nearly seven hours and go out to lunch.

Other than that, I only teach three days out of the week.