Korean Job Discussion Forums

[travelingfool]

Between the anti foreigner sentiment, vilification of FTs in the media, and overall treatment by locals, would you say the situation is basically the same now as it was 10 years ago? Have things gotten worse or better? What will things be like in 5 or 10 years.

What I am trying to figure out is whether or not the targeting of FT's is a recent thing or does it just sort of ebb and flow over time. Although this site and others are overwhelmingly negative, it just seems like between the exchange rate and the attitude of the locals that it's not worth teaching there anymore.

Are things really as bad as some people on here would lead us to believe?

[kinerry]

you'll be fine if you're from the USA

inflation is about to skyrocket, had to print too much money to pay for wars and stimulus packages

[Snake Doctor]

There were fewer westerners in Korea in the 90's. Treatment was better, but we were still treated bad when it came to touching their women. This thread could go on forever, comparing this and that. There was no costco, we shopped at the black market stores for most western products, etc. etc.

Overall, I'd say there's a lot more convenience now - but also more westerners. And with that comes all the media attention. Back in the day, we were treated like movie stars, heh. Lots of positive attention. Very little negative attention - media wise.

Movie theaters were few and far between, usually sold out quickly, and people were often chatty in the theater, even during the movie. Thank God that's changed. There's a CGV on every corner now. Back before PC bangs and high speed internet, the girls were waaaaaaay easier than they are now!

ha.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Elvis Gratton]

The supply-demand dynamic's not working in our favor right now. A big influx of young short-term clueless newbies is sure not going to help us.

[asmith]

I don't think it has changed one bit. Koreans are still suspicious about foreigners. The driving is still crazy. Not many Koreans can speak English. Korea still attracts a lot of psychos and drunks and drug-addicts to the teaching profession. Our pay keeps up with inflation.

[eamo]

Nothing has changed really.

The Korean media still does a hatchet job on foreign teachers every couple of years when the hate for Japan and USA has become a little stale. There's one due soon actually.

It's still not recommended to mess around with Korean girls in areas with lots of drunk Korean men.

The number of foreigners living in Korea has just passed the 1,000,000 mark, but we still get gawked at like we were two-headed aliens.

[Emeliu]

[eamo]