Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brandonlk]

Has anyone ran into problems concerning their tattoos while working as a teacher in Korea? Either from their school or just people in public? Would love to hear any stories.

[youtuber]

[redaxe]

[brandonlk]

I have two. One on my arm and one down the back of my neck. Both cannot be seen while wearing a long sleeved dress shirt. I just wondered if on days off or after school hours if other Korean teachers or the "Boss" may treat you differently after finding out. Or if they mention it to the school during the physical exam. I was told that for public school positions they wont hire anyone with a tattoo whether it can be seen or not. They even ask on the application.

[jinks]

If you are planning on working as an English teacher in Korea, your tattoos will probably cause you a lot less grief than your misuse of the possessive apostrophe.

Tattoos:
As others have pointed out, they are becoming more prevalent among Koreans in recent years. They used to be associated with gangs, and foreigners with tattoos would have a hard time in saunas and anyone with a visible tattoo would have a hard time getting work. Tattoos are now associated with fashion as much as gangs, so they don't have the same negative impact in the workplace.

Apostrophes:
If it was a typo, forgive my grammar-naziness.
The chances are, you could be standing in front of a class who can barely get past "I'mfineandyou?" I have noticed though that students who are able to write basic sentences may be a bit wobbly on spelling and subject verb agreement, but they pretty much ace the possessive apostrophe - something that seems to baffle a surprising number of native speakers.

Sorry my tattoo stories aren't more exciting, but I have noticed young women sporting visible tattoos in class, and I have met a Korean woman who is covered in US gang tattoos (prison dots and neck tattoos and the whole nine yards) who is working as an English instructor at a Korean university. The uni airbrushes her photo for publicity shots, but they haven't fired her.

Just make sure your tats aren't visible in your application photo.

[Kurtz]

I wish they would have a zero visible tattoo policy, it just looks really bad.

Attending EPIK meetings, going to open classes, on several occasions I've seen tattoos on the neck, lower back which is exposed when the teacher bends over, and poking out of long sleeved shirts I mean huh? what's with the hiring of punk rockers to teach kids!

A guy who used to do one of the after school programs had all of his upper body done, and the young kids are telling their Korean teacher "oh, so horrible!"

A small arm tat which might poke out of shirt on a summers day in say a middle or high school might be OK, but really ugly tats and young kids is just not on.

I must be getting old, but I get a little embarrassed when I see foreign guys sitting on the floor of a train wearing a singlet and exposing all their tats, man, what are you trying to prove? trying to say you're a bad boy and trying to gain the attention of wild Korean girls?

Anyways, kids and tats just don't mix.

[brandonlk]

Well I don't think that you can classify all people who have tattoos into one category. I am certainly not a punk. I have a tattoo of a solid black cross and a tattoo with Kongi writing. I am sure there are lots of women who have little tattoos on their ankles or their backs and I am sure they are excellent teachers. I can see however someone with multiple tattoos everywhere may be an issue.

[Old Gil]

[Kurtz]

Do you need a qualification to state an opinion?

I'll remember to use IMHO next time, and thanks to adding to the debate, your thoughts are very deep and classic Dave's by the way, attack the poster without adding anything to the subject matter, well done.

[Kikomom]

[Old Gil]

[2000zerozero]

1st post!

I'm female, and I'd never show any of my 5 tattoos in the daylight. I'm already judged for being a size 6 instead of a 2 (aka called "a little fat"), told my hair is "too thin" and have been instructed on how I could better my appearance by wearing eyeshadow.

There's no way I'd show a tattoo at work here.

People who want to judge you will find a way to judge you out loud here - which can be charming in the right setting. People in the US will judge you, only they have enough shame to do it quietly if they have any tact. If you're okay with being told someone's unsolicited negative opinion about your tats, show away.

[brandonlk]

[brandonlk]

[jinks]