Korean Job Discussion Forums

har · Joined: 23 May 2003

Yeah, thanx Gord. THat's what I'm thinking. Japan will be the place for me when I've kicked my debt down some more.

So thanx all. I'm gonna stick around here. Makes the next few months more relaxing which is what I need.

bundangbear · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: www.youtube.com/bundangbear

Hey--

I spent 1 1/2 years in Japan, and I'm going to Korea next! (I'm broke; no savings.) I worked at a ball-busting school, but they were legit and I liked teaching, and I made 250,000+ (sometimes 10,000bonus) yen (2.5 mil won) a month, BUT the school made me pay rent (72,000!!!), bills, and taxes, so I was taking home 1650,000 yen a month TOPS. I had no money, and I was broke all the time. I know there are stories of people doing privates out there, but most eikaiwa (=hogwons) work you from 12-8 or so, the same hours you could do privates.

Yes, Japan is a fun place, and yes, I spent a lot of money on going out and having fun, but at the end of each month, I was lucky if I had 120 yen in my pocket for a Coke. Literally.

So, I've got a job in Korea where I'll be making 2.3 mil won a month, NO RENT, and the bills and taxes can't be more than 300,000 on average, or hopefully less, so Korea seems better for the money.

Of course, I am willing to believe I had a reallly, really unchi (learn a little nihongo before you go, too)job situation in Japan, and I'm also willing to believe I've landed an above average job in Korea.

Truth be told, I do LIKE Japan, but I'm going to spending next year in Korea. Any questions, feel free to PM me. I could on and on about Nihon...

Donghae · Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Location: Fukuoka, Japan

Totally agree with bundangbear above.

I, too, like Japan and am presently fortunate to be fairly comfortably off. But that's relatively speaking compared to most people here. (I've been financially better off in Korea and the UK before.) I'm in a management kinda position and have had a few contacts open some useful doors for me. BUT, and it's a huge but, most of the normal (for want of a better word) teachers at my and other places are very often struggling to get by in the last few days before their next payday. Mostly, the only ones I've known in quite a few years here who've saved any kind of serious money have been those with some goal in mind who've been very disciplined with their salary and not done much at all.

Privates? Yes, you can get them and IF you land on your feet can do reasonably well out of them. But not many make a fortune out of privates only, especially outside the big cities. And that's going to eat even more into what little spare time you're likely to have.

University jobs in Japan are well-paid but very, very hard to come by. They definitely age discriminate much more than unis in Korea do and without a masters and a few publications under your belt, your chances are close to zero.

There ARE foreigners who make a bit of money in Japan. But I can't stress enough how outnumbered they are by those who thought they'd save lots yet were bitterly disappointed. There's lots of good reasons for coming to Japan, but if yours are mainly financial then think very carefully about it.

Anyone wants to PM me with specific Qs feel free.

bundangbear · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: www.youtube.com/bundangbear

Yeah, there are possiblities in Japan, but you have to live right in the middle of a place like Tokyo and be able to do privates all the time. Of course, if you do that, you'll need a legitimate reason to be in Japan, *as in married to a Japanese) or else you won't be able to get a work visa. I've heard Tokyo legends of people "sponsoring themselves" to work, but that's all bs. I do have a friend with a Japanese wife, and he does private lessons at preschools in Tokyo. He averages 5 kids per 50 min lesson, at 2,500yen per kid, that's 12,500 yen an hour, and he does 30 privates a week. Yes, he does well, but he's been at it a long time, and he's a total EXCEPTION to the rule--being broke before payday due to HUGE rent and bills and cost of living is the lot of all my other ESL friends there.

And, by the way, I plan on going back to Japan on vacation sometime when I'm in Korea--because it's a great place to play, but, well, Japan's a ball-busting place to eke out a comfortable living. I hope my sitch' in Korea will be somewhat better on my finances.

bundangbear · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: www.youtube.com/bundangbear

chi-chi · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Hi,
You are Canadian so you are eligible for the Working Holiday Visa.
Ok I just went into this on another thread, but if you are American and thinking about going to Japan, there is a good exchange rate right now but it is harder to find work.
It is getting to be much like Taiwan (which I worked in and left). A lot of part time work, a glut of teachers, everyone wants to be here, and nobody wants to sponsor a work visa.
Not to mention, please be careful, some jobs will promise you a visa and then cancel it.
There ARE bad schools here, just like in Korea.
And they adore the blonde, blue eyed look here MUCH more than in Korea even. I am not being sarcastic, I am only trying to warn. The people here are much lighter skinned and Western looking, and the blonde blue eyed ideal is much more idolized here.
And people can be nosy, just like in Korea.

JW · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

NIPON LOVE!!! I love that place. Go. There is really no debate. Don't live in regret. Die smliling! Have fun.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

I worked in Japan for 4 1/2 years.

I disagree, on the basis of my personal experience as an EFL teacher in Tokyo, that Korea is more lucrative. The statements made by the folks posting above are untrue.

I made 1.8 Million Won in Korea and lived in a shit box apartment.

I made 5 - 6 Million Won in Tokyo and lived well. I paid 400,000 won for rent and ate and drank what I wanted.

TOKYO is more lucrative - even with the high cost of living which is dramatically exagerrated by people who have never lived in Tokyo or who say "I have a friend living there and she said..."

I've lived there and I know.

You wanna make money - Go teach EFL in Tokyo.

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

Donghae · Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Location: Fukuoka, Japan

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

goodfella · Joined: 10 Feb 2004

gotta love the japanese cars and bikes!! beats staring at these damn hyundai and
kia cars!

Donghae · Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Location: Fukuoka, Japan

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I'm thinking about going to Japan next year. When I decided to come to Asia a year ago, I was going to go to Japan, because I find Japan to be a much more pleasant place, and I'm a lot more interested in things-Japanese than in things-Korean. However, I figured I could save a lot more in Korea and be able to treat myself here to things I probably couldn't afford in Japan. (For example, if I want to take the train to another city here in Korea, it's dirt cheap, but in Japan, it's over $100 one way from Tokyo to Osaka.) I was offered a university job here with short hours and tons of vacation, and added to the financial incentives, I figured I should choose Korea instead of Japan.

I don't regret my decision, because I've had an easy time of it, and I know I probably wouldn't have been able to save much in Japan. On the other hand, I do still think about Japan, and deep down I wish I had gone there instead. So I figured I'd save a bit more money this year and maybe go to Japan next year, just for the experience.

So basically, I agree with what others have said about how Korea is a place where you can save money. However, although every teacher has different preferences, I'm almost certain that I would be happier in Japan than here in Korea, and that's why I'm thinking of going. I know I probably won't get a uni job, but that's ok. As long as I can find a decent and honest place to work, I think I'll be satisfied enough just being there.