Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Reed Sam Buuks]

Hello all,

This is my first post on this forum, but I've been lurking around for a few weeks. My girlfriend and I are in the process of finalizing all of our paperwork for a teaching job in Korea. We expect to begin our orientation in Seoul around mid-February, and might get placed in Busan.

So my question is...what is the most important bit of advice you would offer somebody getting started? Is there anything you wish you had known going in? Anything you would have done differently?

I look forward to reading your answers as well as becoming a part of this little community.

-RSB

[Trinidad]

Read the rule below. Penned by a brilliant poster named "Cohiba". Some
people think this rule is rubbish, but you only have to read news articles
about the migration from areas south of Seoul to around Seoul. Males,
in these non-Seoul areas even have to import brides from other
countries because Korean women flee these places at their first
opportunity.

Remember "Cohiba's Rule" (Now better than ever!):

Think twice before you live outside of Seoul. "In Seoul" and
"outside of Seoul" are like two different countries. Seoul
is an interesting place with variety and venues for most
tastes. Outside of Seoul you will find a homogeneous Korean
culture. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you will never
find things like: French, Greek, Indian or any other ethnic
foods. Markets that sell sherry, pate, pastrami, ricotta cheese.
Specialty shops that sell Cuban cigars, European pies, cold
cuts or rye breads. Just to name a few things. Also clubs such
as photography, drama, public speaking, sailing are 99% in
the capital city. If you want to experiment with a very Korean
culture, which unfortunately means "closed", then choose the
countryside. If you want to make money and have the lifestyle
choices similar to a western country, then there is no other
choice than Seoul.

The FFF RULE: FFF=Fun For Foreigners.

If FFF in Seoul = 100, then FFF decreases at
1/distance. So 2km from Seoul FFF=1/2(100)=50;
10km from Seoul FFF=1/10(100)=10. This rule is
a rule for nightlife, food and foreign products only.
Nature etc. is on a different scale altogether.

This means you will be wasting a lot of time commuting
to Seoul. This is especially a drag if you have been
boozing on a Friday night and there are no buses or
trains.

I, unfortunately, live near Seoul where the FFF factor
is almost in the negative range. I know!

[wormholes101]

Ignore the above post for number one!

Start learning Korean the day you arrive. Don't procrastinate. It's very simple and will open up a whole new world for you. Even 10 minutes a day will take you very far.

Don't blow so much money on trying to eat the same as you do back home. Learn to cook some Korean food. Open yourself up to new foods and new experiences.

Buy a water cooler/filter system. A small one costs about 250,000 won. It'll easily pay itself off in one year and save you the hassle of lugging around bottles of water every other day.

There's a few tips. Enjoy your time here.

[WavFunc]

Ignore the first poster. Cohiba makes a good point but it wouldn't be the end of the world if you got placed somewhere other than Seoul. There are a lot of pros/cons about not being in Seoul or being placed in the countryside but it really just falls down to what your personalities are like. If you really need that hamburger or Western-style night life than you might be better off in Seoul. Plenty of us are just as happy being outside of it. Also, if you get placed in Busan you'll find there are plenty of things to do, both Western and Korean. I don't know why Cohiba didn't mention Busan as its the second biggest city in Korea...

Additionally, learn some Korean. Like, now. If you aren't placed in a big city English will be even more limited and you'll either have to learn quickly or have some difficulties right away.

First, learn Hanguel. Learn about the most common types of foods. Learn some Konglish (English in Korean). That way you'll be able to navigate around shops and restaurants more easily which is what you will be doing in your first few weeks.

Eventually try to get the basics hammered down. If you can do all this before you come then kudos and you'll be fine. Most English Teachers here never learn more than the basics of Korean anyway.

[Gaber]

Ginseng and Omega 3 will help with the stress of getting accustomed to teaching, assuming you aren't already teachers. Busan's fine for first timers, but Seoul is a great city.
Learn the Korean alphabet (hangul) first and then try to study Korean using it exclusively. Romanization is approximate at best.
Get a pocket dictionary, phrasebook or electronic translator. Most people are really helpful, and with a combination of key nouns and hand gestures, you can communicate most of what you want.
Be flexible. If you show up and start railing against everything that doesn't seem right you going to end up like some of the sadder cases on this forum. Also, in my experience, almost every time I've thought I was being mistreated because of my foreignness, it's turned out that I've misunderstood some element of the situation. Just be cool.
That said, there are some genuinely toxic working environments some people end up in, so don't be a total sap.

[smithy]

My advice -

1. Don't let the negativity on this forum give you the idea that Korea is a shithole and Koreans are dicks. Neither is true.

2. Explore.

3. LEARN HANGUEL. It's a piece of piss. Easily do-able before you arrive. I didn't for about 6 months and life is so much easier if you can read.

4. Try different Korean foods.

5. Smile.

[mcviking]

Be prepared for Koreans being unorganized by Western standards. Get used to last minute changes, being thrown into any situation without notice, and everything seeming like it was thought up together in split second decision. Not necessarily saying its a bad place but this one of my chief erks about Korea. If you are ready for it maybe it won't get under your skin so fast.

[Bloopity Bloop]

Don't worry about learning hangul, you'll pick it up in 2 weeks just reading menus and subway signs. It worked for me.

[oskinny1]

[nosmallplans]

Watch out, kimchi is spicy.

[storysinger81]

[soakitincider]

Increase the thickness of your skin ten-fold. Get ready to be observed constantly until you make eye contact, get an mp3, prepare for aromas I can't describe, drunks in 2000 dollar suits puking in the street, pidgeons eating said puke, extreme vanity, being 100% wrong when you're 100% right, uh, I'd better stop. I don't want you to change your mind. If you can TAKE IT you can make it. Good luck!

[0ju]

[redaxe]

[redaxe]