Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tslothrop]

Hi, I signed up here for advice. I have a multitude of questions, and hopefully, I will find some answers here.
I received a fellowship to do research at Seoul National University and will be moving to Korea from the US in Feb. I have previously spent a total of a month in Seoul (split over 2 trips) and a couple weeks in Busan. I also lived in Japan for several years, so I am not a stranger to living in Asia.
Anyway, here are my areas of inquiry:

Housing- I am looking for an apartment near SNU campus. The school offered to set me up with a place nearby for about 700USD a month, but I was wondering if I could easily get something cheaper. I will be in a Seoul for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 2 years.

Health-care- I have several questions in this area. First off, am I allowed to bring in opiates with a prescription. I have oxycodone for severe migraines that strike a few times a year.
Also, how is the dental care there? I need a couple of cavities filled and my wisdom teeth out. Should I get that done before I come or should I be okay doing it in Korea?

Work- While I was in Japan, I was on the JET program. I did not get much respect as an English teacher in Japan (and I assume English teachers get similar treatment in Korea). However, I am coming to Korea is a specialist in my field. Can I expect equal treatment and respect from my colleagues, or should I brace myself as more of the same treatment?

Life- How is the social situation? Is there a strong expat community in Seoul?
How is the dating situation? Are Korean girls generally receptive towards dating foreign guys? Any dating advice?

Just thought of something else. I have a short, well-groomed beard. Will this be acceptable there or are beards a bad thing?


I am sure I will have tons more questions, but I would deeply appreciate any advice you have to offer.

[PRagic]

1. Housing: If you will be here to work, then the SNU housing might be a decent option. All of the housing is new, and makes commuting to and from work on campus convenient. I have a few friends who live and work there, and they like it, although they do complain that the surrounding neiborhood is boring as all hell.

However, yes, you could find something cheaper, albeit not as nice, in a different section of town such as Itaewon. Do you want to commute to work or to fun? Your call.

2. Health care: With a prescription, you can bring your meds. Don't advertise that you're carrying them and they probably won't even ask.

If you have dental insurance where you are, then have your teeth taken care of before you come over. If you don't have dental in your country of origin, then it might be cheaper to have your work done here. Cavities aren't expensive to have done, but I can't tell you about wisdom teeth.

3. Treatment: You'll be at a large, prestigious university in Korea (that is the perception in Korea, at least). You will be respected by your Korean colleagues to the extent that they acknowledge that you are here for work and research. The rest will be up to you. There's a pecking order here in academia as there is in pretty much every other aspect of society. If you don't have your Ph.D. yet, then don't expected to be 'respected as an equal' by your colleagues if they have theirs. Take your work seriously and they'll take you seriously. Know your place and things will take care of themselves.

4. Life: There is a strong expat community on most major university campuses and in several enclaves in Seoul.

Koreans are like people anywhere else; some date foreigners and some don't. If you're in your late 30s or 40s and trying to hook up with girls in their early 20s, then you might get some flack. Think that would happen in a lot of places, though. Whatever floats your boat. Years and years ago, it seemed that any dork off the plane could date K-girl hotties at will. These days, however, it would seem that girls here have gotten more savvy.

Beards are no problem. You don't see them on anyone save the occasional Justin Timberlake wannabe K-Pop star, but nobody will make a bid deal out of yours.

Good luck to you. Let us know how things pan out.

[tslothrop]

[spyro25]

As someone who is looking to do Korea related research at cambridge university for ph.d, could you please let me know who your contact was at SNU to allow the scholarship? is this a field research grant to be performed at SNU or is it a fellowship to graduate from SNU? I tried to get info on SNU's funding for research but their website was a complete joke. If you could PM me with any details I would be interested.

[daniel-andersson]

Hi!

I'm doing research myself at SNU. If you have got it via Gate Korea / IAESTE Korea, you can't expect any good communication with them whatsoever when you arrive. However SNU is good and nice located, but the quallity differs a lot between the different research groups.

[spyro25]

[Mr. Pink]

Get your wisdom teeth out in Korea. Even without insurance it is so cheap. With insurance it is free, and the drugs are only about $20.

Back in NA I know they charge a fortune for wisdom teeth extractions. Save yourself the money.

Also, fillings are cheap too. LOTS of good dentists in your area too.

[youtuber]

[nobbyken]

[Mr. Pink]

[UknowsI]

[mr. positive]

I live/work in the area and have sent you a message, so please check your messages (next to where its says "Log out [yourid]" at the top-right of the page).

Oh, and as for posts like the pleasant one from youtuber there, just ignore them. There are a lot of annoying/bitter/nothing-better-to-do-but-be-a-crank folks on this site, but a lot of other folks are helpful.

[tslothrop]

Thanks for all the replies. I tried searching, but it wasn't working. I don't have time to manually go through all the threads on the board.

To the people who PMed me, I will be in touch. Just incredibly short of free time now, so it will be a little while.


So.... the chicks don't dig beards there?

[daniel-andersson]