Korean Job Discussion Forums

storysinger81 · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Location: Daegu

Oh lord... Can't believe I'm responding to this thread...

I taught in the US. There is a lot more social pressure on you there as a teacher than in Korea because in Korea, you exist outside the social norm. Many "teachers" here do extend the frat party and it is easy to do so while maintaining your classroom respectability. Simply...

1) Don't party in the same neighborhood you work (this is easy for most people because the downtown areas of cities are not usually the residential areas that house most schools/hagwons).

2) Don't talk about all the stuff you did with other foreigners (they see us grouping together as BAD).

3) Don't mention hooking up with Korean girls (although feel free to mention you have a serious girlfriend if you do).

4) Plan your time so you can shave and put on fresh clothing before coming to work on time.

I have (slightly) different advice for women, but the OP is clearly male.

Honestly, even if you run into your students or parents when out drinking, it's not that big a deal. They'll be more embarassed than you are.

santafly · Joined: 20 Feb 2008

No one will care if you drink as long as you act like an adult - in other words, if your acting in a way that would get you arrested for public drunkeness in your home-country people, that would be bad for the schools reputation.

There are no strip clubs in Korea. Prostitution is illegal but widespread and makes up approximately 4% of the GDP, see here:

http://metropolitician.blogs.com/scribblings_of_the_metrop/2004/10/seoul_nights.html

It is certainly visible - there are Amsterdam style red (pink in Korea) light districts, 1 block from Yongsan Station (one of the countries biggest train stations and a huge mall).

Generally speaking, real prostitution in Korea is for locals and the Japanese - foreigners have AIDS. There are places that will take foreigners but that you'll have to ask someone else about - not really my forte.

There are handjob places everywhere - look for the double barbershop poles.

There are places where you can pay ridiculous amounts of money to have girls talk to you, maybe even while wearing a bra and no shirt!

If this is your thing save your money for Thailand.

As for dating the locals - people talk about that causing problems in Korea, especially here at eslcafe. I doubt that problems arising from mixed couples are really that common. Keep in mind that Koreans don't do public affection at all - so avoiding that would be best for your reputation.

Anecdote: My girlfriend used to be my boss. We didn't tell anyone at the school/office we were dating and one day one of our coworkers saw us kissing on the street. I had my hand under her shirt on her lower back/hip. Said coworker promptly went back to the office and told everyone that she saw us making out and my hand was "up her shirt" - like on her breasts. Any chance to try out that imagination and Koreans are all over it.

I kiss my girlfriend in public as I would in America - it sometimes embarrasses her, especially if there are old people around or we are on public transportation - I don't really care though (I'm sure she likes it secretly) - hopefully I won't get spit on or beaten up.

Koreans are all prudes by our standards - they haven't done drugs, they've never done anything illegal (except for corporate crime, riding their motorcycle on the sidewalk, littering, prostitution, driving drunk - but they see things a little differently than we do), women are expected to be virgins until they're married (many are) - married couples may not have the most involved sex lives as well - so watch what you say to people you haven't already built a solid friendship with. The first non-food item word I learned in Korean was Pyuntae (pervert - my own choice of spelling), it's a common insult (usually women just joking around).

Also, try not to step in puke.

P.S. Someone should put up a web site where we can all post pictures of passed out drunk people in funny positions/settings. That would be sweet.

shifter2009 · Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Location: wisconsin

Pikkle · Joined: 17 Jun 2009

Tycho Brahe · Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Location: Suwon, SK

I went to the doctor yesterday, boss' husband came with me to translate.

at one point the doc turns to me and says ''alcohol addiction?''
turns out that my boss had been under the impression that i was an alcoholic.

I'm not a good teacher and apparently I'm an alcoholic but the school are already talking to me about what they can do to keep me here for a second year.... which says alot about koreans attitudes to boozing.

also i'm not an alcoholic, i'm irish.