Korean Job Discussion Forums

[black leah]

So I am planning on moving to Korea from Taipei. Free apartment and salary instead of hourly are just too good to pass up. (my plan is to move in with friends if I can find someone who will give me a housing deposit instead of an apartment, actually).

So that's my plan but from what I've heard there might be one obstacle: I'm black. I saw the thread about not working for some city's public schools because of their hiring policies. One of the posters in that thread wrote something like "I can understand if it's a hagwon." Does that mean hagwon's wont hire me?

I've done a few searches, but the search engine for this site sucks.

So any insight would be great, especially from anyone who might be of color--- I know everyone thinks they know what's what, but someone who has lived it will be of more help, no offense.

thanks.

[wesharris]

I'm white with freckles.
So I am also a person of color.
Honestly if you have a good smile, and a friendly demeanor it doesn't matter.

[DosEquisXX]

The public schools will take ya as long as you have the qualifications.

Hagwons seem to be more image-heavy and tend to prefer white, attractive, North American women with no teaching experience.

[mattwhy]

My best friend is black and just spent 18 months or so in a hagwon. He just received a letter of recommendation from them in order to pursue another job in Korea this upcoming year.

Literally the first sentence is something along the lines of "we would have preferred a white teacher" and that they "had 'the anxiety factor'" before he came, but that in the end, he proved to be such a great teacher that the kids were complaining that they "missed their friend" when he left.

To deny that race is going to be an issue, I think, is naive. We all can't be young, white, blonde American females. I think the best thing you can do is work through a recruiter and make sure that you speak to them either in person or on the phone frequently. I think a lot of what they're afraid of is that you'll speak some "lesser" form of English, like they see in movies. Ensure that they know you're a college educated, well-mannered and well-spoken individual. If you've got your recruiter on your side, then you have a least one Korean who will fight for you, and that may be all you need. Applying directly to schools may get you thrown out as soon as they see your picture, which is awful, but from what I've experienced, may be all too common.

[Nexus11]

Race will exclude you from some jobs. While there are some racist hagwon owners who have negative views of black teachers, the majority of discrimination is done out of fear that the parents won't like a non-white teacher.

What this really means is that the bottom-feeding hagwons who have to react to every complaint they hear from parents won't be interested in you. The stable ones with good reputations and good working conditions will have no problem hiring you. They are concerned with their overall public image, not reacting to complaints from the minority.

Look at it as an advantage. While it may take you slightly longer to find a position, you have less risk of ending up in a bad working situation.

[lizlemon]

wow, interesting and helpful advice. thanks. i'm middle eastern and i honestly didn't even consider the racism factor. canadian naivite i guess!

[Nexus11]

[Goon-Yang]

"a person of color" lol.

[outkast_3000]

[loyfriend]

I think as long as you play the race or ethnic card you are not proud of yourself. Korea does not give afirmitive action.

But, an educated colored person does not use that card. They know they have as much chance to get the job as the person next to them. Don't use colored card and you will be fine.

BTW, I have a friend from Haiti out here now. She works just fine at her school. To bad her mom and dad died yesterday.

[richardlang]

[black leah]

[oskinny1]

[Bondrock]

[loyfriend]