Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Autummyst]

I'm heading to South Korea in a couple weeks for the first time. I'm hoping it will be a venture that lasts a few years. I'm wondering for those of you who ended up staying for more than your initial year what it was that kept you there?

[ThingsComeAround]

Girlfriend, I like teaching (ATM), Korea is damn safe, saving lots, Hapkido dojang, good school.

Kind of sucks because my non-Korean friends keep changing every few years. And the cheese is weak. And they don't understand when I say 'No Meat' also means 'NO HAM'.

[mc_jc]

I simply feel at home.
I feel more alien when I go to the US because to me, Korea accelerates with things because of its size and the US has stagnated socially and in infrastructure.
What I find very convenient about working here is that almost every new innovation coming out in Korea, it is automatically integrated onto the base. So, we have high-speed internet and better telecommunication services than what I would find in the US.
Also, since I am here- my two-story apartment is free

[jiberish]

This damn ring on my finger! It won't come off!

[djsmnc]

The threat of arrest back home

[Kurtz]

Money.

When you uproot yourself and live abroad, it's not always easy just to slip back into your old routine, find a house, a job and continue on your merry way back home. If you don't have those things sorted before you return, you need lots of money.

I planned to stay for two years, but it will end up being four after this year. The first two years was for the kick of living in Asia, trying out teaching, traveling around a country I knew little about, being able to visit nearby Japan when I get a chance. Living in Korea is pretty damn convenient, little to no social obligations, money can be saved without trying, and life passes in a kind of a dreamlike state, without realizing it, several years can escape, kind of like the Pink Floyd song Time

"And then one day you find
Ten years has got behind you
No one told you when to run
You've missed the starting gun"

The final year will be, as was last year, purely for monetary reasons. I have no desire to teach, a thankless job IMHO, and I find Korea these days a grim and depressing place, I can't stand how unprofessional the EFL industry is in Korea, but due to being able to save my entire standard wage, I've had to eat humble pie to stay one last year. Life back home is expensive but I can't wait to go back, a quality of life that most Koreans couldn't even dream of, but the greater reality is, my job here sucks, it's a complete joke, so I need money to study for a Masters and re-enter my old career.

If you're coming here, best have an escape plan in 12-24 months time as life can slip by pretty quickly.

For the record, I haven't hated my time here, but my used by date is surely up as I'm sure you can tell

[kyopoopa]

[Goon-Yang]

[jaeimseu]

I'm in my fourth year in Korea and will be here several more I expect. Despite the bitter ramblings of a few people, there are some who legitimately like it here. In my case, my life in Korea really isn't all that different from my life in America.

[You]

Korean guys, my awesome school, my korean friends, I feel like this is my home ^^

[Senior]

My KGF. And the fact I would have to make 60K NZD$ to have the same cash in hand that I have here. That ain't happening with a BA.

[seonsengnimble]

The job opportunities, the money, the stability(more or less), the comfort, and of course teaching English is a bit more interesting than many of the other jobs I could be doing back home.

The basic thing is that in under a week I can find a job that will pay moderately well and provide housing. If I spend a few more weeks, I can find a great job. Back home, I can get a job right away at a telemarketing firm or a knife selling company.

Don't get me wrong, I actually like it here more than at home, but I'm not deeply interested in the Korean culture.

There are plenty of great things here, but the main reasons I'm here are the ones stated above.

[jhuntingtonus]

1, My job, considering the free and tax-free housing and medical care along with so many other low-priced things, is the equivalent of $50K+ in the US - $65K+ if you add on that I don't need a car.

2. Job prospects in the US stink right now. Few to no opportunities in my other areas for Americans in other countries either.

3. Low crime, good infrastructure.

4. I enjoy teaching, especially the little ones!

[Draz]

[yingwenlaoshi]

What has made me stay? The answer is "Korean culture." It's just so riveting.