Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Depths of My Soul]

Hi guys (and gals). I've just signed up here.

Okay, so this is a bit general, but here goes anyway. I'm just wondering if it's possible to 'live' in Korea rather than it being a place just to 'work'. I ask this as near enough every recruitment advertisement I've seen for Teaching English in Korea seems to be heavily marketing the whole 'work and save money, pay off student loans' angle of things.
So I'm getting the impression that it might be a place where people go to earn and save money (including over-time, weekend working and after school stuff) rather than have more of a 'life'.
I ask, as I'm not 19 any more (the years of 'youth' are running out - eeek) and would ideally like to go to a place where I can teach and also have time to learn the language, join a sports team etc. rather than becoming a slave to work. I'm hoping that this would be possible to do in Korea as I'm not that interested in doing massive amounts of over time at the expense of other things.

I know there may be too many variables to be able to answer this question specifically, but any input greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Forever]

It just depends on "how you live" here.

Many people come here and live so frugile - expecting a free apartment, free furniture and free meals at school. They save most of their money, refuse to spend a dime more than they have to and fill up all their free time with second (illegal) jobs and private students just to make more money. Their goal for coming here is to make money, more money and keep it all (whether its to take back with them or pay of debts).

Others, who wish to live here, find their own apartment, buy their own furniture etc, and are happy with just their one job. In their free time they go out, make a lot of friends (including Korean friends) and are not afraid of spending money. They study and learn the Korean language, take up a worthwhile hobby here and stay for several years.

Its all your choice how you decide to live here. There is no need to become a slave to your work, you can teach and learn the language, join a sports team, etc.

Many recruitment advertisements do market the whole 'work and save money, pay off student loans etc, because they are advertising at young, fresh students just out of university. They believe as these university graduates are young and just beginning to work, that all money must be saved in order to find a suitable partner, get married, and prepare to start a family.

Korean mentality is also about working, working, working and not spending any money that you don't have to. But a lot of that pressure comes from their family and parents who went through a tough time during the last 30~50 years. They believe everything has to be purchased at a bargain, that young people should live with their parents or live in an apartment that is cheap rather than fancy, and money should not be wasted.

Many professional Koreans do have hobbies (tennis, golf, etc) and travel at least once or twice a year, you would be surprised when you ask around and many Korean people tell you that last year they vacationed in Europe, or Australia or the States - or on the weekend they popped over to Jeju. (But usually they have married and started having children).

Korean people also see nothing wrong with spending 167,000won to go to a Bob Dylan concert, or 70,000won to eat/drink with friends at the weekend.

Its just expected of young people here to work, work and save all the money to satisfy the parents by finding a suitable partner and proving the grandparents with grandkids.

[jiberish]

Of course you can. But if you are willing to learn the language it will make your stay 10 times better. But as he posted if your here to have an experiance and not focus on saving. Then you should have a great time. There are plenty of interest groups if you can get yourself online. Naver cafes etc for different things. These groups seem pretty good. They will often have meets etc.

I have also found that I made all my best Korean friends out of the English group. When I worked in PS all my favorite people were not English teachers but from other fields. I found they were the ones who wanted to get to know you, rather than practice their English.

[air76]

Yes, it's possible....but the thing is that you'll never know if Korea is right for you until you've lived here for a couple of years. I would say that overall Korea is not right for the vast majority of foreigners who come here (meaning as a legitimate long-term place to live), so you won't know how well it works for you until you've come. It's an indescribable place really that can only be "understood" through experience.

For me...while Korea has been an OK place to live (good place to work and great place to save) I have known from day one that I could never live here long-term and be happy. This is year 4 and will be the last....but it really depends on what your interests are as to whether or not you'll find a niche in this society, and it depends on what kinds of relationships you like to have with people. I find that my relationships with Koreans are very superficial, and that I often find myself in conversations with my Korean friends about really basic stuff, because our value systems are so different that we will never understand each other on a deep level. Some people are cool with that.

[whome33]

big time yes. my life is much more full and interesting here than my canadian hometown, for numerous reasons.
a few of them being social life, travel, disposable income and i play football here.
being in seoul there's always new places to go and people to meet. and because of the cost of things, you can go out to eat often and not spend an arm and a leg. i find that i connect better on a personal level with other expat teachers than with people from back home.
and korea offers a great chance to travel. not only is it close to southeast asia and japan, but korea has nice mountains and countryside. it's fun heading out to a small country town, or the beach. doesnt cost much to get around.
the question is, can you really "live" back home?

[Scotticus]

Depends on your definition of "live." The one thing you have to understand is that, no matter how long you stay here - years, decades - you will NEVER be Korean and will never be accepted as anything but a foreigner. This does not mean you won't have a fun time or make this place a home - just remember that this is not the US or Canada. It's next to impossible to get citizenship here. At best you're a "permanent resident," which gets you almost all of the same rights that a citizen gets, minus some.

[storysinger81]

The lifestyle here for the expat is largely what you make it. Korea's a fairly cheap place (for English teachers) to live for the basics (food/shelter) so you can have any kind of life you want--partying all weekend at the bars; scrimp and save to pay off all those debts; traveling on your vacations and weekends; learning Korean and playing sports (as you mention)--all are possible. The trick is to really know what makes you happy because as another poster mentioned, being accepted into Korean society is not easy (though possible within your particular groups--like at your job or your group of friends/in-laws) and you will never really be part of it to the Korean-on-the-street. If you know what you want from Korea (and it sounds like you do) and you're a go-getter, life here is pretty sweet. If you expect everything to be easy and to be accepted without bothering to learn the language or basic etiquette, you will be miserable.

[bluelake]

I've lived here since '89 (first came in '84), so the answer is "yes" for me. Of course, as others mentioned previously, it really depends upon the person. Korea is my home and I'll probably be here for some time to come.

[Depths of My Soul]

Hi.

Thanks to everyone (so far) for taking the time to post informative responses. I've read them all with interest.

[Depths of My Soul]

Where's Billy Goats Gruff when you need him?

[toadkillerdog]

Sure it s posible. I've been here 12 years and have, in my opinion, a full and active life. Hobbies, friends, family,... Everything I would have back in the US except for Reuben Sandwiches.

[Whatisdokdo]

And I like it. I'd like to stay longer. It's really fun and not very stressful. I prefer living here to the states because I can focus on my interests.

[Ralphie]

Living here is good for soulsearching without family interference.