Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pangaea]

For my first flight over to Korea, I just dressed casually for comfort. Since then, I have seen others mention that they dressed nicely or changed before getting off the plane. I don't think I want to attempt to change clothes in a tiny airplane bathroom and I am just wondering what I can get away with. I want to make a good first impression but I definitely don't want to be uncomfortable for my long trip over so wearing a skirt is out and I don't think I would be very comfortable in dress pants. Would dress casual be appropriate? Maybe khaki pants and a nice shirt? I can touch up my hair and makeup before leaving the plane, but after 24 hours of traveling I will definitely not be looking my best.

[Wishmaster]

Koreans don't really care how westerners dress. They think we are all slobs by default. Comfort trumps first impressions any old day of the week.

[thegadfly]

After you land, you will need to go through immigration, then you will need to claim your bags, then you will need to go out into the main terminal...pretty much every place I have been has a bathroom in the luggage claim section, and if not, there are bathrooms prior to heading through immigration -- put the "nice" clothes in your carry-on, hit one of the larger bathrooms, brush your teeth, comb your hair, change in a roomier stall, and you will still probably be to the carousel before your luggage drops. Wear comfy clothes on the plane, and hit the first bathroom you see as you follow all the folks disembarking.

No one from your school will be in any of the parts of the airport until you have passed customs, so you can hit up any bathroom before that and get your game face on....

[ChilgokBlackHole]

You just flew 14 hours trans-Pacific. Nobody is going to care how you look. Wear sweats and a t-shirt, then start piling on coats until you pass out from heat exhaustion. Don't pack your winter coat like a chump. Wear it! When you get on the plane, wait for takeoff, shove all your coats and everything into the overhead bin and go beddy-bye. When it's time to get off the plane, put all that crap back on and go. You're going to look like crap warmed over when you get there anyway, no matter how much you run a comb through your oily, nasty, sweaty hair, brush the scum off your teeth (your breath still reeks), and spray on a French bath.

You're not the President. You're not going to a state dinner. Get funky.

[noobteacher]

Although I won't be going to Korea until next month, I've done some long trips to Europe and seriously, I doubt the people picking you up will be expecting anything special. They will know that you're just arriving from a very long journey and as long as you don't look terrible or smell bad, I think you'll be ok. I usually just wear a nice comfortable shirt/cardigan/jeans on, then when the plane takes off change into pj pants, and then do the reverse when the plane lands. Touch up the make-up, brush the hair, pop in some gum and you'll be just fine

[sesyeux]

definitely the change before getting your luggage idea. i've done that on every long haul and it's amazing what a shower in a can and some toothpaste will do to make you feel better!
reasonable trousers polo shirt and cardigan for getting to the airport and then meeting the schools representatives; totally sweatpants and hoody for the plane!

[Sadebugo1]

I wouldn't worry about dressing up too much. As a matter of fact, you may want to wear clothes that you would wear on safari because that's what it will be when your employer forgets that you're coming in that day.

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[AsiaESLbound]

Dress up in your Sunday best, because flying is all about a unique experience. Actually this is a very old 1960's idea where people wore their Sunday best to fly. Some still do on short domestic flights such as Seattle to New York when they are flying directly to a business meeting.

I'd say wear layers of comfortable casual clothing.

[waynehead]

I made the mistake of dressing up during my first flight over. It was hell, I was incredibly uncomfortable the whole way and I probably looked like shi'ite when I was picked up at the airport.

Never again. I dress as comfortable as possible when flying, and if I need to impress, I change clothes in the bathroom.

[nomad-ish]

i tend to dress business casual (jeans and a nice blouse, with some layers because the plane always seems either too cold or too hot). then i just touch up my make-up and fix my hair in the bathroom in between the terminal and customs. i've got my air travel system down pat by now!

[NYC_Gal]

If you're female, I recommend a comfy dress with a cardi if it get's chilly. You'll have a blanket for if your legs get cold.

If you're a guy, anything comfy that doesn't look like the Little Bukowski should be just fine. Khakis and a polo or nice T-shirt should be fine. Bring a light jacket for if the plane is too cold.

[tjmauermann]

I wore khakis and a polo on my flight. Didn't know who was picking me up and as it turns out they didn't speak English so it made little difference as to how I dressed. The first day you go to the school you want to dress to impress if possible.

So whatever gets you through your flight with the least amount of discomfort is what I would wear.

[ticktocktocktick]

Everyone else walking out of the gate at the same time will also look rough. It's to be expected.

Maybe stick a polo shirt in your carry on, and change when you arrive if you're concerned. Bathrooms are everywhere at Incheon.

[ttompatz]

I almost always wear a shirt and tie on the plane.

I am comfortable dressing that way and with the "professional" look and frequent flier card I also get bumped up quite often (even on transpacific flights).

There is a reason why people "dress for success".

Look professional, act professional and get treated like a professional.

Look like a backpacker or tourist and join the "cattle" class.
Herd them on, herd them off.

Just my personal observation.

.

[ChilgokBlackHole]