Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tanklor1]

I recently signed on for my fourth straight contract and I discovered that I've become that old guy who stayed here amongst my friends; all of whom arrived within the last 12 months.

Upon discovering this fact I silently said to myself. "Ohhh snap I'm living here."

I've heard the old adage of "take things one year at a time" but in the next couple of years at least I don't see myself living anywhere else.

Now I'm faced with a couple of interesting questions: should I look in getting an actual apartment on my own? Should I get a car?

So, while I deal with these questions I want to ask at what point did you stop considering yourself a "guest" in this country?

[PatrickGHBusan]

Good questions tanklor1.

When should you consider buying or renting your own appartment?

That depends on your situation I suppose. This is linked to your financial capabilities, you family situation (single or attached), where you want to work over the mid to long term (within Korea I mean: stay in the same city or not).

Car?

Depends again.

If you live in a large city and have no kids or a job that requires a lot of back and forth outside that city then why get a car?

Use public transit for inner city travel.
Want to go outside the city: bus, train, airplane or even rent a car on occasion.

The guest issue will bring forth all sorts of responses. You will get the "if you think you are no longer a guest here you are deluding yourself, the Han hate you"...

Actually, the guest thing has legal meaning and then it has personal meaning in your everyday life.

Legally, as long as you are on an E2 visa, you afre technically a guest worker. In real life terms, after a couple of years and depending on what you did to adapt, you become a sort of resident.

For example, if you lived in the same neighborhood for those 4 years and have made efforts to get to know the local residents then chances are you are not a guest to them.

[mattdsoares]

Personally, I'd stick with the accomodations the school provides unless you're confident you want to settle here and want a bigger place. If you're content with the little bachelor pads the schools provide, letting them provide it is one less headache and expense to worry about. If you have a long term Korean girlfriend or something, then maybe you do want to find your own permanent place.

As for a car. That's 100% up to you. I ride a scooter and there is no way I would ever get a car here in Seoul. They are slower than public transit or a scooter due to traffic and a pain in the ass to drive here due to parking and public driving habits. If you want to break away from public transport look into getting scooter. They're cheap to buy (can get a nice little 125cc for under 2 million Won brand new, or a used one for under a million. You'll have the freedom to go where you want (except highways where all bikes are illegal), and they're great for beating traffic because you can easily squeeze between cars. Sure there's an inherent danger with any motorbike, especially in Seoul, but if you have a good head on your shoulders and don't ride like a maniac delivery boy you'll be just fine. It's really not that scary. I'd be much more worried driving a car here because you can't react as quickly when an idiot driver cuts you off or does something stupid.

I live in Sadang and work in Ichon. It's a 30 minute commute between the subway and walking, or 20-25 minutes on my scooter, plus it is a LOT more fun!

[noraebang]

lol Korea has the worst death rate in the OECD for motor vehicle accidents. I'd never ride a scooter there unless I was out in the country.

[moosehead]

[Hardy Boy]

[metalhead]

Definitely would depend on your visa situation. As previously mentioned, the life of an E-2 holder is too unstable, but if you're married I would definitely consider your status to be more one of living here.

What boggles my mind are the single guys I've met that have never had a girlfriend in Korea and been there for 5/6/7 years. I mean I can understand liking the country and job and all, but what a waste of a life (then again, they have to be seeing prostitutes, or are hiding their homosexuality very well).

[noraebang]

[Jeonmunka]

[Hardy Boy]

[frankhenry]

[eljuero]

Yeah, I ran into the same thread on why you are supposed to learn Korean......
Why the obsession and personalization of it either way noraebang?

[eljuero]

Yeah, I ran into the same thread on why you are supposed to learn Korean......
Why the obsession and personalization of it either way?

[Englishee]

the real question is:

how long do you have to stay here to be considered a loser (by western standards)...and under what circumstances?

i put forth a genuine effort to adapt to the culture, learn the language (whether im with korean friends or taking a class), eat the food, and basically, keep a blind eye to all the stupid shit i see (because there is stupid shit in all countries).

despite all this, i cannot, for the life of me, understand why someone would stay here for 4,5,6,7,8+ years. im drawing the line at 13 months then im going back to a civilized society where im considered a human being and not a zoo animal. even if i had debt like most people here, i wouldnt stay here and subject myself to korea longer than a year.

im trying to refrain from posting things like this, but today, June 1st, marks my going home countdown, so i will kick it off with this trollish post!

[Dragoon]