Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Necati]

Dear all,

I will start a 10 week Korean Language classes at a university in Seoul!

The lessons will be from 9am to 1PM, from monday to friday, so I'll be off in the afternoons, evenings and weekends.

My question: I have done some research and found some rooms to rent anywhere from 300 to 700k won a month..

I was wondering: would I be able to live of a budget of 2.8 million a month? I will not have any other income in Seoul so need to make sure I have some money to survive the 10 weeks )

So, if I have 2.8 mio to spend a month, spend 600K on the room (including util.) and have 2.3 mio.. would this be enough to live �comfortably�???

I understand that it depends on your live style but just have few dinners outside a week, few drinks and some cooking at home? At �normal� places (no 5 star hotel restaurants?)

I know there are many threads here about cost of living and I have read a lot but just wanted your guys opinions..

How much does a English instructor normally get a month there? after the taxes? How do you live?

Many thanks in advance for all the infos guys!!!!!

[RMNC]

You'll live very comfortably. Most teachers are paid between 2.0-2.5 million won to teach. Taxes don't add up to much. It's easy to save money as long as you don't go out three times a week and buy rounds of drinks for everyone around you and eat at fancy restaurants.

[madoka]

Everything is relative and depends on the lifestyle you are accustomed to. I found that I was spending about $2000 per week in Korea to maintain a similar lifestyle to back home. Proportionally though, it's about half of what I would normally spend in CA.

The trick is not to go on tourist shopping frenzies like I did. Since you are only there for 10 weeks, there's might be this temptation to buy a bunch of stuff. Otherwise, for basic living, your budget seems fine.

[GTG09]

You can live more than comfortable on that. I live extremely comfortable with less pay than that and less money after I pay my bills.

[DeMayonnaise]

[tomato]

How did you get in this program?
Sometimes I wish I could take that much time off and devote full time to learning Korean.

[northway]

[sojusucks]

[madoka]

[Necati]

Thanks all for the feedback!

Yeah, 2k a week is certainly possible.. even more
if you plan an expensive stay, try the Intercontinal Seoul for the presidental suite.. 2200 USD per night (thats with discount).. buy a gucci (hand) back for your girlfriend at Lotte (780k won), go to dinner back to Intercontinal for two: 225k won...

Yes, 2k a week is do-able ) but I can't do it (this time )

Thanks again guys for the feedbacks.. it is indeed different if you go there for vacation and you stay only a few days/week than actually living there.


And for all who were asking where I found the program; many univercities are offering such 10 week courses. One I found was at Yonsei, price is 1.5 million won.. EWHA is also offering such for around 1.4 million won..

Can't wait to move soon!!

if anyone got a spare room which you want to rent for 10 weeks, let me know