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Cici88
Joined: 18 Sep 2010
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 Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:28 am Post subject: Where should I live in Korea |
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Hello all,
I'm new to these forums and would like to post my first question. 
I am a 28 year old White Canadian girl with a BA who has been offered a position in Seoul and my boyfriend is a 37 year old Korean gyopo with an F4 who plans on looking for ESL work once we arrive in Korea. Ideally we like to stay close to each other, and our preference would be to work and live in Seoul together.
As a white female, I didn't encounter too many problems finding work in Seoul. My concern is for my boyfriend who has yet to apply for work. Years back he opted to forgo his 4 year BA and instead elected to graduated with a 3 year diploma, because he was offered an awesome job at that time which paid big bucks. So instead of finishing off his 4 year BA, he graduated with the 3 year diploma and took the job and has managed to build a very successful career and has managed to become financially stable. However, he hates his job, wants to quit and wants to travel and explore his roots and heritage in Korea.
Based on what I have read on Dave's it seems the ESL market is much more competitive and saturated, so it concerns me that he won't be able to find a job in Seoul due to the change in market conditions.
Would he be better off looking for work in one of the satellite cities of Seoul? Will he experience any issues finding ESL work due to the fact that he only has a 3 year diploma? Will he experience discrimination due to his age? Although he is 37 he looks like he is 25 - 27 years old.
Thanks for your input! |
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jrwhite82
Joined: 22 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 2:04 am Post subject: |
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I can't comment on the 3 year diploma because I'm not sure if that will count. Is a 3 year diploma equivalent to an Associate's Degree in the States? If so he might find it difficult getting a FT job.
As for the age, I have a few friends who are Gyopo. One is 45 and just got hired at a hagwon. He was looking for a job for about 2 months before settling on this one (he received other offers but they were terrible). I'm not too crazy about this position either but he seems happy with it. The position is in Ilsan so it is one of the satellite cities. Most F4 visa holders I know do well in the private tutoring market because they are bilingual. |
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Cici88
Joined: 18 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| jrwhite82 wrote: |
I can't comment on the 3 year diploma because I'm not sure if that will count. Is a 3 year diploma equivalent to an Associate's Degree in the States? If so he might find it difficult getting a FT job.
As for the age, I have a few friends who are Gyopo. One is 45 and just got hired at a hagwon. He was looking for a job for about 2 months before settling on this one (he received other offers but they were terrible). I'm not too crazy about this position either but he seems happy with it. The position is in Ilsan so it is one of the satellite cities. Most F4 visa holders I know do well in the private tutoring market because they are bilingual. |
Thanks for the reply JR. I've done a little more research and unfortunately his 3 year diploma will not be recognized as a 3 year associates degree. It's frustrating because in Canada, my bf is qualified to work some pretty good jobs, but in Korea he'll have a harder time competing against younger ppl who have a degree.
I've also learned that a formal degree is a requirement to work at any hagwon or public school or uni in Korea. But I've also learned that there are gyopos with F4s who do work in Korea without a 4 year degree.
But at the same time they are more likely to get shafted by their employers and not offered the same pay and benefits.
My bf is looking for nothing less than 2 million a month with all the regular benefits that E2 Visa holders receive. Having assessed the situation, I see two scenarios unfolding:
1) Accept a less desirable full time job at 2 mill with benefits at a hagwon outside of seoul (1 - 1.5 hours away)
2) Work part time in or near Seoul and maximize earnings doing private tutoring.
Any gyopos out there in the same situation as my bf? Input would be appreciated. |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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The degree may matter with finding a job, but it's usually touted as necessary because of visa requirements.
He's an F4 so visa-wise it doesn't make a difference. Could be a bit easier for him to find a job. Hard to say. |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Location: left Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 7:51 pm Post subject: m |
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| ans - pass |
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jrwhite82
Joined: 22 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 12:06 am Post subject: |
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2 is your best bet. Least amount of commute And potentially the most lucrative. I've seen a fair number of gyopo only positions recently on Daves, worknplay, and craigslist. It is usually cheaper for small schools to hire gyopos because they don't have to pay airfare and apartments and can hire teachers as part timers.
It might take him a few months to get work lined up on a steady basis but he should do alright. |
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murmanjake
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 12:52 am Post subject: |
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He's not limited to teaching English on a f4.
How about publishing? My gyopo friend was working at a publishing company making good money. They need native speakers to edit and write material and the competition might not be as fierce, as to work at one legally most people would need an E7, which requires two years experience in the field.
I know the details because I was offered a decent-looking job at one, only to find out the director couldn't get me a visa. Didn't stop him from trying to hire me though  |
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PastorYoon
Joined: 25 Jun 2010
Location: Sea of Japan
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| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 3:33 am Post subject: |
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| Or the alternative: don't live in Korea. |
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710
Joined: 05 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 5:26 am Post subject: |
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He could look into the �Talk Program� it is less money but also less hours. They accept degrees of less than four years. You won�t have a choice in location though.
http://www.talk.go.kr/
The age issue could be an issue. I�ve had recruiters comment on mine, I�m 37, but like anything else, it really depends... |
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cert43
Joined: 17 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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He is KOREAN ( enough said), he'll prob end up doing better
then any white foreigner. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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| cert43 wrote: |
He is KOREAN ( enough said), he'll prob end up doing better
then any white foreigner. |
Utter nonsense. There are many many Koreans out there that are financially worse off then we are and who would love to have our jobs.
In terms of disposable income we are even better off then many Koreans who make more money overall but who have a wife, 2 kids, a mortgage and car payments.
Let's dispense with the racism.
OP as far as I know even with an F-4 visa a degree is still a requirement to work at a school (full-time). One exception might be for after-school programs. According to my co-teachers it may be possible to teach English without a degree in this programs if you are fluent and have a F-4. But I would check this beforehand with Immigration to be sure. |
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Cici88
Joined: 18 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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| 710 wrote: |
He could look into the �Talk Program� it is less money but also less hours. They accept degrees of less than four years. You won�t have a choice in location though.
http://www.talk.go.kr/
The age issue could be an issue. I�ve had recruiters comment on mine, I�m 37, but like anything else, it really depends... |
Nah, my boyfriend won't work for less than 2 million. |
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Cici88
Joined: 18 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| cert43 wrote: |
He is KOREAN ( enough said), he'll prob end up doing better
then any white foreigner. |
Utter nonsense. There are many many Koreans out there that are financially worse off then we are and who would love to have our jobs.
In terms of disposable income we are even better off then many Koreans who make more money overall but who have a wife, 2 kids, a mortgage and car payments.
Let's dispense with the racism.
OP as far as I know even with an F-4 visa a degree is still a requirement to work at a school (full-time). One exception might be for after-school programs. According to my co-teachers it may be possible to teach English without a degree in this programs if you are fluent and have a F-4. But I would check this beforehand with Immigration to be sure. |
Thanks to all who replied. I've talked to a Gyopo who has been in Korea teaching for 13 years. He says that in the past it was very easy to teach with an F4 and no degree. Nowadays it isn't as easy.
This Gyopo continued on to say that although a formal degree is a requirement to teach english, it is still very possible to teach full time without a 4 year degree. He said that my boyfriend may not be able to get the 'plum job's' that many esl teachers prefer and the number opportunities may be more limited, but it's still definitely possible.
He pointed out that some schools prefer gyopo only and that many schools would be willing to look past the fact that my bf has no degree because there is much less paper work required to hire an F4. He also stated that fact that even though my bf does not have a
4 year degree, having a 3 year diploma and a TESL certificate still goes along way as opposed to having no degree and no TESL. He also went on to say that age may be an issue, but as long he has the F4, it shouldn't be to much of an issue.
Urbanmyth, what is an after school program?
tomppatz, can you provide your opinion?
Thanks
Last edited by Cici88 on Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:07 pm; edited 4 times in total |
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Cici88
Joined: 18 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| cert43 wrote: |
He is KOREAN ( enough said), he'll prob end up doing better
then any white foreigner. |
You mean because is gyopo? Native Koreans don't make that much from what I hear....but I hear that many gyops do well and move up pretty quick once they advance beyond the esl stage of their careers. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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I've known several gyopos come to Korea w/o finishing a 4 year degree, they all got work and managed pretty well.
They only issue would be getting in. He has that, from the F4 visa.
Once he gets in, he can work a number of jobs most E2 holders would dream of. Like "consulting"- I heard this about a friend of mine, he was in an Ivy league uni and took a year off to make cash in Korea writing essays for kids hoping to live abroad. Shady work, but pays well. Another friend worked in a public school for 2 years, hated it, went into publishing, and he has time to pursue another degree at Yonsei.
Your bf can make well over 2 mil if he applies himself. He can fly over with you (paying his own airfare) and stay with you in the provided housing while he gets himself situated. Anything is possible!  |
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