Korean Job Discussion Forums

[twospoonsmv]

Hello everyone

This is my first post. I am also in the beginning stage of applying for jobs in South Korea. I am Asian American, speak English fluently--English is my first language, hold a b.s. and masters. Due to the economy, student loans, and of course an interest in South Korea I have decide to teach for a year or so until the economy gets back in shape.

I was doing some research on recruiters, locations, jobs, etc. I found this one particular recruiting who stated that if you are Asian then chances of getting a teaching position in Korea is slim to none. I am not sure if this is base on facts but it just sounds a bit odd to me.

Is there any validity to this statement or does it varies from location, schools, and recruiter?

Any advice would truly be appreciated. Thank in advance for your time.

[northway]

Hagwons tend to sell the image of an English education over an actual education. As such, they tend to prefer young, fair-haired North American women. Barring that, they settle for some combination of non-North American women and fair-haired North American men. At the end of the day, looking like a WASP definitely helps you here in terms of getting hired.

Public schools tend to be a bit more reasonable in their hires, and aren't so quick to demand that your family came over on the Mayflower.

Strictly due to Korean prejudices, where in Asia you're from is also relevant. East Asians will generally have an easier time finding something than South Asians.

[tokkibunni8]

Go through as many recruiters as you can and don't be picky on location. You'll have better chances with public schools and out in rural areas. Good luck.

[oldfatfarang]

I've met plenty of Korean Americans working in hagwons and PS.
However, I don't like your chances if you're from SE Asia (Koreans are very xenophobic towards these peoples).

Good luck.

[winterfall]

[twospoonsmv]

[tanklor1]

[pkjh]

[twospoonsmv]

[hondaicivic]

[twospoonsmv]

[winterfall]

[hondaicivic]

[barbaricyip]

I'm biracial Japanese/Caucasian and frequently get mistaken for a gyopo, or my roomie's token "Korean friend". I didn't actually expect this at all - where I grew up, there are a huge amount of mixed-race folks (compared to other areas of the States), so while living there I was easily coded for not being one or the other. But where I went to school (NYC), where there was still a decent amount of mixed-race individuals in the population, people usually assumed I was white. Sometimes they would add on later that, "Oh, I figured you must be some sort of ethnic," but I couldn't ever tell if that was genuine or backpedaling.

Anyway, I assumed Koreans would think I was white, but I guess not! Aside from the assumptions out on the street, the kids often forget that I don't speak Korean and have to be reminded to ask me important questions in English. I was also warned about the whole Japanese thing, given the recent sordid history, but I haven't gotten any bad juju out of anyone knowing that I'm half-Japanese, even when they find out that I speak the language passably well and have my full Japanese name squished between my white one.

In conclusion - general population is sparkly-awesome, but there's always going to be some jerk somewhere waiting to be a jerk, whether because you're Asian, Caucasian, or from the moon.

[northway]