Korean Job Discussion Forums

Sireno · Joined: 19 Mar 2010

Hello - I am seeking some advice from people here. My situation is that I am new to Korea as of two months ago and have been working for a new hagwon. Some things about the job are good, and others are bad. Much of my stress and unhappiness is related to this place being new, and also the it is the first time I am working full time consistently.

Classes are okay, life is fine.., however my days are spent longing for the weekends and free time. I remember life when I had free time and things weren't so monotonous. I foresee myself enrolling in a Korean language program and working part time. Is this possible?

I am thinking about quitting and trying to work part time or perhaps at a public or after school position. Is this feasible? If so, how would it be done?

Should I just buck up and deal with a full time work life? Or should I have initiative and change things in order to be happier with life?

Any experiences or thoughts? Thanks in advance from an inexperienced person living in a strange place.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Hard to say, you want change, but where are you? If in Seoul, it shouldn't be hard to find a place to study on your days off.

Part-time time jobs are not going to bring in enough money to get you a place to stay. So, it's better to move somewhere that has a school you want to study at. Then get a full-time job.

sulperman · Joined: 14 Oct 2008

tanklor1 · Joined: 13 Jun 2006

RMNC · Joined: 21 Jul 2010

Mentally preparing yourself for working a 40 hour week is something that most new expats don't do, but should.

Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida · Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Location: Not Korea

You could just quit if it's not working out for you.

Kaypea · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

cragesmure · Joined: 23 Oct 2010

I think it's pretty normal to feel that way, especially at first. I was in the same boat when I started working full time. It does get easier. Just try to enjoy your work - after all, classes can be as fun as you choose to make them.
Having said that, I assume you have a standard hakwon deal - 2 weeks off a year. I did that for a few years and was pretty burnt out by the end of it. I went to China and got a few years of experience in the university system there. Now I'm in a university language centre in Korea, and the job is much better.
My advice would be to stick with it for a while. The experience will be good for you. If, after time, you are still not enjoying it, then maybe look for something different, be it a different kind of institution, different country or different line of work altogether.
Hope things get better for you.

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

Most everyone in any job always longs for the weekends and holidays to come ASAP. Getting up early to spend most or all of the daylight hours 5 days a week is a major life commitment where you are forgoing your free time for money to live and enjoy your free time. I too wished I just had money to take my entire life as free time to pursue my personal interests and didn't have to worry about this conundrum of having to work to live, but most of us are stuck with it out of the need for about roughly $1,000,000 pay over the course of a lifetime.

Kaypea · Joined: 09 Oct 2008

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

I've worked in China. If you get a job with a good company/school, then your salary and accommodations will be great by local standards. You can have a much better standard of living in China than you can get in Korea. The downside is that the salary is pretty much worthless outside China. But while you're there, you can live like a king.