Korean Job Discussion Forums

[erinmack]

I'm a female US/Irish citizen who's hoping to come to Korea this August to teach English, probably at a public school in Gyeonggi-do. I'm 35 and as I just earned my bachelor's degree last year, I'm quite accustomed to living on paltry wages. (At my most plush, I've barely broken $20k USD a year.) My 27-year-old partner (boyfriend of two years; I realize we'd have to marry for him to join me on a spouse visa) doesn't have a degree, but would like to join me as a non-worker. He may take online community college classes while in Korea, which would both help keep him occupied and earn him a bit of student aid cash. He's traditionally lived rather frugally as well, but has a few expensive if occasional vices (social drinking and smoking) I lack that he may be keen to indulge in an exciting new culture. Will we be able to hack it on 2.1 million won/month?

A few considerations:

1. Would the "single housing" provided by most schools be large enough for two people arriving without lots of stuff?

2. I'm a strict vegan, so while I anticipate cooking most of my meals at home, I realize that I may have to pay a premium for some particular food items, and that my meals out will be limited to a small (and more expensive) list of restaurants.

3. I will be paying to store my belongings (~$100/month) while I'm gone, and may be making modest student loan payments (~$150/month)

4. If my own experience as a community college student is any indication, he should be able to supplement our income by at least $500/month of student grants.

So basically, we're looking at two people who plan to do lots of cooking but hope to eat out a few times a week. We'd like to do some in-country travel (Jeju, Busan, Seoraksan), and possibly take a ferry to Qingdao and/or Fukuoka during our stay. We're happy to be flexible (i.e. take the bus rather than the train to save money) and needn't indulge many "shopping" impulses, though an occasional flea market or second-hand store would be up our alley. We'd enjoy the occasional jaunt to a karaoke bang, but aren't big partiers.

I realize that with only one of us working, we shouldn't expect to save a lot, but I'd be happy to come back with the severance pay and a great experience. My sweetie spent most of his late teens and twenties running a business and working long hours, so the chance to explore a new culture and indulge in some creative pursuits is something he'd really cherish.

Does this situation seem financially feasible? Not counting the prospect of his potential student aid, it seems like we'd be living on the US equivalent of around $2000, with rent taken care of. That seems quite reasonable to me, particularly if food/transport costs are less in Korea.

[Xylox]

Single person housing is about as big as a single person dorm. Theres enough space to physically exist with another individual. That being said, it could get pretty cramped mentally.

You'll be able to survive on 2.1 mil/month pretty easily. As long as your not out getting trashed several days a week or eating at outback steakhouse for breakfast you'll be fine.

Just be intelligent, don't spring for expensive crap you don't need, budget accordingly and you'll even save some cash.

[jvalmer]

If you consider taking a job outside of Seoul/Gyeonggi, you can potentially get a pretty big place. No guarantee though but often I've seen people put in 3 bedroom apartments.

[winterfall]

I'm supporting 3 on a SMOE entry level salary and student loans yea it is feasible. You can still eat out like twice a week and go out for drinks maybe once every other week. It might be hard for you to keep up the discipline though, since pretty much every other foreign teacher you'll meet will be splurging.

For your situation, if you can. I suggest you take the housing allowance that'll give you an extra 400 with GEPIK. And if your far enough you get the rural allowance, that's an extra 100. Usually there's nothing rural about the area, its just a distance thing. At least 1 hr from Seoul is the general standard

Of course you can only do the housing allowance, If you've got enough money saved up back home, around 10,000. You need it as a security deposit for korean apartments.

As for the space issue, I've got a 4 bedroom apartment in gyeonggi do. I pay 500 a month for rent. But I pay for it in having to commute everyday. Since your working out here, it shouldn't be a problem for you. With housing, generally the farther you get from Seoul the more bang you get for your buck.

[sojusucks]

[erinmack]

@Xylox - Some of the recruitment sites I've checked out have had photos and videos of apartments that looked quite spacious. I can deal with a studio or efficiency, but "dorm room"-size sounds like it might be hard to manage.

@jvalmer - The only city outside of Seoul that I'm really open to is Busan. Would a bigger apartment be likely there as well?

@winterfall - "I suggest you take the housing allowance that'll give you an extra 400 with GEPIK." Being somewhat unfamiliar with how GEPIK works, I'm unclear as to what you mean here - do you mean that I should deny the free but school/gov't-assigned housing and instead opt to find my own? I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of savings, so coming up with "key money" may be difficult depending on how much it is. I don't mind living an hour or so from Seoul, though - a long commute is something I can handle, as long as it's an affordable one. And as you noted, if I were working in the satellite cities, I'd only have to "commute" on the weekends. Are some of these areas less expensive than others? I've mostly been thinking of the bigger cities like Incheon and Suwon, but perhaps I've overlooked a more affordable gem.

@sojusucks -

1. Well, we'd have to marry for him to get a visa to come to Korea, so that wouldn't be applicable.

2. I've started studying the hangul alphabet, and I think I can manage to learn the words for numbers and fruits/vegetables.

3. You raise a good point regarding the exchange rate. I may see what I can do about getting a forbearance/deferment, so I've just got the storage fee to worry about.

4. He'd be getting financial aid through the California community colleges, and then limiting himself to online classes. It's definitely going to take some creativity, but I think it's very much possible and I know folks who've done similar.

5. Pricey beef won't be an issue, as I'm vegan/vegetarian. I'm also a teetotaler/non-drinker, so alcohol's not a concern. My boyfriend does enjoy the occasional glass of wine or shot of vodka, but I imagine there are discounts to be had on some types of alcohol.

As far as scams, I figured that by working through GEPIK/EPIK, I'd be avoiding the traps that I may fall into with a hagwon. From what you're saying, though, it sounds like it depends on the individual school. Sounds like I'll have to be hypervigilant and make sure I dot every i.

[erinmack]

@Xylox - Some of the recruitment sites I've checked out have had photos and videos of apartments that looked quite spacious. I can deal with a studio or efficiency, but "dorm room"-size sounds like it might be hard to manage.

@jvalmer - The only city outside of Seoul that I'm really open to is Busan. Would a bigger apartment be likely there as well?

@winterfall - "I suggest you take the housing allowance that'll give you an extra 400 with GEPIK." Being somewhat unfamiliar with how GEPIK works, I'm unclear as to what you mean here - do you mean that I should deny the free but school/gov't-assigned housing and instead opt to find my own? I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of savings, so coming up with "key money" may be difficult depending on how much it is. I don't mind living an hour or so from Seoul, though - a long commute is something I can handle, as long as it's an affordable one. And as you noted, if I were working in the satellite cities, I'd only have to "commute" on the weekends. Are some of these areas less expensive than others? I've mostly been thinking of the bigger cities like Incheon and Suwon, but perhaps I've overlooked a more affordable gem.

@sojusucks -

1. Well, we'd have to marry for him to get a visa to come to Korea, so that wouldn't be applicable.

2. I've started studying the hangul alphabet, and I think I can manage to learn the words for numbers and fruits/vegetables.

3. You raise a good point regarding the exchange rate. I may see what I can do about getting a forbearance/deferment, so I've just got the storage fee to worry about.

4. He'd be getting financial aid through the California community colleges, and then limiting himself to online classes. It's definitely going to take some creativity, but I think it's very much possible and I know folks who've done similar.

5. Pricey beef won't be an issue, as I'm vegan/vegetarian. I'm also a teetotaler/non-drinker, so alcohol's not a concern. My boyfriend does enjoy the occasional glass of wine pr shot of vodka, but I imagine there are discounts to be had on some types of alcohol.

As far as scams, I figured that by working through SMOE/GEPIK/EPIK, I'd be avoiding the traps that I may fall into with a hagwon. From what you're saying, though, it sounds like it depends on the individual school. Sounds like I'll have to be hypervigilant and make sure I dot every i.

[blobbo]

Some of the places they put you in are tiny. I think you can also get the housing allowance instead but how hard it is to get from you school will depend on the institution. The school put down an outrageous amount of 'key money' to rent a place, so it might not be as easy as housing you from one place to the next if key money is stuck somewhere.

[winterfall]

[Slowmotion]

Honestly I don't think it'll be easy if you live in Seoul and cities bordering Seoul.

Also whoever said get the housing allowance instead, NO! Because Key money won't be provided. I highly doubt she has 5 to $10k to cough up for key money.

[creeper1]

What you might not appreciate from far off is just how crowded SK is. 55 million people crammed into a country the size of Ireland. The majority of them in Seoul. If you want a big apartment you aren't likely to get it in Seoul, Gyeonggi Do or Busan. Having said that you may be able to get multiple offers and choose the one with the best accomodation. People say the job market is tight (which it is for PS) but regardless young females do well with job offers (maybe stretching it a bit at 35)

From a purely financial basis you would be better off leaving your bf at home or abandoning the whole korea idea. He can't work here legally without a degree. Two incomes are going to make things easier than merely one. Can't he get some kind of degree? They accept even 3 year degrees here in psychology or liberal arts for an e-2. Anything at all is basically enough.

[snowysunshine]

I came with my husband, with only me working. It's do-able. Some schools will have bigger apartments, and some not so much, but you just learn to deal with it, right?

I think you will be fine!

The easiest way for him to stay is for you to be married, and get an F3.

[Xylox]

[willteachforfood]

If you're willing to live in a smaller town....and this can be anything under 500,000 people....you should get a bigger place. Perhaps not a 2-3 bedroom, but the dorm-room size places generally are what you get in the top 5 big cities in the country. You can find plenty of mid-sized cities that still offer reasonable housing, even if this just means a large studio or 1-bedroom apartment.

About the salary...you can support 2 people on 1 million if you have to....1.5 million will be a piece of cake.

About eating vegan...it will be much more impossible than it is expensive. Be prepared to eat most all of your meals at home.

[Weigookin74]