Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BackHOME]

So I'm thinking about coming to Korea to teach and experience my culture for the first time. I've been reading some extremely negative blogs about male kyopos that cant speak korean being hated on in Korea. Especially if I'm from the States.
I'm the type of person that really doesn't care if someone has a negative opinion of me, because I always treat everyone with respect. Their subsequent feelings of me are out of my control. But coming to Korea will be an extreme culture shock. It just aint the same out there... I'm kinda worried about finding a good job, and I know that my chances are greatly diminished because of my Korean look and inability to speak Korean.
Don't have direct teaching experience, but great experience in corporate marketing communications. I taught people how to effectively communicate with physicians.

Just wanted to ask people with similar experiences about your experience as kyopos. I know not knowing Korean is a huge, but how detrimental will it be in terms of a job search in seoul? Will JLS hire me? How detrimental will it be socially?
Thanks people

[sadguy]

i've had quite a few kyopo friends. in general, the ones who speak korean have a much much better experience. the ones who don't, end up hating korea.

[ttompatz]

[Passions]

You will be looked down on, period. Some of it will be blatant, but most of it will be subtle and behind your back.

[nukeday]

[jvalmer]

[BackHOME]

So I'm guessing Kyopo women will be the only ones I'm gunna be targeting. I can't imagine trying to get with some Korean girl who I can't talk to.
Kyopo girls there hot?

[Steelrails]

Some things

1) If people looking down on you bothers you, might not want to come here. Things are moderately more hierarchical here than back home. Now I will say that in life there is always going to be someone who will look down on you for whatever reason and that part of life is not letting those people get to you and doing what makes you happy, regardless.

2) There are two kinds of male kyopos here- Wannabe gangsta hippity-hopping skirt-chasers, and everyone else. Everyone else is usually either hardcore Christian or a liberal "I'm trying to find myself on this cultural journey, man." type. The Cali-gangsta kyopos give everyone else a bad name.

3)Your chances are not diminished because of that, rather different doors are open. You have to market yourself differently. In your interview do things like emphasize how because you look Korean and speak English fluently this will inspire your students to believe that it is possible for them to be a good English speaker. A non-Japanese guy could go on and on about how Japanese people can make it in the majors, but it takes Nomo & Ichiro going there for people to truly believe.

4)You are moving to a different country. Just as immigrants back home have to work hard to learn English and fall down and pick themselves up, and get out of their shell and all that, so will you too. Nothing will be handed to you here. You have to earn it. You have to compete.

5)Culture shock might not be too big. If you dealt a lot with Koreans back home, say in a Korean church, then being here will basically be like being at church 24-7. The big culture shock for me was the complete and utter lack of a culture shock. Corporate-Consumerist stuff means that to some extent you'll see the same things here and the same lifestyles as you would back home. I'm adopted and had almost no culture shock. Should be easier for you.

[pkang0202]

[lakeshow]

You dissin Cali foo?! I busta cap in yo azz mofo!

[sirius black]

[Menino80]

[Vagabundo]

every single gyopo I have talked to here, male and female, has expressed at least some frustration with the crap they have to put up with from Koreans regarding "not being Korean enough". It happens to every single gyopo here. Some get more frustrated than others, but they ALL get at least somewhat frustrated and ultimately annoyed.

If you can't speak the language, this will be multiplied by a bunch for you.
That's the truth, sorry.

I met a Chinese American girl (very Americanized but speaks Chinese) who in Korea is mistaken for a Korean and she was just ranting on and on about the crap she has to deal with. For that matter she was ragging on Chinese too, since she could understand everything they were saying about her behind her back, etc.

She was basically ranting how she hates Asia


tying her in to the first paragraph, she'd always be asked "what are you".
and she'd blurt out . I'm American! of course then she'd be asked - what are your parents? now annoyed she'd say they're American too! (you fools)

to put it bluntly you will be looked down upon as a Korean who has lost his way, because in their minds, you will never be American, because your racial/ethnic heritage will make you Korean, Chinese, etc.

the concept of an Asian American who is actually fully "American/Americanized" is not a concept they have yet fully wrapped their heads around.

[BackHOME]

Pretty reassuring except for Passions. Thanks peeps, makes me feel better about coming. Now, gotta find a hagwon that'll hire a gyopo that doesn't speak Korean...

[Vagabundo]