Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AtmaWeapon]

For the people who stayed in Korea after their first year contract expired - why did you stay instead of going back to your home country or continuing teaching ESL in another country like Taiwan or Japan?

I'm back in my home country after doing a year in Korea and although I would love to experience living/working in a new country (Japan most likely) it looks more and more likely I will be returning to Seoul for a number of reasons (K-girlfriend, better pay, relatively low cost of living, friends, familiarity, etc). Just curious to see why other people chose to stay longer than a year.

[Lacan7]

Same reasons as you listed, but add on lack of opportunity at home, and sheer laziness to sign up/set myself up in another place.

On a side note, nice name. Did it come from the beast or the sword?

[Draz]

I didn't have enough money to get started up back home. I only had a couple grand left after paying off my debt so I decided to come back for another dip into the money pot. At that point I already knew I wasn't big on teaching so working in other countries for less money and basically being stuck teaching indefinitely didn't hold much appeal. Cultural experiences be damned.

[northway]

Girlfriend.

[theevilgenius]

All of that said above, plus the people here are friendly, crime is very low and it's easy to use as a focal point as I travel around South-East Asia.

[jlb]

I got a uni job, complete with 4 day weeks and 5 month vacations.

[AtmaWeapon]

[jlb]

Masters degree....outside Seoul, but still on the subway line. It also helps being a girl for getting uni jobs.

[Feloria]

My first year I taught at your typical children's Hakwon.
I had a friend who worked at a really good Adult Institute, and I got a job there, and remained for a couple years.
I'm now working at a University--I kind of climbed "up the ladder", as it were.
Korea's great for many of the reasons listed above, but I won't lie to you.
If I could get an interesting job back home where I could live as comfortably, have the same kind of health coverage, and work the same amount of hours; I'd go back to the States in a heartbeat.
But Alas--

Another major bonus is how inexpensive it is to travel all over Asia with Korea as your "home base."

[Zyzyfer]

End of...

First year - gf
Second year - received TFA application rejection days before flying back to the US, was planning on going back for good, didn't have the extra cash lying around to wait it out for other options
Third year - job opportunity (broke into editing)
Sixth year - after three years, left that job, thought I could land something that paid better, also, gf (relationship was faltering, however)
Eighth year (gaps between jobs amounted to a year at this point) - no funds (job went to the pits)
Ninth year - gf + lack of funds
Tenth year - got engaged

[DejaVu]

Getting a decent ESL job in Japan (JET) is ridiculously difficult, especially since I know no Japanese.

Working in western Europe is close to impossible as an American.

So, anywhere I really want to go is out of the question.

After a year, I got a pay increase here and a reas