Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NohopeSeriously]

[Yaya]

I am visiting the Philippines now and talked to three guys living in Germany -- a Turk, a Serb, and a half-German, half-Tibetan -- who just spent a few months studying in Shanghai. They said they were all pumped to see China and meet the people but were sorely disappointed. They said Chinese won't give you the time or the day unless you mean money to them, and if you struggle with the Chinese language, you're in an even worse position. They also said the food is so bland and monotonous except a few street kiosks. Then there is the pollution, corruption, failure to think independently and logically, etc.

They said they have no desire to return and the like. It seems expats in China have to get used to things worse than in Korea despite what the China promoters on this forum say. I just talked to a Russian who has worked as a factory manager in Beijing, and he just put it this way: if you can't hack it in China, best not to go there.

[jfromtheway]

[Oreovictim]

I spent three years in Seoul, and I�ve been in Shanghai for about six months now. I�ll give you an idea between the two cities.

Fast food:
Both cities are about the same. Seoul has McDonald's, BK, Peeja Hut, Domino's, Papa John's, Subway, Quizno's, KFC, Taco Bell, and Popeye's. I don't think that Shanghai has Popeye's or Quizno's, but they do have all the other places listed, plus they have Dairy Queen and Carl's Jr.

Local food:
I like food from both places. Chinese food has more variety; you have sweet, salty, and spicy foods, but a lot of it seems pretty oily. Believe it or not, Chinese are probably even more fervent of their cuisines than Koreans are of theirs.

Foreign groceries:
There are a couple of stores in Itaewon that have a nice selection of spices and whatnot. And you have Costco in Korea, too. But there are more grocery stores in Shanghai that cater to foreigners. Some of them have an impressive selection, as well - cheese, meats, chocolates, breads, you name it.

Internet speed:
Seoul wins here, hands down. In Shanghai, unless you have a VPN, you won�t be able to access Youtube, Facebook, and a lot of the �good sites.�

Wages:
Korea still wins, but China is getting better. With Korea you have housing, a pension, an extra paycheck at the end of your contract, and the flight pay. And you can�t beat the 3.3% tax rate. I teach adults in Shanghai; I make 10,500 RMB a month, but I also get 4,000 RMB a month for housing allowance (my apt is 3,200), 500 RMB a month for travel reimbursement, and a quarterly bonus of 1,500 RMB. So I make about the equivalent of 2,800,000 won a month. But that�s before the 20% taken out for taxes and before my rent.

Languages:
I�m not sure which one�s easier. My Korean pronunciation was really good, but my listening was horrible. With Mandarin my ear is okay, but my pronunciation isn�t good at all. I can pronounce the tones if I�m just saying a single word, but as soon as I start forming sentences, it goes downhill.
Everyone knows that Korean reading and writing is really easy. Spend a few days, and you�ve gotten it down. Chinese? It looks pretty and all, but it�s a nightmare. I can�t imagine living here long-term and not knowing how to read everything. It�s one of my biggest gripes, right after . . .


Air quality:
Seoul wins again but not by much. Second-hand smoke in China is my biggest gripe. I thought Seoul was bad, but Shanghai takes it to another level. People smoke in hallways, lobbies, public bathrooms, and sometimes in elevators and malls, too.

Bodily fluids on the sidewalk:
People spit a lot in both countries, but it�s more common in Korea. Also, people drink A LOT more in Korea than in China. And when there�s heavy drinking, there�s usually (surprise, surprise) vomit to go with it. I rarely see vomit on the sidewalks of Shanghai � Can�t say the same for Seoul. But not so fast, China. Since summer�s here, it�s that time of year in Shanghai for . . . public urination and defecation. Little Chinese kids have a slit in their pants so that they can do their business in public. I thought it was only something in the countryside- no, no. I�ve seen it several times now, and the parents don�t have the decency to position their kid next to a tree or in an alley. I�ve seen kids making a mess right in the middle of a sidewalk.

Dangers of traffic:
Korea�s annoying with the delivery guys on motorcycles zipping through stoplights and riding on the sidewalks. I don�t see so much sidewalk driving in Shanghai. But Seoul�s traffic is still not as chaotic as Shanghai�s. In Seoul, if you have the light to pass the crosswalk, a few cars will go through. In Shanghai, most cars go through, and then they have the nerve to honk at you if you try to cross.

Heating/Air con:
Have to give it up for Seoul once more. I really miss the floor heating. Central heating in Shanghai is horrible. Seoul�s not so stingy with the air con, either. It�s almost July, and a lot of stores in Shanghai don�t even have the air con on yet.

[Yaya]

[jfromtheway]

[northway]

Wouldn't your average Russian have to put up with more shit, given that they have to deal with the aforementioned Dmitri and Vladimir?

[jfromtheway]

[creeper1]

I've been following this collosal thread since it was started and now it is time for me to give my opinion about life in China.

I don't have any agenda to promote either country.

Job situation - As far as I can see the job situation in China sucks. Big time. You basically have two choices -

work fora university and have loads of free time and get paid a pittance (I'm talking 5,000 to 6,000 RMB a month in the countryside maybe more in big cities like Shanghai and Beijing)

- or (and this is the option I chose) work for a language mill that makes you work your rear off. They will pay 13,000 - 16,000 RMB but you don't get your weekends (your days off are during the week) and and in the summer they make you do hellish summer course like working morning, afternoon and night.

You can't have your cake and eat. i.e. high wages and low work hours in China. Not the case in Korea and I consider GEPIK and universities in Korea to be employers were you can basically have both.

So Korea as far as jobs goes is much better than China? Well yes but there is one upside that China has that Korea doesn't. The employers are in some cases foreign owned and encourage contribution of foreign employees in meetings and things. I'm not saying they care that much about how you feel but it is something that at least makes you feel more of an equal than in Korea where you are just out of the loop in many cases.

Also, these days we do have to take into account that GEPIK and EPIK are supposed to reduce and phase out their foreign teachers over the next number of years. I've not seen much written about this recently but it is thought to be whole idea of the programme.

Living situation-

Expats - I felt the expat community in Korea was easier to break into. In China it seems there are some cliques. This is something that ofcourse will vary on the individual.

The Chinese do seem more friendlier than Koreans but again that isn't scientific and is up for debate.

Language - This is clearly something that China has going for it. If you have to spend a period of years learning a language then Mandarin is going to be much more useful to you than Korean.

With the Chinese economy set to become the world's largest, Mandarin knowledge may well do you some good when you finally decide to go home and call the TEFL game quits.

[Steelrails]

[Dave Chance]

Koreans following the Americans, big surprise there.

[edwardcatflap]

[pegasus64128]

[Steelrails]

[pegasus64128]