Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Who's Your Daddy?]

I'm a lifer on a family visa. I came here on an E2 before all the apostiles and CRCs were required. At that time I recommended some friends come.

Honestly, with all the work required to get an E2 now, I wouldn't have come; and now I don't recommend it. Added to that the KRW value is low, and the cost of living is up too.

I came here just before E2s started to be treated guilty until proven innocent. Shortly after I arrived (in 2003) they began to require verification of degrees, or I think it began with them wanting a transcript of grades. After that it was AIDS checks and CRCs. Then they had to be appostiled.

I don't know, but even when I was investigating Korea in 2003 I had pride. I wouldn't have subjected myself to being treated like a criminal to come here. And, if it takes 2 months to gather the documents, I'd have found another job.

Basically I don't understand why E2s are still coming? I wouldn't have even considered it nowadays.

I expect you'll say, the economy home is bad. But even when I visited last, I saw coffee shop jobs, retail jobs. I'd have taken that over jumping through hoops to work in a hogwon.

I remember when I came I read hogwon horror stories, and I thought, this might be a two week trip. I wouldn't have gone through the hoops given the risk that it might be a crap job.

[Zackback]

The jobs you mention don't pay that well when compared to the salary here. Plus the fact one has decent health insurance here - not that great back home.
It's a shot in the dark many times with jobs here. I mean you can read up and find out as much info as you can but there is still that risk. Some have really awful job situations here but others have pretty good set ups. When I first arrived I was also hoping I could find a girlfriend as well. Back home.....I just didn't fit in.

[Emark]

My first tour of duty here was 2003 as well. Korea has just grown on me. I find it convenient here. A bus that will take me anywhere is just across the street. A walk to the corner store is 20 meters. Cheap techno-gadgets and fast internet. I can go on all day. It's not that I'm lazy, but there is a lot to be said for convenience. I don't have to have the headache of a car.

When it gets down to it, I save time, money and energy here. That savings makes the net earnings in Korea teaching ESL and Canada in my other profession nearly the same.

So, it comes down to the other things in life. I'm here to get some good paragliding in. I'm here so that I can wait out the strange economy back home.

Yes, it's hard to get an E2 and it is a major pain in the rear. I find I am happier and more relaxed here in Korea than back in Canada. That's 'nuff for me.

[cheezsteakwit]

Yeah, it was a hassle jumping through all the hoops - 'apostilled this', 'apostilled that' , but in the end, it's been worth it.

1. The Won may be down, which stinks, but I can still send half my paycheck home each month, & live VERY comfortably on the other half. Back home it was a lot of stress just 'making ends meet' each month & my car's 'check engine' light was a constant tormentor.

2. Korea makes it a 'soft landing' for a first timer living abroad.

I considered Japan, but the start up costs were prohibitive. Japan may still be in my future after Korea. I considered Thailand, but Korea seemed a better value / less risk for a first timer looking to save some $ w/o a lot of $ to start with. Thailand might also be in my future , perhaps at an international school.

3. Korea is a good base to travel to other Asian countries from, while saving some cash.

I get 18 days vacation in my PS high school job. I'm going to Beijing in a few weeks & knocking the Great Wall off my 'bucket list'.
On winter break , I'll head to somewhere tropical in SE Asia. Vacations to the Jersey Shore back home were nice, but I hear Bali aint too shabby either.
Japan might be a possibility over Chuseok IF my co-teacher ever gives me DEFINITE dates for school holiday at that time.

From what I read on Daves International Forum, Korea still offers a newbie the best chance to save money (OUTSIDE the Middle East) , so I suspect that's what keeps E2's ' still a comin'.

The free/ reimbursed airfare & settlement deals make it a softer landing compared to other countries. 'Jumping through hoops' be damned. I'd say life is pretty good here in Korea right now.

[yfb]

Because it's better than working in a call center back home. It doesn't matter what kind of visa you have, F-visas are subject to the same requirements for public school jobs.

[happiness]

hmmm..well i came here in the mid 90s and i got very lucky in that i found a good support system
h taught me how to do Korea right..I still work for them. I personally prefer Japan more..lived there too...but I was shown how to live here..

I guess support is a real big factor when living
abroad..

[jammo]

Mr. Lifer what is a Hogwon?

[thunderbird]

jump threw a few hoops n get paid 30 bucks an hour to babysit, why not?

[fezmond]

working 5 hours a day to get paid a similar amount to back home? why not?

[Skippy]

Well OP, are you ready to fulfill the requirements that us lowly E-2s have to provide. Or are you doing something other then teaching?

Many of the F-series people now have to provide to MOE certified degrees and CRCs.

Life is laid back here, plus comfortable to boot. Not bad pay for easy work.

[edwardcatflap]

People come to Korea because there are still fewer hoops to jump though compared to other countries. E.g. your home country where you need to be certified to teach kids or most other countries in the world where you need at least a CELTA.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Some of you seem hung up on my visa status. My point wasn't my visa status made me different, my point was I wouldn't come here now. I came here on an E2, that's why I address that group in my question.

The reason I stay is because I have a family here. The decision to stay is different from the decision to come. I wouldn't come here now.

[YTMND]

When I see Korean employers treating employees better, I will consider returning to Korea. Koreans are best people to hang out with, but so far working for them is the worst experience. I would rather be a circus clown or animal trainer.

[AsiaESLbound]

It pays more than other countries except in the Middle East where MA's can earn much more tax free. Since teaching is teaching and kids are kids everywhere, Korea is great for saving money that allowed me to travel much farther and longer than if I had taught in one of those hot dirty backpacker traveler countries for less than half the money. I wish the pay was $500 more a month in other countries just to get new experiences living abroad, but they just haven't caught up with us on pay and the cost of living which wouldn't be a problem if we didn't go home or travel in other Western countries.

[creeper1]

E-2 visa holders who come back again and again to Korea are drifters who never had a real goal in their home country.

They couldn't hack the job market.

It's interesting that there is a comparison made between TEFL in Korea and working in a coffee shop.

Do I need to say more about how they view themselves and their skill set?

Do I have to say more about their motivation?