Korean Job Discussion Forums

[looseleaf]

Hi,

I've got a few questions so I thought I'd chuck them in together as they're kind of related.

First off, I'm currently a JET in Japan and am looking to move to Korea. I think EPIK / GEPIK would be my best bet, but have a few questions as to the similarities / differences between these schemes and JET.

I know that placement can, at best, be completely random and that you're likely to end up in a rural area, however, in these areas covered by these schemes how easy is it to connect with other foreign people?

I'm placed in the countryside in Japan but have a number of foreign friends that I can meet up with quite easily, largely thanks to the JET community in place. Is there a similar community in Korea or do people find themselves more isolated?

I've got no problem mixing with the locals, I am keen to, however, I feel like we all need a bit of time with those we're more familiar with.

My next question, for former JETs (if there are any?!), is whether or not your experience teaching as an ALT in Japan counted towards the requirements for EPIK / GEPIK for teaching experience? I've seen a few posts that mention that it 'probably' does, however, nothing concrete. Can anyone verify if this is true?

Finally, anyone got some insight into life in Korea, in comparison to life in Japan. Any pro's and con's? Any problems making the change?

Thanks ^_^

[happiness]

Jet rejected me when I wanted to change jobs, lol. I spoke Japanese too well. Ha.

I didnt find Japan isolating at all, because I was into Japan. Korea, same thing. Just cheaper, and not as much cool stuff, but its a great place, well I think.

[mayorhaggar]

In general foreigners here stick together. I'd say it depends where you end up. If you're in a sizeable city (probably anything over 500,000) then it should be similar to being in a Western city. If you're somewhere smaller then you'll need to make a bit of an effort. For really small cities it depends on how many foreigners live in your town, and whether your school gives you an apartment where you're isolated out in the rice fields and you're the only foreigner in the village, or if they give you a place in town near where all the other foreigners live. If you're the only foreigner in town you'll probably have to make the effort of seeking out people in the nearest big town or city. If there are other foreigners in town then you will probably stick together but you won't have many choices in terms of making friends, and it would probably be good to meet people in the nearest big city anyway, if you don't mind making a trek that could take 90 minutes just to meet for coffee.

Anyway certainly people stick together, and just about every town or city should have a facebook group. If you're concerned about being in a place with no foreigners, I'd apply to GEPIK, or apply to the provincial-level cities via EPIK. But GEPIK and provincial-level cities can still have pretty rural or isolated areas.

[looseleaf]

Thanks for the replies. I guess there's only one way to find out for sure.....

[SeoulMan6]

Former JET here! I did 2 years in Japan and now I've been in Korea almost a decade.

"Is there a similar community in Korea or do people find themselves more isolated? "

Good question. The answer is... it's mixed.

I found that with JET, everyone was in the same boat - starting at the same time, going through the same stages, etc. - so it was very easy to have friends and a support group.

However, it was FAR easier is Japan to be isolated. There were numerous people who lived in small villages (mine had just 6,000 people but friends lived in even tinier places!) or even islands. That doesn't really exist in Korea. When I've met people who live in rural areas and complain about it, I just chuckle because it's nothing like small village Japan in terms of conveniences and distance to larger cities. (Their rural cities in Korea would have been our exciting weekend destination in Japan!) In Korea, you're never far from a medium or even large city, whereas I remember taking an 8-hour overnight bus to Osaka.

On the other hand, I was not an EPIK teacher in Korea and so meeting people and making friends was 100% up to me. There were no connections from any organizations outside of my small employer. Some people I met were friendly and such, but others had already made their niche and weren't necessarily interested in a newcomer and all of his questions, observations, etc. So in that sense, it's easier to be isolated outside of JET/EPIK. But generally people are friendly and good, so you can make friends even without having a program to rely on.