Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OBwannabe]

I'm wondering how reasonable it would be to expect to have a decent standard of living (raise a child, buy an apartment, vacation once a year, etc...) for someone who is married to a Korean(F-series marriage visa), but only has a bachelors degree?
I love teaching and am happy to do it until retirement. I was actually planning on going back to the homeland in a couple years to get a B. of Ed degree, but I'll be 40 next year and starting to think it's time to settle down. In the situation I'm in, it's likely one or the other. Either get married and stay in Korea, or stick to the original plan and go back and study for a year and hopefully secure a job back home. When it comes right down to it, I can't afford to marry(and all the related expenses that go along with it) and go back to school.

So what I'm really curious about is, does having a marriage visa open up enough doors to allow you to make enough money to live well and retire on? I'm thinking private lessons out of home as a side job to a full or part time contract. Although, hagwon work is likely to dry up pretty quick at my age.
Would love to hear some stories

[tob55]

Have a plan and stick to it. Being on a marriage visa is only as good as you make it work for you. If you really feel like you want to live, work and retire here, then the consideration of dual citizenship should also be in your mind. I am now a dual citizen and the benefits are fairly significant for me at this stage of my 10+ years of being in the country. Want more information, then ask specific questions rather than the vague "what-if" type questions many people commonly post. Just offering my two cents worth to your post.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Yes. Financially do-able. But the danger is 10 years from now you tire of teaching, and are a bit stuck. At 50 it would be difficult to re-enter your home country work force.

[Stan Rogers]

What are the benefits of citizenship?

[modernseoul]

Does the marriage visa (F6) open doors? Yes
Does it make life in Korea easier and more stable? Yes
Does make a massive difference? No

The one main benefit you have is that you enjoy teaching and can see yourself doing it for the foreseeable future. I've meet many 30~40 year old expat guys on marriage visas who take teaching roles because they can't find anything else and do a half-assed job.
The hours and wages are better, but the number of roles are fewer these days for a number of different reasons.

Honestly to make a life from teaching in South Korea long term, been well qualified would be a big advantage. The ESL industry in Korea isn't growing like it once did.

[tob55]

[Who's Your Daddy?]

[modernseoul]

[Speck7]

This title sent shivers down my spine.

[edwardcatflap]

Reminds me of the end of a poem

But if he stood and watched the frigid wind
Tousling the clouds, lay on the fusty bed
Telling himself that this was home, and grinned,
And shivered, without shaking off the dread

That how we live measures our own nature,
And at his age having no more to show
Than one hired box should make him pretty sure
He warranted no better, I don't know.

[ghostrider]

I've met people on F visas making up to 6 million a month with their regular job plus private tutoring. Some lived in their wives' hometowns so they could find jobs through their wives' social networks.

These days it often takes two incomes to raise a family in Korea especially with skyrocketing real estate prices in places like Seoul. For that reason, Korean men are often interested in dating women who already have successful careers.

[tob55]

[radish kimchi]

[Stan Rogers]

[OBwannabe]