Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lolita89]

Hi everyone!
Hope all is well.
I am heading to S. Korea in October (all going well!) and I have been doing loads of research so far....was just hoping to ask a few questions....(no doubt I will ask lots more before then too so bear with me!! )

I am going through RBI, Busan.

I was wondering, for a role in Busan, how much cash did you take with you for the first month living?

Also, I am a really keen cyclist, is it worthwhile to take a bike over with me?

And just for fun.....is there anything you wish you'd known before you went?

Thanks everyone, look forward to chatting.

Lol. x

[modernseoul]

For your first 4 to 6 weeks depending on your spending habits, but on average about 800,000 or £500 should be a minimum.

The costs of brings a bike over might be a large percentage of buying one here.

What I wish I'd known:
1 - Soju is stronger than you'd expect.
2 - There's a lot more to ESL than just teaching.
3 - Korean is very difficult.
4 - plus many more...

[J Rock]

I think I brought W2,000,000 with me when I first came over back in 2006. I was going out just about every night to bars and restaurants. I burned through pretty much all of it by the time payday rolled around.

You could box up your bike and ship it but I'm guessing the shipping cost would be outrageous. Just buy a bike a here.

If I could go back in time and tell myself something it would be to come in with a plan. Like do you want to stay for 1 year, 2 years, 10 years? I just came for fun and was down for whatever and now I'm married, have a kid and been here for almost 7 years. Not what I thought i'd be doing at this point in my life but it is what it is. I'm making the best of it.

[Milwaukiedave]

I would say $1,000 would be safe for a month to hold you over. I'd try to learn Korean as soon as you can. Make some friends and get out.

[Lolita89]

Great advice, thanks! Yes, was thinking about £600. I have an app on my phone to learn Korean.....yes, its difficult!!!

Thanks for the responses. I look forward to asking (pestering!) more.

x z z

[tophatcat]

[Newbie]

Funny/embarrassing story about "what I wish I knew before going to Korea:"

I first went to Korea in 2003. I wish I knew what kimchi was before I went. I had heard of it, but never seen or eaten in.

My first night out with some co-workers and the restuarant had a very neatly stacked pile of kimchi. I thought it was lasagna and scarfed down a big helping.

You can imagine my reaction.

[BackRow]

I brought 300,000 with me when I first came (I was really, really broke) and I managed. I'd say 1,000,000 if you can to be on the safe side and not be miserable.

[duhweecher]

1. Dave's is not the place to ask anything serious;
2. Always, always, always, bring enough money to go home (without being paid...period...DO NOT think that contracts mean people will always pan out doing what's in them). Having the money to go home can mean the difference between liking or disliking your experience(s) and demanding the respect you deserve;
3. Plan to learn how to make fun beyond bar hopping, which is the favorite pastime here (esp. for some expats);
4. Prepare to feel pressure to put on make-up, dress up (even to go to the store), look super neat and done up for the most ridiculous of reasons (like exercising, hiking, bicycling--yep, ALL the gear of a PROFESSIONAL cyclist required)--each and every one regardless of gender;
5. Prepare to miss most of the junk food or deodorants you like (or bring with). Korea is pure proof that increases in trade do not necessarily lead to commodity diversification--there are limits (in Korea, MANY limits);
6. Prepare to get a little sick of seeing the color red (in foods, on foods, near foods...) then occasionally shocked by black (in noodles, in rice, sometimes walking casually on the streets);
7. Expect to use an umbrella for any and every measure of precipitation that might fall out of the sky and expect umbrella wars when you're walking on the street during such times;
8. Get a credit card as soon as you get here simply for transportation purposes (many banks will allow you to deposit like a couple hundred for a card that you can use for transportation);
9. Don't expect to EVER be taken seriously when you ask for salt (or pepper) at a restaurant. You'll have to really give the look of YES, SALT (OR PEPPER), before that will happen;

Finally (there are many more but...),

10. Expect to have problems distinguishing the normals (or semi-normal) from the weirdos (or completely wacko) on appearance alone. It's much harder to distinguish this in Korea than it is in other countries. Not that profiling is really my thing, but you'll get what I mean soon enough...

[byrddogs]

[talentedcrayon]

I second the advice about making sure you have enough money to get home. Lots of people get burned by their hagwon.

I got burned by mine. Luckily I had more than enough money saved up to live here for the last 4 months without a job and still be able to fly home. I went to Japan so I could come back as a tourist - I am not working here for those of you who want to know... I am taking a break from life and working on a few web based projects for a company I own back home... and those projects are going well ^.^

I also second that having the money to quit at any moment will allow you to keep your self respect. My hagwon owner treated all the teachers like we were dogs (like complete crap day in and day out). If I didn't have the money saved up I wouldn't have been able to tell her: "I am firing you." Man, that felt awesome, I even wore a suit to work that day. To be able to fire your boss, while looking like a boss, and send a clear message that you disagreed with her terrible treatment teachers and kids? Priceless.

I actually think I became a man that day. I know that sounds dumb. But, I've been letting people walk all over me my whole life.

I don't think 600 quid is gonna do it. You are taking a pretty big risk. That being said, life is an adventure, so why not take a shot?

I still recommend having some kind of backup plan though. Allow me to reiterate in all caps A LOT OF PEOPLE GET BURNED BY THEIR HAGWON.

edit: The first time I came to Korea I only brought $300.00. Somehow I managed not to starve.

[tophatcat]

[beentheredonethat777]

[quote="talentedcrayon"]I second the advice about making sure you have enough money to get home. Lots of people get burned by their hagwon.

I THIRD this. I remember back several years ago, being asked by my one of first bosses here, if I had money. When I said," yes." He seemed so disappointed about it. When the other teachers arrived, they had to get small loans from him.
Much, much later, he said, "I like it when teachers arrive without much cash, 'cause they can't run away!" Wow, that was revelation knowledge. Hindsight is 20/20.

[EZE]

At least $2000 plus a credit card in case you have a medical emergency or need to log onto Travelocity to book your midnight runner flight.