Korean Job Discussion Forums

Eegii · Joined: 15 Sep 2016 Location: Mongolia

Hello. I've worked in ESL for many years. Somewhere where the pay is low, the climate is freezing and the value of the currency has severely depreciated. Time to go somewhere else for a year and haul back some more potent currency. Can't leave forever; I love this country and I have a family here. I'd like to try Korea for a year. So...

I believe if I go there, nobody will care about my CELTA. Nevertheless they might acknowledge my 4 years of experience and maybe a cram school will give me 1900-2100 a month. I think I can't bring my family for the entire year because the free accommodation is shoebox-esque in size, and I really need to get over there as cheaply as possible so renting something else isn't an option. So I'll leave them where they are and visit them at least twice during the year in Qingdao, China, right across the way from Seoul. Immigration will happily give my wife and baby a tourist visa to come and stay with me for a month or so a few times as well, and the landlord/cram school won't object despite the tiny accommodation, and then off they'll go again. I'll be able to send 350-400 bucks a month to support my family while saving at least 600 dollars a month. In any case, saving at least 7000 dollars over the course of the year will be no problem. That's despite sending some money to wife and baby, despite flying out to Qingdao 2-3 times, and despite handing over tourist visa money over to China an equal number of times.

Is this plan workable?

Coltronator · Joined: 04 Dec 2013

It sounds workable. 2100 will be easy. Minus Taxes/Pension/Healthcare will leave you with ~1900. Minus Building Costs will leave you with 1800. Minus Trans. fees 1750. Food 1600. 375$ sent home + 25 in transfer is 1200. Save 600. You have 600$ a month left for Misc. So yeah.

newchamp · Joined: 09 Mar 2013

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

If you're going to do a year away from family to bank some coin, probably the Middle East is the way to go. Don't know what positions are available with just the BA and CELTA, but might be worth a look.

You'd probably also be better off just working extra privates in China than dealing with the move to Korea. Again, though, you'd know more about that option where you are, or you could get some info off the China board.

Good luck to you!

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

...and where food is concerned, there has been a load of inflation here. You could feasibly eat out for about 20,000 a day, but even then, you're looking at 600,000 a month. Eating REALLY cheap, crap food at home would shave a lot off of that, but even then, you're probably looking at at least 300-400 with some decent stuff thrown into the mix.

Eegii · Joined: 15 Sep 2016 Location: Mongolia

Thank you for the responses, everyone. Sadly if the only way to save enough money is to live like a monastic, not see my family for a year, and somehow intuit which hagwon won't screw me over with 100% accuracy, perhaps it is a stupid plan...I'd consider the middle east but I get the distinct impression they want more than a celta and might not consider smaller Mongolian private schools and training centers sufficient experience. Perhaps one of the higher paying Chinese language mills is worth shooting for, or just getting a university job and doing privates. Or just find a way to stay in Mongolia.

I appreciate the help. I have lived outside of Ulaanbaatar (the capital) for many years and so might be kind of information-poor in some areas, but if someone wants to ask about Mongolia via pm, please do so.

Coltronator · Joined: 04 Dec 2013

That was apart or Misc. I was saying 150 for groceries. Of course you won't cook everyday. But 150 keeps bread, rice, pasta, noodles in your cupboard, condiments, eggs, cheese in your fridge, and pork cutlets, beef,, fish in your freezer.

He will also likely find a job with provided lunches.

nicwr2002 · Joined: 17 Aug 2011

If you can't go a year without seeing your family, then maybe you shouldn't go anywhere to be honest.

If you have any kind of knowledge about how to cook something, then buying ingredients and eating at home normally should save you money. You may have to give up milk though. Milk is 4500 for only 2L.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Not sure if you can get a university job in China without the MA given all the competition, but it's worth a look. From what I've gathered, the scheds are more demanding than at Korean universities, but they're still not bad jobs and they do provide paid breaks.

If you have your MA, then you could shoot for a university job in Korea. That would provide the paid free time to spend with your family either here or back there in Mongolia. If you'll be teaching longer term, not a bad idea to knock out the MA anyway via an on-line program.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

But as for groceries...

It's easy to drop 40-50 thousand won at the supermarket or at the outdoor market just buying some bread, meat, fish and veggies.

Every time we stock up at Costco, we'll drop 300 easy.

Throw in a few meals a week eating out and you can see how it all adds up pretty quickly.

gongbuhae · Joined: 14 May 2016

all you're aiming for and to provide for your family is 1900-2100? Holy &^%#. That's depressing and self loathing. Arent you worth more than that?