Korean Job Discussion Forums

[william beckerson]

You know, that Big Bill guy called all Canadians economic refugees here in Korea. Not that I think he's too far off (I'm from Nova Scotia. Where am I going to earn CD$2500 for 30 hours of work there?) but it got me thinking.... and that's an unusual thing.

Just how many Canucks are there here in Korea? And where are you from? Pipe up!

Me- Lr Sackville, Halifax, Nova Scotia

[Hotuk]

"Running from my student loan"? Hah! I'm here because I'm paying my student loan. You missed an option: "Can't afford to live in Canada anymore". That'd be me. Once the transmission went in my Hyundai Sonata, I had to get out of there.

I'm also from Halifax. There are swarms of us here. Five years ago we Nova Scotians used to have parties on a rooftop in northern Seoul - about 40 of us would attend. Someone would always bring beer with photocopies of Keiths labels pasted over the bottles - seemed to help fight homesickness.

[kimcheeking]

I came to experience more of asia and pay my student loans. My major is Asian Studies. I am staying because I can live comfortably and save cdn$15,000 per year. In august I will be moving into a 32pyoung apartment all my money.

And I do not teach privates.

[khyber]

I'm from vancouver.
I just came because.

are only canadians, "economic refugees"? what about user, ozers nzers or engers, irers, scoters, or SAers?

i got an email from a Brazillian Professor who was looking to come here and work b/c his economy is bad.

[Tancred]

i came here to see the country and to run from my loan, which is ludicrously high, and which i have no intention of paying at this point...just biding time until i can legally declare bankruptcy (a propos, i've already given $15,000 towards it, and the reason i'm doing this is now out of principal due to the egregious circumstances with the collection agencies...i won't go into them here to spare you all the nightmarish details)

anyway, i find it interesting that there are some people who can't find jobs in canada...i lived in Toronto and it was bursting with employment opportunities...granted, nothing too lucrative but certainly above the McDonald's level.

Anyway, that's all i have to say....good poll.

[taejonguy]

You do realize that the laws have been changed and your loans will follow you even AFTER you file for bankruptcy? These laws were changed a few years ago in Canada to stop the high numbers of filings by graduates who where unable or unwilling to pay the amount owed. The simply tag your social insurance number and when you get paid, file for health insurance, pay taxes, etc. move in and ask for restituition....

Good luck!

[Dan]

it can't all be bad. after all, if you ask americans, we just think its cool that canadians can start drinking at 18, and in canada, it doesn't cost $90 for a doctor to prescribe you tylenol

[taejonguy]

[william beckerson]

I got fired from my last job right after the hiring season ended in September. That was a deliberate ploy on the part of my boss to force me to leave the country so I couldnt tell everyone how Swaton, Oksu branch breached my contract. What they didnt know is that my best friend here in Korea let me live with him until I got my current job.

Anyway, duringb those three months of unemployment, I got nothing but threats from the Royal Bank about not paying back my loan, and they wern't interested in my being unemployed in a foreign country.

Eventually I realized that they couldnt touch me here and I decided they can wait until I have the money to give them. I have yet to contact them again. It was illegal and immoral, but I didnt have much choice.

As for bankruptcy: You can declare it. While it doesnt wipe out your student loan, it does freeze it for the next five years. Five years that they dont get any interest or payments from you.