Korean Job Discussion Forums

CBrown · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 6:16 am Post subject:

My wife and I have been going through a very similar situation to yours for the last couple of months and finally found a position that was just what we wanted (well close to what we wanted). We turned down MANY offers in the Seoul area because we didn't want to be in the middle of 10 million other people. We're leaving Saturday for Kwangju. I just want to advise against taking an offer you don't want, e.g. Seoul. We were getting nervous we were going to have to hang out in the States waiting for a position because we kept turning them down, but the right one came along. If you have any questions about our experience feel free to PM me, but don't take an offer just because you're worried it's all you'll find. The right city, school, money, etc. is out there.

justagirl · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Cheonan/Portland

I'd tell the director, your students, and the people at work that you are married. Your friends that you meet outside of the school (other wae-gooks) should be fine, if you want them to know.

We never had anyone ask us for a marriage certificate, though our boss does put all our money in one bank account. I guess they don't have joint-checking here, either.

Us in DC · Joined: 22 Jul 2004

Dalton · Joined: 26 Mar 2003

My wife and I have always found housing here but we've used recruiters to find these situations for us. Currently she gets a housing bonus from her school but my school which supplies the housing for us both, doesn't know that. You could get rent from one school and hand it over to the school with housing. Or not if they don't ask for it. This is one option.

I was told by the boss of one big chain here that Koreans don't like husbands and wives working at the same workplace. As if to underscore that he separated a Korean couple that married into different schools in his chain. We worked for different schools in the chain too and he supplied the housing for both of us. That's another option. Taxis and buses aren't that difficult to figure out in the end.

I have also been told that schools like married couples because the husbands are very unlikely to call in sick on Mondays or take Friday afternoons off to party and various other 'bad habits' and traits they expect of single, randy, foreign males. Hitting on Korean co-workers or students(!) is frowned upon by some. Schools may make concessions on housing for you because of that.

Koreans love solving problems. If they want you they'll figure it out in their very Korean way. You're worth two finders fees to a recruiter and that's a problem they really love to solve.

desultude · Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:43 am Post subject:

I'm responding late to this thread, and this may have been said.

I'm in Daegu. Run, fast, very fast, to Seoul. Being a couple, the boredom may not actually kill you in the first year, but it could be tough on your relationship. Then again, you may end up pregnant, as there isn't a lot else to do.

I actually like my job, most of the time. But Daegu is soooo dull, consevative and boring. I love Seoul. Of course I haven't lived there, but I hope to have the opportunity sometime.

Toby · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: Wedded Bliss

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Us in DC · Joined: 22 Jul 2004

Homer · Guest

There is also the experience factor here.

Justagirl how long have you been here?