Korean Job Discussion Forums

tomwaits · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Location: PC Bong

Before yelling no hear me out. I almost posted this before and now seems a good time. Wink

Let's say the bottom falls out of the industry..Pay drops to 1 plus housing. Most agree you can save half of 2 mil and live decently on the rest. So would you hang in---maybe with your special friend-and accept it or be on the next plane out.

I guess we could re-phrase this and ask---Would you work in Thailand? Wink

trevorcollins · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Paji eh Wong · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

peppermint · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:12 am Post subject:

In Thailand, maybe. Here, hell no!

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

See ya later Korea.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

I'd stick it out for a bit. A lot of longtimers would leave and some sweet jobs would open up.

I'd go for a good uni gig, and hang on to it for a year or two, studying Korean the whole time, maybe try to pass the KPT.

If things didn't get better by then, it would be time to look for greener pastures.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

No, unless cost of living takes an equally large plunge. I would barely break even on that much.

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

Didn't this happen during IMF? How many bailed? How many stuck it out and ended up with sweet gigs because of the ones who bailed?

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

I'd hang for 3 months anf then re-assess. Smile

Wisco Kid · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Location: Changwon

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

I was here during IMF and stayed. I understand that if you have to send a lot of cash "home" to pay off loans, etc., that leaving would be an attractive option, but if you "live on the economy" (to quote the military jargon), staying in a job you love is, of course, the best option! (Remember, you DON'T pay for housing, healthcare is reasonable, and ramyon is cheap!)

JaphieR · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Location: Bundang

Korean women are worse than a mixture of crack and freebase on the same piece of foil. I know its bad for me, but I'm not going anywhere.

edit: but the primary reason I am here is to make money for grad school.

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

In Korea for 1 million, NOT A CHANCE. At times I think I am an absolute nutter to work full time here for 2 million....

But I've done Thailand for 900,000 KRW a month (35,000 Baht) plus housing and a one-way flight, no year end bonus.

Thailand, 72 hours a month (contact hours) for 900,000 = 12,500 won per hour

Korea, 140 hours a month (Contact hours) for 2 million = 14,285 won per hour.

Those are based on a FULL month of work in Thailand, which I had only like once or twice....all other months had at least one public holiday, or school holidays or times like Christmas with 2 weeks off. ALL FULLY PAID. In December it therefore worked out to be 25,000 won per hour that you are earning...

So if you look at it as what you are paid per hour, you're not THAT much worse off in Thailand. Factoring in the year end bonus and full flight, it would shrink that margin.

Quality of life isn't as good in Thailand for a lot of factors, but oh so much better in other factors.

Worst case, you do it for a few months and then come back to Korea if it's not your cup of tea. Or if the money doesn't work out in your favour.

And, look around a bit more...there are plenty of 45,000 - 50,000 Baht jobs to be had in Thailand if you're qualified and/or experienced...