Korean Job Discussion Forums

Jonny Boy · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Location: Portsmouth, UK

hello anybody who can help
I'm a realtivey new teacher wanting to live and work in Korea.
Why?? Because I love the Korean students I've taught in UK and am now in relationship with Korean girl.
Don't know where to start really., what to look out for, the do's and don'ts, etc etc
I've been reading all the chat from you guys in Korea now and I'm a bit bewildered.
I guess I need a visa, er..a job to go to,..accomdation,.do I need a work permit before I enter the country, health care cover, should I get vacinations,..Mmm too many questions eh, but if you think you have time to point me in right direction then thank you thank you
Jonny Boy

casey's moon · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: Daejeon

Oh boy... check the FAQ section, and also look at the Korean Jobs section. A lot of the job postings actually tell you a lot about what you need to do to get a job. You may also want to contact a recruiter (they can also be found in the Korean Jobs section -- they are the ones with many job listings in one post). Good luck

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

What country are you from?

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

just look for a job and follow what they tell you. Of corse the very first think to do is get a passport if u havent already done so.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

You aren't a native speaker of English. This will (probably) be a problem. Do you have:

1) a passport from Canada, the USA, the UK, NZ, AUS, South Africa or Ireland

2) a university degree of any kind from one of the above countries?

If not, you're up the creek without a paddle.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Me? I am Canadian. I have a university degree. I can write a paragraph without making two dozen errors. He can't. He didn't actually say that he was from the UK. Perhaps he just lives there now. Either way, I wouldn't want to learn how to write from him.

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

Jonny Boy · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Location: Portsmouth, UK

Mmm, First i'm a native english person, with sloopy and lazy typing skills. It was very funny to see some of your replies but thank you very much for all of the comments.
So, I'm CELTA trained but have no degree, I left Uni' after two years and entered into post 16 eduction' field, specifically support for young adults with learning difficulties and physical disabilities, er.. autism, attention-deficit, hyper-activity etc etc
I've been teaching efl and esol for the past year and a half and I'm now teaching at LSI in Portsmouth; a very good and world wide popular efl school. Do any of you know it?
I want to live and work in Korea mainly because I'm now in a realtionship with a Korean girl (big time love!!!). She returns to Seoul in 3 weeks (big time heart break!!).
I've been researching for a few weeks about life and work on Korea and I'm really overwhelmed with all the possible problems. I've been reading all the stuff you people talk about on the discussion boards, it sounds crazy!! Not only the way life is out there but the variety of insights and perspectives. I feel completely lost on what to do. I know I need money, lots of it, so I'm saving and aim to go after xmas.
The efl.law site has been really helpful, fascinating, worrying etc etc
Is it best to get job before or just come on a tourist visa and find work????
thank you all again for any time or advice you can give
Jonny Boy

jeonju jett · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Location: jeonju

Jonny Boy, dont sweat it too much, its actually a lot easier than it seems. I came with a recruiter last year and I am returning at the end of the month with the same guy, no big problems to speak of. You just need to decide if you want a big city (Seoul, Busan), mid-sized city (Gwangju, Daejon) or small city experience (I was in Gunsan last year, 300,000 people). If you use a recruiter, they will take care of visa and flight stuff....just make sure to have passport-sized photos to give to them. The rest is easy, sure its a new country and new culture and new language, but hey thats where all the fun is! At least for myself. Koreans are very friendly and generous people on the whole, youll have a great time. Remember this board is often a place to unwind with others after a long day, so its often more negative than the place seems. I was doing it all the time but now back in Canada I miss Korea and thats why Im returning after only 2 months at home. Its great! Anyhoo if you need any more info feel free to ask!

PS: Im working on a French keyboard so I cant use proper punctuation, for all those scrutinizing posts for errors.... Very Happy

Rock On, Jeonju Jett

Neil · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: Tokyo

I'd consider going back to uni to complete the final year of your course to get the degree certificate and ensure your E2 will be kosher. It would be worth it for the piece of mind and while you're getting your degree you can study Korean in your spare time to ameliorate the understandable 'wasted year' feeling.

Jonny Boy · Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Location: Portsmouth, UK

Hey, Jett girl (is this your korean name??)
thanks for encouraging words and advice. I'll look for this recruiter thing your talking about in UK.
So, wow! your coming back after just a few months, that's great and makes me feel not so scared, Mmm, great grammar eh!
So one question is ..will not having finished my degree be a problem. I can't see myself going back and I just want to get out to korea asap. will this be a barrier for a teaching visa or long term work permit thingy??

I'm going to bed now but I just want to say it's cool to connect with you all and gives me the push and confidence to get myself to this amazing place
Cheers jeonju et all

Neil · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: Tokyo

Going to bed! Isn't it only 6:30 pm in England at the moment!

As far as I know to get a teaching visa (the E2 thing) immigration needs to see the orginals of your degree certificate and your transcript.

I'd really reccomend completing your degree as you've already done two years, an extra 12 months isn't really the hassle of starting a three year degree from scratch. You could work illegally but if you're caught you'd get turfed out and find it an uphill struggle to get back in to the country, it would be less stress surely to go the legit route.

You could marry your bird and work on some sort of spouse's visa but I reckon the first option would be better long term.

However, good luck.

jeonju jett · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Location: jeonju

Its Jett-boy, or boy-toy if you will......My experience is that you can come without all the paperwork but thats me and of course its better to err on the side of caution if you can.....Different recruiters will have different requests as per paperwork so you can always browse around and find the one that suits you.....Like bartering prices, you might want to refuse one or two contracts before you accept.....and if you can try and go to a school with at least another foreign teacher already there......otherwise you might be treated like a Korean teacher like I was and get in shit for objecting to work on Saturdays......but time and beer fixed all wounds. Keep it rockin!

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

The only downside you will have is you wont be able to get an E-2 visa without a 4 year degree. You could work illegally doing privates on a tourist visa but that can be risky and stressful.

Good luck