Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Koreabound2004]

I am wondering for those of you who have made the move back to your homeland...how much did you have to bring back?

I can't go back and live at home...thus I need a place to rent...and may not have a job for a long time(I also want to go back to school too, if I can)....so what do you think I need to have saved in order to survive? How long did it take you to find work?


I can see why people say this place is a trap, and why others stay year after year.

[fidel]

Well, you have posed a question only you can answer. How much money do you need?

However I will offer an answer of sorts.

You will need exactly enough money you will need, no more or no less unless you want to have some wants thrown in for good measure. Then you will need some more.

[FUBAR]

[Zark]

fidel is right, only you can answer that question. But . . .

I've always kept about US$20,000 as a safety net for going home. That might seem like a lot to some - not enough to others.

Let's see . . . you'll need:

A car - unless in a big city with good public transport - and insurance for at least six months.

rent and deposit for an apartment (at least 2-3 months to start)

money for a good computer and printer to faciliate the job hunt

some sort of basic medical insurance

and, that is just the beginning.

Make sure you have at least 4-6 months living expenses - so you can hold out for a decent job and really dedicate yourself to looking (not in your spare time after your McJob),

I always thought that about US$20k would allow me a little space to work things out - and the ability to even change cities to move to a job - if that's what it took. The $20k wouldn't go far - but probably would get the job done - without feeling panicky or hurried to accept a job I really didn't want.

Uh, don't forget reverse culture shock if you've been gone a long time (I left in '89).

[VanIslander]

I told myself that I need $10,000 (U.S.) minimum, to return to finish the master's degree I'd taken a leave of absence from. But I think I should add another two thousand as buffer.

It's easy enough to do if you don't give over ten thou to your retired father and go do the expensive CELTA in expensive countries like New Zealand. And eat out and shop like there's no tomorrow.

It only takes eight months on a basic 2.0 mill/mo. contract to save ten thousand, leaving over 700,000 W a month to live on. Easy. But easy to spend too. I have trips to Jeju and India to do by year's end. (sigh) Next year, I tell myself, next year.

[Daechidong Waygookin]

[Koreabound2004]

And you ask why people don't like you DW....isn't it obvious?

[bucheon bum]

well i had around $4,000 when I came back to the states (after blowing 10K on studying and traveling in the M.East) and I would have been ok living in Washington DC, one of the priciest places in the States.. but then I came down with cancer which forced me to return to living at home with the parents. I'm back to square one and feel like I've regressed in "career development," whatever that might mean.

Point being, who bloody knows. Sometimes life throws you a curve. And like others have said, what is your plan? That's the most important thing.

[bucheon bum]

[Koreabound2004]

Of course I have a plan in mind....but that plan depends on so many factors that I have little control over....and I can't go back to mommy and daddy should said plan fail. I just wanted ballpark figures of what people went home with and how it worked out for them.

I want to go back to school, and I will apply to a number of schools back in Canada.....and where I live will be dependant upon being ACCEPTED first. Until that is sorted, I don't know where I will end up.

Finding a place to live will also be challenging...as I don't want to have to agree to live in a place that I have never seen before...and I doubt a lot of places would want to agree to rent a place to someone they have never seen before...and also someone who may or may not have a steady income.

I don't know if I can work and go to school....supporting myself while doing both will be a challenge of course.....

I was just hoping to hear from folks who had already made the move back, and to hear of how they fared. I don't care to hear from people like DW who plan to live in Korea forever.

[The evil penguin]

I came back to Australia in January with $15000 in my bank. The plan was to return to uni and eventually find some kind of work so i didn't eat into savings too much. Living at home with parents is not an option so starting out a new rental contract was neccessary. The result? Blew a lot of money up smoke by buying a motorbike and riding across the country on "much needed" trip to blow away the korean cobwebs.

Then it was hostel and motel accomodations while looking for accomodation, rent deposits, uni fees, text books, computer, work uniforms, sea kayack, car to carry the sea-kayack, clothes to replace the rags that survived korea, much needed fishing gear, bike repairs, more bike repairs, medical expenses, even more bike repairs, mobile phone set-up costs, internet connnection costs, bike repairs, and so on and on.....

The result? Flat broke! I've now quit uni and currently picking grapes and driving taxis (obviously not at the same time) to keep my head above water until I leave for Korea. Next time I will do better financially.......

Always a next time.....

Hasn't all been a waste of time however.... I've been working with a very lovely german backpacker girl and she has been helping me get over this silly drooling habit I've had for the last years for asian ladies...

Just had to throw that last bit in. Its been a while since anybody has discussed korean women on this board.........

[Demophobe]

Koreabound2004.....homewardbound2005....

A good year then?

[tommynomad]

It's 100% dependent on circumstance, and how much of a go-getter you are.

After my first extended stay away, I went back to Canada with nary a dime. I did fine, finding a job & a place within a week and going back to school 3 months later.

After year 1 (ok, 8 months) in Korea, I went back with seven grand. Blew it in three months on travel, ganja, and parties for my friends. Then I got a job.

If you're healthy and willing to work, 2 months living expenses saved is plenty. (That being said, I think BB's lesson is one I should heed better in future: one never knows.)

This time I'll go back with (barring unforeseen events) about eighteen grand after two years. Enough to go to school for another year and eat. And since that's all I need, I'll be cool.

[Homer]

millions my friend...millions

[Koreabound2004]