Korean Job Discussion Forums

lpcool · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul, Korea

I had some specific questions but they didn't seem to be answered... So I'm reposting this message -

1. What made you want to come to Korea? "Finding your roots"?
2. What were your impressions before you came to Korea? For instance, did you think that you'd be welcomed with open arms because you're going to the land of "your people"?
3. What are your impressions now?

IN PARTICULAR:

4. I've heard horror stories about how gyopos get paid less because they're "Korean" and endure other discriminations. What do you make of it?

BTW this question isn't restricted to gyopos only - if you know of someone who could answer these questions, please feel free to speak on their behalf.

Thanks...

Fun Times · Joined: 13 May 2003 Location: all over the place

As a gyopo, born and raised in the US, coming to Korea began with selfish motives. In some way I wanted to be exposed to my "roots" but in a sense I wasn't too concerned. Then the experience completely changed. The Korean people have embraced me, even though my Korean is pitiful, they try to be nice and tell me that it's good.

However, before coming, I assumed Korean people are extremely superficial because many of my parents' friends and my relatives gave me preferential treatment because they thought I was pretty. Personally, I feel that I was kind of bratty but I guess that didn't matter too much to them. My impression of that superficial stuff hasn't changed.

All in all, the experience has definately helped me understand my parents much more.

In response to "IN PARTICULAR," I was very fortunate not to become one of those horror stories. My current job is great but I really had to search for it because other hagwons tried to hire me treating me as a Korean teacher (this would include no housing, lower pay, things like this). Going through this was probably the only time I felt discriminated against.

Hope this gives you some insight.

William Beckerson · Guest

My replacement at Swaton was a 21 year old Gyopo who they treated like crap and paid her about 250,000 won less than me... and I wasnt getting paid the full 2 mil either.

Go to www.smallstoriesonline.com and look for the comic titled "the Shaft" to see a gyopo's experience here in Korea.

gatohorrible · Joined: 02 Jun 2003

Wow you live on the edge. Stop boasting or everyone wil want to follow your pied piper life.

William Beckerson · Guest

You seem awfully interested in my flute.

gatohorrible · Joined: 02 Jun 2003

hahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

u win again ..me and the PWC gang, er darts team , have been 'larfin oot load' LOLing twice now

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

The key is NOT to work at hakwons but to tutor privately. If money is your goal, privates can bring you there. I've heard of gyopos earning between four million and ten million won per month using a combination of hakwons and privates.

That said, I hear the situation for non-white teachers of English has gotten worse, as the main thing in ESL in Korea nowadays seems to be early childhood education.

I do believe, however, that you can find work but just be prepared to face some discrimination. Of course, the better your Korean is, the more marketable you are.

rockr1 · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Location: Ireland / Korea

Ok, I've held off until now, but gotahorrible, what's the chip on your shoulder?

angus3 · Joined: 28 Apr 2003

yaya has a point. i know of one kyopo who teaches part time at a kangnam hagwon and makes roughly 4m per month. he is also fluently bilingual, a full time student in the gsis program at yonsei and has an under-graduate degree from the u. of virgina. obviously not every kyopo is armed with these credentials but some certainly do clean up here. if you're not in this elite league, then stay the hell away from ordinary hogwans; privates or uni jobs are less stress full and pay much more.

richinkorea · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2003 4:43 am Post subject:

Re:
www.smallstoriesonline.com

I wonder if this guy posts on here ??

If you haven't checked it out, you should, it's pretty damn funny, this guy has definately got talent !

William Beckerson · Guest

lpcool · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul, Korea

mokpochica · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

[/quote]
Just as a follow-up...

Why the "no housing, lower pay"? And what are other forms of discrimination?

Why do Koreans discriminate against their "own kind"? Don't you find this disturbing?[/quote]

It's discrimination but not because you're Korean. The thing is, many Coreans who've been abroad still can't speak English that well (as evidenced by the fact that Coreans and Japs have the lowest TOEFL and TOEIC scores in the world).

Another reason is simply image. Let's suppose Johnny wants to learn kung fu and wants to learn it from a Chinese master. If that is what the client wants, so be it. I'm not defending the discrimination but well, it's mostly business. Some hakwon owners actually prefer gyopos, however, as they can be less troublesome.

Canadian Teacher · Joined: 22 Jan 2003

What irks me about many kyopo is how they come to Korea and act that they are the supercool "I am from America, you know" expert on everything in general. Many think they are something special and because of this, and their ethncity, Korea will open its doors and shine the bright lights on them.

This I believe is the root of much of the unhappiness that I have seen kyopos experience. They are not anything special at all just as I am nothing special at all.

I also do not believe in this hyphenated-American/Canadian business. My grandparents were born in Ireland but I do not run around being super-mick. I was born in Canada and I am Canadian. When I was in Ireland last time I really enjoyed looking up some relatives but I sure had no desire to move to a rainy bog full of psychotic Irish drunks.

Kyopos can take note that they if they are not carrying a Korean passport, they are not Korean.