Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jimm]

Why did you choose to teach in Korea? It seems to me like a very belligerent and close minded place. Why not Japan or SE Asia? I've heard of the allure of almost everyplace in Asia, except Korea. What brought you there?

[Smee]

I was exposed to things Korean earlier (around age 20) than those of other places in Asia, and so I felt I would have an easier time adjusting to SK than to, say, Japan or China. (Might as well put my meagre Korean-language skills to use than try to learn Japanese or Mandarin).

Plus, the PRC's political, social, cultural, etc. situations are just as murky, just as potentially unfavorable as SK, if not more so.

Don't forget that offers in SK---and Taiwan, and the PRC, too---are still pretty rewarding, in spite of all the negative press it receives . . . deserved or otherwise. Airfare is covered, housing is covered . . . not always the case with Japan, even though Japan is trendier.

Those are a few basics. It's hard for me to give a more solid explanation: the more I learn, the more I enjoy, and so SK is becoming more and more wrapped up with my "real life," making justifying SK like justifying my own existence. But with any place in E or SE Asia, there are pros and cons. For some people, the belligerence (sp?) might be too much, and might mask any possibility for a "pro" to emerge.

[the_beaver]

There were just a handful of ads for Japan and shitloads for Korea, so I came here.

[shakuhachi]

According to some Koreans I know, foreigners come here for the astronomical pay (5 million won per month!) and for the women who just throw themselves at foreigners.

[sheba]

Ive always been interested in Asia... I did some research and found out that while Japan has an exceptional salary, they do not offer the benefits. China offers a lot of benefits but the pay is not so great. Korea was kind of in the middle of both - a decent wage and several important benefits.... Thats my reason anyway.

I learned Japanese for 2 years, and changed my mind about going to Japan, so I learned Chinese for a semester but changed my mind about China, and here I am in Korea and I barely know a word! If only I had sorted my *beep* out earlier, I may have been semi-fluent by now!

[Grotto]

I chose Korea for 3 reasons.

1. The money, a bit better than Japan or Taiwan
2. Free accomodations
3. They pay the airfare

[Hanson]

[Koreabound2004]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Ditto.

I had the choice in '03 of going back to Mexico, or going to either Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Korea, or Japan.

I had a ball but made peanuts in Mexico.
I wondered if I would come back in a pine box if I went to Saudi-- it was weeks before the war.
Vietnam wouldn't pay airfare, and I was broke, as usual.
Japan just didn't offer me much work, and I worried about the stories of people spending all of their money just to live there.
Korea it was, by default. I couldn't find any work whatsoever in Canada, as usual also, and they were willing to fly me there.

Ken:>

[cypher]

[JacktheCat]

I taught in Japan and China before coming to Korea and actually I would recommend it over the other two as a place to live (but definitely not for working conditions)

For three reasons:

1. the money
2. entertainment. so many things to do here (its a great place for a stimulus junkie like myself)
3. the people. Koreans may be overly xenophobic and emotional unstable, but they are some of the coolest people to hang out with.

[paperbag princess]

soju.

[Homer]

I came originaly for:

The better savings potential, the paid for plane ticket and because I was interested in the place after having read up on it.

It was not and is not a question (for me) of this place is better or worse then another. I was just interested in seeing what life was like here.

[/quote]

[nev]

A voice in my head.

[inkoreaforgood]