Korean Job Discussion Forums

[some waygug-in]

Korea is relatively cheap by western standards, but if you are coming from China ......... I guess some things would seem expensive at first.

At least until you got your first paycheck. The thing about Korea is you can live on $500 a month and put the rest in the bank. (not much fun, but possible) or you can go out now and then, spend half your salary every month and still save about half of what you earn.


For me the most annoying thing about Korea is the lack of time off. And the only holidays we get are national holidays, so the highways are traffic jammed solid all accross the country.

Makes travelling around a bit of a waste of time. My students often ask me why I don't go travelling more around Korea, I tell them it's because I don't want to spend 7 hours stuck on a bus in a traffic jam on one or two of the few precious days off that I get.

Of course, if you work at a university, you will have a lot more time off and time to enjoy life.

[Snowkr]

I never had time to travel in China either.

Naturally I would want to travel but the teaching is what I'm going for. If it is possible to save money in Korea while getting a years worth of experience, that would make it worthwhile for me. I suppose I could always travel at the end of my contract. The school I'm looking into gives 4 weeks of paid holidays but they are delegated by the employer. I think the salary is something like 1.9 million... anyone know what that is in U.S dollars? I don't expect a huge salary as I'm fairly inexperienced but I don't want to take the first thing that comes along, either.

Also, does anyone have any advice on medical treatment in Korea? I'm guessing it differs from place to place. I wasn't comfortable with the medical situation in China at all which is ultimately why I left!

[margaret]

What was your problem with medicine in China? I like the medical care in Korea much better than in the US. I ended up in the hospital in Jeonju and I was quite satisfied with the care I recieved. I also have had excellent results from Korean acupunture.
As far as the exchange rate, there are online converters but it's about even lately so 1.9 million is about 1900 dollars a month.
Margaret

[pest2]

jaj: But not save much.

NB: Yeah true you can't save as much and you dont have as much to pay debts back home.


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jaj: Can they talk to you? In a small town? English?

NB: I am told that it is mostly your students that cherish you; cooking and cleaning for you and wanting to be around you all the time.
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jaj: Not what I heard exactly, but I haven't been there. I heard the stares are 10 times what you get in Korea, even in Beijing.

NB: Ive lived in both Seoul and Shanghai, and it seems like there are equal numbers of foreigners in those places. But in Seoul, a large proportion of them are military and I dont think the Koreans ever could find a way to adjust Korean culture to US military culture. In smaller towns in Korea it seems like there are many fewer foreigners from what I've seen and they look at you like you're from mars in those places. In Korea they may not stare at you as much simply because they are annoyed by your presence and dont want to make eye contact whereas you get alot of friendly stares in China...

jaj: Nightlife is better? Sounds good.
But everything in Korea shuts down at 11 pm? Where? In the sticks perhaps.

NB: No, in Seoul, all mass transit closes by 11 or 12... you can still get around via taxi, but fares double or triple exactly when the mass transit closes. It wasnt even cheap before the fares doubled to take a taxi.
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jaj: chinese and koreans are both closed and insular

NB: No, Chinese are not insular... they think they are the center of the universe and they, like Americans, want to make everyone else a part of it. So they can seem arrogant sometimes and they, like Americans and english, will keep speaking to you in mandarin even when it is obvious you dont speak it.



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jaj: In Korea, you can almost always find a job within a week or two. But maybe it takes a month to get one you think will be good for a year.

Yes, as evidence by this website, it is much easier to find a full time, year long contract job... but if you lose that one in Korea, you will probably have to restart for another year whereas in china you can find pt work or 'monthly contingency' work.
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Also:

If you're married and/or with kids, go to Korea but if you're single go to China.

jaj: Why do you say that?[/quote]

Because if you're gay single (im told) its bad because korea isn't open to gayness and if you're hetero and single its bad because Koreans generally, though not without exception, dont intermix with other races. (see post, "racism and the korean experience") Chinese, however, and especially in the cities, love foreigners...has to do with the openness thing i guess and also that fact that english teachers are rich in china whereas they're avg in korea, income-wise....

But if'you're married dont go to china because you might be tempted to cheat, too... and if you're married do go to Korea because there will be no one to cheat with.. hahahhaha....

[Snowkr]

My problem with medical care in China is that there seem to be few clinics in which you can schedule an appointment. I don't know why this made me uncomfortable but I eventually got used to it and just decided to "deal" as you do in foreign countries. However, I did start having some halth issues that kept me from working my normal schedule and the Chinese doctors advised me to return home to deal with it.

I guess I'm just trying to avoid that kind of situation in Korea. I'm not sick or injured now but I don't want to break another contract over health problems. Someone once told me that Korea "leads the world" in medical research and technology but I 'm not sure how seriously to take that. Perhaps they are ahead of the game in Asia...

Any posts giving positive feedback on experiences with Korean healthcare will definitely make me feel much more at ease! Thanks.

[some waygug-in]

I forgot to mention this, and this is by far the biggest concern with working in Korea.

When you sign a contract here, you are tied to your employer. You can't legally work outside of your contract. (without permission from immigration) even if your boss is not paying you ........ or pays you less than agreed upon. Which happens quite often with hagwans. It is not so easy to change jobs if you discover that you are being shafted. You need a letter of release from your boss or you will not be able to get another job in Korea until the period of your contract expires.

This makes it relatively easy for employers to abuse their employees and get away with it.

If you want to know more, check out EFL-Law.com. There's a lot of information on that site, so take your time and read through it. Especially the deceptive practices sections and the ones about contracts.
It's worth your while to be informed and know what to watch out for.

Universities are somewhat better, but there have been similar complaints leveled against some unis as well.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

[some waygug-in]

[some waygug-in]

[jajdude]

I figured "insular" to include thinking "we are the center of the world," perhaps because "we" are one race of people and don't have much involvement with or awareness of people from elsewhere.

[Radioactive]

Korea is #1 Baby! The best food, best women, and you make the most $. What's not to like about it?

[JacktheCat]

Koreans are racially xenophobic.

Chinese are culturally xenophobic.

[Radioactive]

What about Japan? Do they hate everyone?

[captain kirk]

Japan is, hola...if you like the TV show 'Sex and the City' why just watch, why not live it? And what happened to Whathefunk reporting from Japan and his disenchantment with a life of 24-7 libidinousness (if that's a word ). Last I heard his school got shaken by an earthquake after his post on long, thin clouds. 'Earthquake clouds', fault shaped. Very mysterious. Is his mojo so debilitated from overuse that he hasn't words? (just ooo, and ahhh ).

[Tiger Beer]

If I ever made the transition to China.. would probably be either Shanghai or Chongqing.

[C.M.]

Both countries have much to offer. For my part, my experience in China was wonderful and (at the risk of sounding like a wanker) somewhat enchanting. I found the people to be wonderful and friendly and that, for me, is what made China good; the people and the relationships. It's been a year and I have stayed in contact with many people I met. The rest (the Great Wall, the Forbidden city, Beijing, inexpensive life) just made it better.