Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rapier]

Some "losers" have legitimate reasons for being in korea. I've heard a full range of reasons for people being here. Some strike me as good, some as excuses.Any interesting reasons you've heard? Whats your main purpose for being out here? And whats your take on it?
In any case...Society is a few degrees harsher and more judgemental than it used to be..."Losers" used to be called "battlers' if I remember correctly.

In the incredibly competitive, judgemental, materialistic society of korea- of skewed and stereotyped perspectives...it does indeed seem that koreans by and large see esl teachers as losers, as suggested by Igotthisguitar on a similar (now sidetracked) thread.

By its very nature, society has losers and winners. There are simply not enough jobs for everyone: there are a myriad of reasons for teachers being out here pursuing an alternative life in the orient- reasons that most of them do not talk about.
I mean i've known great and intelligent teachers here who revealed things like..they were abused in their past relationship..or they lost everything, their business overnight.. or there was simply high unemployment at home. These to me are fairly legitimate reasons to step out of a bad situation and start again.
I think the term "losers" is so judgemental..so da m mning.. Not everyone is responsible for what happened to them in life.

But the most borderline reason i heard for someone being out here was this guy who said " I couldn't stand the sight of my ex girlfriend walking down my street everyday with her new boyfriend".

[Wrench]

I don't think I am looser.

My reasons for being in Korea.

I burned out on my IT job. Almost got married. I just wanted to do something different. Mostly the experience was my reason.

[captain kirk]

Well I can't be responsible for what others think. If 'Koreans think hagwon teachers are losers' I take it with a grain of salt. Minority bashing, and jealousy, and we are outlandish figures in the neighbourhood. Imagine if a Korean arrived and started teaching the world language, Korean, in your neighbourhood. It's like an alien arriving. I've heard mockery is big in Korean humour.

And then there's the national pride thing, the Nork tension, which relates to how they'd perceive the comical alien in their neighbourhood 'teaching abc's'. Kind of an invader, but not.

It's the whacky Korean reality that seems to be forever learning English and requires aliens to teach them. I think it's mad, fun, and interesting.

[Freezer Burn]

Im here travelling getting a bit of money together while seeing another country, its not a career, I'm younger so I'll worry about the future when I'm done seeing the world, and hey if that doesn't work out theres always Korea

[The King of Kwangju]

Full disclosure - I'm not in Korea anymore.

But when I was, there wasn't any talk of wayguks being "losers." Not that I heard anyways. But there's no doubt that they were losers when they came.

I never understood how a loser could travel to a foreign country, get a good job, have the time of their life, maybe find love, and still be considered a loser.

That person isn't a loser anymore. They found what they couldn't find at home, and that makes them a winner.

[Maserial]

Perhaps I'm one of the losers, or battlers (although I've always wanted to be a Renegade of Funk...), although as the OP points out, it's both a matter of interpretation, and a convoluted issue further complicated by a lack of cohesive ideology on the part of its 'constituents'.
Or, to rephrase, I don't feel entirely qualified to deem myself a 'winner', 'loser', or anything within the spectrum. I certainly concur with C. Kirk's assessment that one must take the supposed ire of some Koreans with a grain of salt, if not an outright display of amusement. If one is considered a deviant entity by those no less deserving of the moniker, be it instigated via ignorance, fear, jealousy, a monstrous conglomeration of aforementioned qualities, or some entirely alien aversion, so be it. The same applies to the opinions of my 'fellow foreigners'.
To wander back unto the path of Rapier's post, I have heard similar rationale for departure (given by other individuals) as to what has been mentioned previously, and as for myself, I suppose my motivations are less than noble, or forgivable. I didn't come to Asia (Japan initially, and then Korea) due to any heartache, or economic impetus, but rather, I had no particular, rewarding reason to remain within the midwestern United States.
If one becomes a 'loser' due to a lack of veritable, quantifiable (most likely materialistic concerns, or those concerns which pose as something worthy, such as desperately seeking a mate for the purpose of fulfilling societal expectations) associations, then I say bring it on.

(or to throw in a peripheral, vituperatively abject Blake reference, perhaps I just grew tired of attempting to extract, constrict, and squeeze meaning out of the gnarled American Tree of Mystery)

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

I came soley for the spirit for adventure. I was 24, just finished college and maybe a little over idealistic and naive who wanted to "save the world." I was planning to join the U.S Peace Corps and thought that a one year stint in Korea (which I knew nothing about) was a good way to test the expat life and bone up my application for the Corps. I actually had no idea the money was good here and I certainly did not come because of job dissastifcation. Actually, I can say this with certainty that most of my jobs back in the U.S were more fulfilling and sastifying then teaching here (although the pay was crap). If I didn't meet my husband here, I know I definitely would have gone back to the U.S after my first year. I like Korea but not enough that I'd stay a second year (if I were alone).

Now, I'm a little sad that the idealistic tree-hugger in me has almost diminished. I don't know if it chalks up to the easy, money lifestyle here or just getting older. I don't think I'll be rushing off to the Peace Corps now:cry:

[buddy bradley]

I came because they paid for my ticket.

[nrvs]

I took a few classes in Mandarin in university and I was ready to go to Taiwan to study and teach English. Then, I met my Korean-American girlfriend at home. She had similar plans to go abroad...but to Korea. She's a Korean national and wouldn't qualify for a working visa in Taiwan. So, Korea it was.

Although I don't mind studying Korean, I still think Mandarin is more useful. Oh well. At least I can talk to the proprietors of convenience stores in the West Philly ghetto when I go home.

[keithinkorea]

I was bored with the UK and my horrible job. There would have been long term career prospects in it but it wasn't for me. I had too little free time to indulge my own projects, I was sick of paying so much bloody income tax, council tax and VAT and don't get me started on how much my utility bills were each month.

I was sick of living in a very violent town where everyone was depressed all the time due to stress.

I have a couple of friends who had worked in Japan for a few years each and I was fascinated by their tales. I'd travelled to SE Asia but never Japan or anywhere in NE Asia.

I applied for NOVA and JET in Japan and had interviews lined up in London with those folks. Then I met an amazing, cool and beautiful Korean girl who was studying in my town-we're still together btw. Found out that Korea is an easy place to get a job with a lot more free time, far lower taxes, lower cost of living, free place to stay. paid airfare, I liked teaching music to people in the UK and found the idea of teaching English appealing. Been in Korea three years and whilst it does have its ups and downs I generally have a good time here.

If you're generally enjoying your life, you're doing a lot better than a lot of other people. I don't consider myself a 'loser' in the slightest. I generally have a lot of time to read, study, relax, indulge myself with fun little projects.

For the hours we work here we are quite well rewarded benefits wise. Per hour my benefits here are a lot more than I was making in the UK, considering tax-rent and misc other expenses. I only work a little over 25 hours a week, it's a part time job! I'd happily work 38 or 40 hours a week if they paid me a lot more. But to be honest I value my free time immensley.

I'm not a loser. I don't like everything about Korea but it is no worse in some aspects than the UK. Of course I miss some things in the UK and somethings in Korea drive me up the wall but on balance it is pretty good.

[joe_doufu]

I spent all my money trying to get a job in HK last year, ran out and had to leave. Back then I was too proud to be an English teacher even though I got teaching job offers. After a few months in the US i was willing to settle. I applied for Taiwan b/c I speak Chinese and had worked there before, and to Japan b/c I heard the money was good. Within 24 hours four Korean recruiters had contacted me, and at that financial moment I couldn't turn down the free plane ticket. I'll probably go to Taiwan next, b/c I really want to perfect my Mandarin, and eventually to China when I can afford it, because as you know China is the biggest and most important nation in the world. I still want to settle in HK but I don't think I can earn a work visa there until I have serious mainland China business skillz and/or a HK chinese wife. I continue to apply for both sorts of experience online.

[Emu Bitter]

I think a couple of posts have hinted at it. But I'll say it, isn't the Koreans who are the losers?
I'm a 6 year vet & I've met great teachers, good teachers, average teachers, bad teachers & terrible teachers.
I've met all sorts of people teaching English over here. But the Korean employers continue to give us jobs(I include myself because to be quite truthful my youthful indiscretions which involved getting arrested a few times would disqualify me from a visa in most countries)
The parents keep insiting they want a native speaker which in their eyes means a whitefella.
Koreans love to blame outsiders, everything's always America or Japan's fault.

[Bulsajo]

[fusionbarnone]

Had my lifestyle where I'd sit at a table(in the sun) with breakfast and newspaper, and telephones. International who's who of professionals and internat who's who of entrepreneur citations, three degrees and a rep that attracted the top in their career fields. I spent my time(at any time I felt like it at the health club; spa sauna, pools, hanging with other self-employed types, when not buying rare books or antiques etc., my time was my own. I worked when I wanted at $150 per hr; incorp at $400 per hr($1,000 if pushing it), no biz debts, mortgages, credit card(in credit) etc. A nice home 10 mins walk from a beach, 3 decks, 2000-plus private library of rare books, recording studio, bush setting, all mod cons, generally nice lifestyle, and I owned it all(continue to do so). Did I mention my revolving bevy of girlfriends?

However, I got bored. Overheard two guys talking in the sauna about teaching ESL, called the K-consulate, got interview(and a gift of a book on Tae Kwon Do. I reciprocated with an autographed copy of the future of Asia by nesbitt), and a job offer.

Have heard some K-teachers think that way of some foreigners(they have yet to meet) just like the fan death bogey-thing I guess. And they do tend to think, we (that's us/we non-Koreans) have little else in our lives and proof exists in our being here(thought that of me too most probably). Not true for many of us besides, I think it takes a lot of courage to leave safe havens for the unknown, as many people back home are just not that bold. Cheers to all the go-geters who took the plunge.

Korea has provided a great opportunity for many things(even totally unexpected rock stardom for others) and apart from the suck contracts/conditions that could befall one, the odds are in your favor. Of course the new screening protocols have positioned Korea up with the high playing/paying countries in ESL, but you've got to agree, teachers(bogus/inexperienced/fraudulant, etc) have had it good for a long time. For the money, liaison possibilities, contract inclusions, this place has been a gift that only a fool would pass up.

As for me, whilst not searching for it, met my future wife here. Now thanks to Korea as catalyst and impetus for change, home ownership will be in US, Aus, NZ, Costa Rica, Korea, St. Kitts & Nevis(still wondering about investing in China). Interlocking companies and other projects, I would certainly credit to my time and experience in the ROK.

More power to intrepid ESL teachers. All are winners in my book and; "Your running in the right direction"

[Jake E. Lee]

As long as we do our job (and do it well, I might add) and not start trouble, why should there be a stigma attached to being an ESL teacher in Korea? I have to attribute that to the negative, self-loathing, piling on mentality of many koreans. Just look at the long lines at the U.S. embassy and you know how much they loathe their lot in life. And that's only the people who can afford to get out. What keeps me here is the money, and my friends (90% fellow expats). I will be so very happy when I reach my financial goal, pack up and leave. I will look back at the miserable koreans and just f-ing gloat. Yes, I will be the first to admit of harboring some serious resentment against koreans, but what goes around comes around. Koreans are the real losers.