Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Clutch Cargo]

Is this going to have any negative effects on my teaching job? Are there any attitudes about facial hair here that may make this a taboo thing?
I don't look crazy or anything with a beard. A goatee suits me, but I was employed as a beardless teacher. I notice that there are few beards here on the Westeners' faces and none that I've noticed on any Korean men.

[kylehawkins2000]

I had a full beard when I first came to Korea and I definitely got some extra flak for it. It's just another way of looking even more different to Koreans.....

When I'm in Canada I usually wear a beard.....or at least some facial hair. In Korea I've opted for the clean shaven look. At least I don't get constant comments about my appearance relating to the beard anymore.....and I'm glad for that.

To each their own however.

If you have a job already chances are your director won't say anything about it if you grow a beard.....but chances are he/she won't really like it. You may get some passive-agressive remarks from him or her......but they likely won't confront you on it...... But some will.....

[Son Deureo!]

The few attempts I've seen by Korean men at growing a beard were pretty pitiful. Perhaps the Korean predilection against Western men growing beards actually stems from jealousy?

I had a beard before I came over, but shaved it because I'd heard that Koreans really dislike facial hair. Every single Korean I've ever shown old pictures of myself to with the beard says emphatically "You look much better now." Since that includes the gf, I'll stay clean shaven for now, thank you very much.

It's still fun to show my old drivers license of me with a moustache and goatee next to a 10,000 won bill to my kids and say "King Sejong and Son Deureo!-teacher look the same, hmmm?"

At any rate, unless your contract says something about not being allowed to grow a beard, I'd say just do it if you feel like it. Be prepared for some flak from Koreans, but we're strange no matter what we do aren't we?

If you like your job and your boss has a serious problem with it, it's probably not worth fighting for, though.

[Zyzyfer]

If you're teaching kids, I wouldn't suggest it. Flitty little peach fuzz might pass, however.

[rapier]

Normally I like to wear a beard and moustache, -not a big bees nest, but a cutely trimm thing. It was allowed at my first job. My present job, the boss specified that he didn't want it, so I lost it. I prefer my hair long as well, but no chance in Korea.
In a conservative country like this, just accept that they're too inflexible and forget it. Its a smallish price to pay for raking in your millions.

[hellofaniceguy]

Grow what you want. Why "worry" about what others think?

[Marathe]

kids don't get it - they'll call you grandfather a whole bunch.

beards rawk (change mine every week).

[Derrek]

The Korean gals don't like it. To me, that was enough. *laugh*

I am going back with a goatee and a new haircut. Gonna pop in on some friends and see how long it takes them to notice me. It will come off soon after that!

[tomato]

Hello, Clutch Cargo!

I have had a beard ever since I've been here and it has presented no problems.
The children sometimes tease me about, but they will tease us about any physical peculiarity they can find.
They don't tease me about my beard as much as they tease me about baldness. They call me daemeori (bald) and ggaggameori (Buddhist monk with a shaved head).
Mostly, though, they tease me about having a name with two syllables in common with tomato.

[Skippy]

Some places schools care and will not want a person with a beard.

Some places do not care one whit as long as you show up and teach.

And some do care a little but the beard does not prevent you from teaching so they can not complain.

I think it also depends on your beard. A ratty never trim beard will never look good and the employer will despise it. A nice trim goatee or beard will be tolerate and at times loved.

Heck I grew a goatee to spite my boss. Did not really work with the boss but the children did not like it. So it worked out in the end.

You may also get children wanting to touch the beard too.

Skippy the clean shaved evil twin

[Pootie]

you want to grow a beard, um...do you like women?