Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bijjy]

Wow.. my year flew by and all of a sudden my contract is up and I'm going back to 'the real world!' But just before going home, I hopped over to Fukuoka, Japan for a two-day visit. And I was quite impressed, to say the least. It was clean, cosmopolitan, beautiful, I could see the blue sky, and no trash on the road. Little gardens everywhere and great fashion. Food was amazing. The foreigners I met there had been living there for 2 years, 12 years and 17 years; the latter two had established their own schools and were making amazing profits.

I had heard Japan was expensive, but Fukuoka prices were about the same as back home (Vancouver, Canada). Naturally, Japan is becoming a very strong possibility on my list, if I were to return to Asia to teach. But first, I want to ask you guys what the benefits of teaching in Korea are, compared to Japan. I've been here a year, I know what it's like teaching here; but there must be some other reasons why teaching in Japan is not the completely rosy picture I see in my mind now!

I originally chose to come to Korea because a) a friend was able to get me job here, b) I had debts to pay off and heard you could save more $ here , c) I really liked the Korean friends I had at home, d) I generally like to go to more 'undiscovered' places, and e) I thought Japan would be too expensive, quirky and a sensory overload (which I see now are all false).

The only cons I could see were.. the clubbing (by clubbing I mean dancing) scene was virtually nonexistant in Fukuoka, and cabs are fewer and much, much pricier. Also, my friend who teaches in Kyoto (and is able to save a decent amout of money) tells me that Japanese culture is 'too stifling' and regimented for him to stay longterm. But isn't Korea's culture quite stifling too? So what makes you choose Korea, over Japan?

I would like this thread to become an honest, yet culturally sensitive, constructive and objective comparison. Please don't turn this thread into a big argument or country-bashing!

Thanks!

[chris_J2]

The cost of living in Korea is about 1/2 that of Japan, & tax rates are significantly lower. I pay about 4-5% tax. In fact, Americans pay zero tax for the 1st 2 years. I have read an article that the number of foreign Native Speaker Teachers in Korea fell from about 17,000 (2000) to 5,000 in 2005? Not sure of the exact years, but you get the general trend. Figures have stabilised, & even started to climb. The latest statistic is 8,000 NST's. The reason for the dramatic fall, is partly attributable to shonky hagwons & greedy NST's working 2-3 jobs, in violation of their contracts. The Korean Govt has started to regulate the market as far as I can see.

I've never been to Japan, but am considering it, along with Irkutsk, Beijing & Mongolia, for the summer break in mid to late August. Been to China 5 times already, & the Russian visa appears expensive / time consuming to acquire, so I'm leaning towards Mongolia or Japan.

[bijjy]

Cool! There's an express option for the Russian visa.. 5 days to 1 week to acquire, and it costs 200 won. Plus 30 won for buying an invitation from a Russian citizen.

But anyway, back to Japan: I don't believe Korea costs half the amount of living in Japan. Sure, Tokyo is more expensive than living in London, but Fukuoka is about the same price as living in Seoul, based on all the prices I looked at as I strolled about.

As for the taxes, when I go back to Vancouver, I have to pay the difference on the taxes between Korea and Canada, so that I end up paying the full Canadian tax percentage anyway.. so taxes don't really make a difference.

[rocklee]

Korea is cheaper for sure, but it can be more expensive than Japan in some cases (like western food, electronics, imported food etc).

[mercury]

Hi all! Well I had to give my two cents worth. After having lived in Korea and Japan I must say that Japan is gold! I really mean that. Korea was fun, and I made friends, got drunk, did the noribang, had the beautiful Korean girlfriends, got tons of money in those white envelopes, etc...etc.. but still I felt empty. Soon there were things that just began to wear me down, the stares (the Japanese have never stared at me), the b.s on the subway with drunk guys asking me questions, the high school and middle school kids with their 'HELLO's', the pushing, the loud eating, streets full of pot holes, everywhere I went getting asked questions about anything from if I liked Bush to how much I make. In Japan I can drink a cup of coffee at starbucks and just relax. The kids behave, even the subway is full of order and politeness. The money in Japan is GREAT. Sure, it costs much more than in Korea, but if you are qualified you can make much more as well. At the Uni in Korea I made 2,500,000 a month, got 6 months vacation, etc.....etc..... Here in Japan I make double that, and still get the vacation time, AND special grants to do research each month. I also get a book allowance, and a special bonus that covers simple things such as having to go across town to research something. At the university I have made great friends and none of the profs. ever ask me questions or try to impose. The only thing they ask me about is lunch, we go out to lunch all the time, and they treat me like an equal. We talk about our hobbies, great books we read, not one time was I asked 'do you like Japan'

I must also say that I am married. I dated my wife not knowing how well off her parents were. In Korea when I had Korean girlfriends, I ended up paying for everything. Trips abroad, bulgogi dinners, everything. When I first started dating my wife, I was uncomfortable when she paid for our expensive dinners. I found out that in Japan, many of the women enjoy paying for their dates. They make good money, and they do not want to be 'rescued' like so many of the girls I dated in Korea.

Going to Japan was the greatest decision I have ever made. Come and check it out, then decide which place you like

[bijjy]

My eyes, they are saucers right now. Going back to Vancouver is looking less appealing for sure.

[adventureman]

Do you ever get asked these questions Mercury:

Do you have Japanese friends? How many?

What do you think of Japanese girls?

What do you do on the weekends?

When will you leave Japan?

[BrianInSuwon]

Every year, towards the end of my contract, I re-consider the issue of working in Japan. But the bottom line is its easier to get a job in Korea.

90% of the jobs in Japan, that I've seen posted, want the applicant to already be in Japan, speak a little Japanese, work from 9AM to 9PM, or teach kindergarden classes.

But I agree about the pros. I would love to work in Japan. I prefer Japanese food. And I think the language is a lot easier to learn.

I'm just too intimidated by the job postings.

[The Bobster]

[mercury]

[jacl]

Japan sounds cool. In Korea, they jump on the opportunity to ask you "Why?" in a whiny voice.

[Zolt]

I get asked "when will you leave japan?" all the time, and find it immensely vexing.

[rocklee]

I love Japan!

Had a Nissan Skyline GTR as a daily car when I was there, so I was rocking on those highways they call Wangans

Korea though has a lot going for it. The longer I stay, the more easily adapted I find to living in Korea. I always thought it was dirty, rude, backwards, will never catch up to Japan but I'm proven wrong everyday. I've found the people here extremely kind and helpful. The fact that I also found a nice girl to hang out with despite being here for such a short time was a welcome bonus as well

[trevorcollins]

[jacl]

If I ever teach in Japan, I'm just going to spend my whole paychecks and have a good time. One year party, so to speak.