Korean Job Discussion Forums

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

As the sole waygook at my school it's pretty much up to me to help students who need to do English introductions for their university or college interviews (interesting to see some suddenly really concerned about their English pronunciations). Anyways, I've just had the second student come along who's 'dream' is to become a flight attendent, one wishing to get into a uni and the other a technical college. These are students who've been through my school's academic, not vocational, programme. I'm just wondering why you'd (or your parents) would put you through three years of high school hell and then have to go to university to become a flight attendant. I'd be interested to know from anyone who knows a Korean flight attendent what qualifications they needed.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

Can't help with the flight attendant thingy. But, I also have a student who whenever she sees me tells me her "dream" is to be a flight attendant.

ilovebdt

Boodleheimer · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:08 am Post subject:

i taught at Beijing Language & Culture University for a year -- my students were foreigners (Japanese, Korean, Russian, etc) who were learning Chinese and wanted to study English in their spare time. a few of the Japanese girls were planning on becoming flight attendants after graduation. maybe that makes sense, though, since it's a language university... dunno.

simpleminds · Joined: 04 May 2006

To become a Korean air flight attendant, she must go to a technical college. (Inha) Out of 10,000 applicants, 180 are selected for Inha. Out of the 180, about half are chosen.

To become an Asiana flight attendant, she must go to a four year uni. (I've forgotten the name.)

Don't know about the other airlines.

For KA, she has to be beautiful, with pale skin, oval eyes, an oval face, and rake-thin. If not, she hasn't a chance in hell. Her brains and personality are irrelivant.

I'm not so sure about Asiana's stipulations, but they value brains and personality more than KA.

Ay least, that has been my experience.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

travelx · Joined: 30 Apr 2006

I have a student whose mother is a flight attendant for KA. I asked her today what her mother was like and she said "scary", wonder if her ma learnt that in a tertiary institution!

Hyalucent · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: British North America

rokgryphon · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

They also get paid much more than their peers in other jobs as a starting salary (can be as high as 3 mil a month). They also get a chance to travel the world for free, and believe it or not, can open doors to some great opportunities just through networking with colleagues and passengers. I don't think they have to go to one of the mentioned institutions though; I believe their degree can be from anywhere. There are also age cut offs for both airlines too from what I have heard. 24 for Asiana and 25 for Korean Air.

Sleepy in Seoul · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:44 am Post subject:

I have a Korean friend who is a flight attendant and another who is trying. My friend who is an FA did not go to university so couldn't get a job with Korean Air or Asiana. She circumvented that problem by getting a job with an overseas airline and she wants to move back to a Korean airline after she gets a couple of years of experience.

My other friend is older than the cutoff and is also trying to get a job with an overseas airline.

It's not easy. Many, many interviews and almost all of them in English. From what I understand any 4 year Korean degree (or equivalent) is required, but from any university, and there are height requirements and an age cutoff. Beauty is perhaps the most important factor after the minimum requirements.

kermo · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:07 am Post subject:

That's pretty rough. Finish school at 18, go to school for 4 years, then you have two years to "make it" as a flight attendant? How long can a KA or Asiana girl work before she is deemed unfit for the hallowed aisles?

bombenhagen · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: NL

Hyalucent · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: British North America

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

(OP, fix the thread title. NOW.)

cruisemonkey · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject:

I've seen jobs posted on 'Dave's' for English instructors at a certain K flight attendant 'university'... too bad it would be unethical to date your students. Crying or Very sad

As for Air Canada flight attendants, they're easy to spot in any airport anywhere in the world - usually an aging, bedraggled caucasian hag with an 'attitude', or a guy that didn't want to become a hair dresser (or who doesn't have the talent to become a haute coture fashion designer). Shocked

John Henry · Joined: 24 Sep 2004

Please tell her Quiche is not pronounced "Ghee-shi"

Nothing ends my vacation worse than being woken up at five in te morning to be asked if I want "ghee-shi bre-pas-tuh".

Damm good quiche tho.