Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bellum99]

Is it worth doing an MBA in Korea and is there an English one available?

[europe2seoul]

[rokgryphon]

SNU just started two new, one year MBA's; should be easy to check them out.

[bobbyhanlon]

if you can speak korean really well, and want to work in a korean company, then its probably good. otherwise, don't do it. if you leave korea, it will be almost worthless.

[theatrelily]

I can't remember what uni is doing it offhand but I know that my friend found an MBA (in International business) program here that was being done in partnership with NYU.

If you want, let me know and I can get the details and post 'em.

[ajgeddes]

I know Yonsei used to do their's in partnership with York University, but I don't think they do anymore.

[simone]

Yonsei's Global MBA offers exchange with UBC.

As far as any uni in "partnership" with a foreign one, it's all bunk. Sejong uni borrows professors from SUNY Syracuse, but you don't get a diploma from SUNY - just a "certificate".

If you can get into KAIST, that's the only one I would strongly recommend. Really, the best in Korea. Lousy location, though.

SNU's program is too new - untested.

Sunkyunkwan likely doesn't have anywhere near the number of international students to make it "international"... last I heard they had no foreign enrollees, only single semester foreign exchange students. Maybe that's changed, but you'd still be a pioneer.

Many people have been happy with the KDI program - lots of Europeans and SE Asians, and you might be able to take some classes at KAIST as they share a campus.

I've heard good things about Yonsei's GSIS.

If you want your MBA to be respected, go overseas. If you need a master's and think that an MBA is your ticked to the high-paying "business english" classes, then in-Korea is just fine.

Typically, MBAs are what you make of it. If you go to a mediocre program and challenge yourself, you'll get a decent education back home... but the issue is that you're always working in groups. You do want to be challenged....

I have a friend at Sejong-Syracuse, and comparing the quality and expectations of the assignments versus North American programs, I think there's something lacking.

On the other hand, since a lot of the other students aren't really high-calibre, my friend has to carry most of them, and therefore is learning more than she would in a similar group in North America. Pros and cons.

One big pro is if you're qualified, they might waive your tuition just to have a foreigner smiling in the group photos.

[kotakji]

As said before, if you plan to work just for korean companies or in Korea then getting an MBA from one of the big three (Seouldae, Koryo, Yeonsae) is just peachy. But dont expect the same kinda of academic rigor you might have received in their western counterparts. And as said, the degree doesnt carry much weight out of country. As for second tier (or god forbid lower tier) schools, they wont be of much help even in Korea and might not be even accepted as accredited degrees in many western countries.

[Yaya]

Before doing an MBA in Korea, consider the LARGE number of Koreans with American MBAs who have struggled to find decent work here. If you DO pursue a Korean MBA, networking is KEY among classmates, many of whom will still be with major conglomerates.

I've thought of the Korean MBA thing myself, but I'm thinking if I do, I should do it in the United States.

[DaeSung]

Even if you go to are going to work for a big company 삼성, LG, 현대 your Korean MBA will not get you the money your expecting. I think it would be very enjoyable to go through school in Korea, but you won't get the respect like you would for going to school in the states. So just like everyone else said:

If you plan on living in Korea forever - go ahead it'll be fun and you can build a strong network with people (only go to SNU, Korea, Yeonsei).

If there is even the slightest chance you will want to do something outside of Korea - go back to and English speaking country and get one.

[hogwonguy1979]

I was in the Sejong MBA program for a semester and I can tell you its crap.

First they say its a "partnership" with Syracuse University (NOT SUNY- they have a medical school in Syracuse), this is the Big East Syracuse. its really not. they will tell you half your teachers will be from Syracuse. Not even close. Friends I still have in the program say its more like 1/4th and they only come for like 3 weeks to teach a 16 week class meaning you are in class 9-12 hours/week for that class no way you can learn much (I endured a stats course that way, thats when I gave up). Second you dont get an MBA from Syracuse you get a certificate from them meaning you can get one if you do another 18-24 hours of coursework from them. This after 48 hours of work at Sejong. In fact on the Syracuse website there is no mention of this program

Then there is the curriculum. The first year all you are doing are basic background courses that any MBA program would require you to have before starting your MBA work. I'm talking principles of accting, micro/macro econ etc all stuff taken in the first/second year of a BBA program. So 24 of 48 hours that they say are MBA level are in reality background course that no accredited univ would count towards an MBA.

The professors are so-so. You dont get many Sejong teachers as they are afraid to teach it because of the language barrier, they get teachers from other schools, these folks only qualification seems to be they speak decent english. There are a couple of good professors, the former dean, BJ Yang was a good prof but that was about it

Also there is the issue of ACSB accreditation. They were trying to rush it through and they got caught with their pants down when they came to inspect the program. There was NO placement office (there was a sign that said "placemet office" but nothing to it, NO help with finding internships, NO real academic counselling. From what I heard they still haven't been accredited

If you want to land a decent job the best way is network with your classmates but even this is problematic. The Korean students in the program who have jobs tend to keep to themselves and wont have much to do with the foreign students there.

There are a couple of decent MBA programs here like mentioned above. Sejong just isn't one of them

[Tukkong]

I agree with most of what Simone says.

KAIST is regarded as the best. KAIST is actually under the direction of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Last year, the government awarded them the right to start a Graduate School of Finance - they beat out a handful of other top universities that were asked to apply. I believe they are offering scholarships for foreign students.

KAIST was also the driving force behind establishing AAPBS (Association of Asia-Pacific Business Schools) - this will be the Asian version of AACSB.

KDI has an English only program. I have heard good things about it. Also, as KDI is a major think tank, there is access to up-to-date information.

Yonsei is very good for networking. A Korean friend informed me that the content is not as good as other universities, however, the alumni is strong...means opportunities to drink.

SNU is new and untested.

Sungkyunkwan might be a good choice in the future. They have been given a lot of government money to start some sort of "brain trust". They are in the process of figuring out how to spend it.

Korea University has a beautiful campus but I have heard mixed reports on their MBA. It was good but has been slipping.

From what I know, most universities will offer exchange programs. These programs give you the opportunity to undertake a semester's study in a number of countries.

Some universities also offer executive MBAs. These allow you to study on weekends and are good for networking. The problem is that they can be very expensive.

Most of the c-level executives I know studied their undergrads at SNU and their MBAs at KAIST.

One option to consider is studying an MBA via distance or online education. Distance study is never easy, but it won't disrupt your work life.

[helly]

I think the Yonsei program used to be joint with the University of Washington but UW dropped it because it ended up being just an opportunity for Korean businessmen to take a long, company sponsored golf trip to Seattle.

[Yaya]

Sorry people, but ONLINE or DISTANCE MBAs won't amount to a hill of beans in Korea, not to mention many other areas, since just about any ding-dong can get one.

Second, the Korean government keeps thinking it can throw money at a structural program to make it better. Years ago, it pumped in millions to prop up Yonsei's GSIS program and it did NOTHING to make it better.

KAIST might be Korea's best MBA program but what does that say? "Duh, I went to the top school for business in Sri Lanka." SO MANY Koreans have MBAs from top schools in the West AND speak Korean and English. Korea is an overeducated society, with one report saying Seoul has the most Ph.Ds per capita in the world.

Even foreigners with top MBAS working for Korean firms are little more than window dressing. A study years ago concluded that hiring a foreign consultant at a Korean company wasn't efficient, mainly because the foreigner had so little to do at such a high salary. Law school grads from the United States in Korea routinely end up doing little more than editing and translating documents for the firms they work for. Or they do client entertaining since the other lawyers can't speak English well enough.

But one smart cookie I know got a 2/3rds scholarship from the Korea Univ. grad school, and he said he did it more for personal development. Funny thing is, he got the master's without a sweat but could go on to do an MBA later. So hey, if you're all gung-ho about it, go for it but just be informed about reality.

[Tukkong]

I studied a Master of International Business, which is basically a specialised MBA, a few years ago. I did the majority of my program full time, but did 2 subjects via distance/online learning. I did more work for those 2 subjects than I did for any other semester. Not having direct access to lecturers can make study very tough.

It is true that there are a lot of useless online/distance degrees, however, you have to examine each one individually. This goes for both the degree and the university. For example, my friend's wife did a fulltime MA (International Relations) at a reputable university. She did less work in the entire degree than I did in a single subject. As I recall, she had no exams at all.

One problem with MBAs is that they no longer guarantee a big return. They are so common now that there is no advantage in having one. However, you need to have one to keep up with the next bloke. Last year, I read that you need to wait at least 5 years before you see any real benefit.

My personal opinion is that the name value of the school depends upon what you want to do with the degree. Unless you have attended Harvard or are applying for a PhD, the university name won't mean much at postgrad level.

The funny thing with education is that those with it overrate it and those without it disregard it.