Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mnhnhyouh]

I have sent my CV out to some recruiters and am getting bites, and phone calls home, but am still considering just going to Korea and looking for work when I hit the ground.

Is this a good idea?

How much money would be a solid amount to let me hunt around for a good contract?

h

[Ya-ta Boy]

It's not a bad idea.

I'd say you need something in the neighborhood of W1 million per month. (Most of us spend about 1/2 our salaries and that is about that amount.) You'd be staying in a goshiwon (cheap 'motel' for students), eating out every meal, taking public transportation and paying at internet cafes (PC bahngs). Even if you got a job right away, you'd still need money for the visa run and setting up an apartment/eating until the first payday...

I'd say W2 million minimum.

[VanIslander]

You could survive on 300,000 to 500,000 won DURING your first month once you have a job and apt.

But you should budget 500,000 won minimum for the visa run to Fukuoka, Japan. There is a great ferry + hotel (about 200,000 w) deal through Gangsan travel in Busan with so many others using it that almost daily other teachers are doing the same thing!! I've met others on both of my runs to said destination through said method.

Then there's the intercity buses which are cheap and local transit which is cheap and Internet access which is 1000 (a buck) an hour supercheap, and food stalls to live on for a week no prob cheap. These incidental searching and eating costs will run you about 20,000 won a day all together. Plus accommodation, which can range from that much up to 50,000 won a day, no need to ever pay more.

Hope that helps.

2 million won would give you some breathing room and you wouldn't have to worry about counting coins and you could even take some taxis, which helps one find a place when you know you're within a couple of blocks but can't quite find it.

3 million won is excessive and it means you can do everything first class or take a month looking for a job and fly to Japan, etc. But if you can, that would be nice.

[mnhnhyouh]

Thanks guys, I will have W3 mill, but hope not to spend it all

h

[inspector gadget]

that will be plenty of cash no worries..