Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KlinkKlonk]

Hey,
I have searched for previous posts concerning piercings but failed to find the information I require so I hope that I can find help.

I have negotiated a new contract with my potential hagwon in Seoul. I asked for a dress code clause to be included in the hope that piercings wouldn't be mentioned, therefore, I can keep them in when I arrive. My intention is to wear suits or approproate attire. Not out of respect -I personally didn't care what my teacher's wore...usually the more "outlandish" the dress the more character they possessed -just so that I can experience that pathetic feeling of importance that smug suits I see a lot seem to harbour. You've gotta have empathy in this cruel world...

The hagwon seem to give into everything I ask for because they see my university degree as good advertising. Is it better to tell them I have piercings or try to *beep* them over with the contract?

I paid �40 for 2 piercings -scaffold & conch- they are kind of rare and I admit that I revel in them. I'm not sure I'd be willing to take them out.

During my search I encountered some -in my mind- ridiculous "only trash with sweaty stained vests and gangster low lives have tattoos and piercings." Sorry, I'm not from the hick south in the US. The fear of God isn't instilled within me. I don't dismiss someone and their unknown character because of how long their hair is in mm or how far off the ground their long, asian beard is.

"should you be going to Korea if you aren't willing to sacrifice something as superficial as surface piercings?"

I could do without these sentiments too.

The vast majority of people on this board seem incredibly helpful, friendly and insightful. Seriously, I've been checking this place for a while and from reading what other people have written I have learned so much I and am grateful.

I don't wanna open up some debate about wearing piercings or bein reluctant to take them out. Please, just what is the best way around this situation!

Thank you.

[frankly speaking]

You might have a problem but that depends only on the boss. Since none of us know which school or who the manager is, we have no way of giving advice of what he/she will do.

In my experience, most schools and Koreans prefer a clean cut look. Professional dress is nice but only a few schools require suit and tie. I am not sure where your piercing is. If it is through the middle of the nose that might not be accepted. If it is an ear piercing, tongue piercing, or small nostril piercing, those won't be much of a problem.

Students are the issue. If students don't like the way you look, they will constantly harrass you and possibly their parents will complain. If no one complains, no problem.

I had very long hair and I heard every joke there was but I never had a problem with management.

I do hope this helped a little. As I said, it all depends on exactly how extreme things look. A school I worked for hired this person that showed a very clean cut look in the photo. When he arrived, he was as Goth as it gets. He was fired immediately and was forced to repay his airplane ticket. If the can see the piercing in the photo, than don't worry, but if they dont' have any idea of what you look like, then you might have problems.

[sheba]

I have a tongue piercing and Ive had no problems. People are more curious about it than anything. I also have a tattoo, though its not visible. I had some university students who thought I might be in a gang back home, but they had no problem with me. My boss is fine about it too. I also have a friend here with a nose and tongue piercing, and its not a problem for her either.

That being said, some people will have a problem with it, it differs from school to school.

I think you should talk to the foreign teacher about piercings at the schools you apply to. If you go to Korea without asking about it, you could risk losing your job. If you use your contract to keep your job but theyre not happy with you, they might decide to make your life a living hell in the hopes you will quit instead. People have been fired or forced out for stupider reasons than having a piercing. Do you want to risk that when you could avoid it in the first place?

If you were willing to take your piercing out should the need arise then Id say dont even worry about it - find a job and sort it out once you get there. But seeing as youre not willing to do that, Its probably best to check before you go.

I didnt tell my school about my piercing, but I was willing to take it out if they asked (I didnt want to but I would have). They did say that the only reason its ok is because I was a foreigner - if I had been Korean it wouldnt be so simple.

[Young FRANKenstein]

Have you asked your employer HIS opinion about the piercings? You weren't planing on just springing this on him the first day of work, were you?

[polonius]

Just ask the bossman, not us. He will tell you his opinion. Some wont mind, others will. Depends from situation to situation.

[Bukowski]

I believe that this is a business matter. Will you hurt or help the business where you seek employment? The answer will dictate what happens to you.

Consider if you will that a man liked to wear lipstick, because it was rare and he "reveled" in it. If his students and colleagues were bothered by it and it resulted in students leaving the school and parents complaining, you can bet that he would be needing to find a new place of employment rather quickly.

Postulating about one's individual rights to wear piercings, lipstick, etc. is a mute point really. Wear what you want and accept the consequences or conform to the wishes of your employer and remain employed.

I think it is a private decision you need to make for yourself.

AC

[theatrelily]

Embarrassed to admit I had to google pics of the piercings you mentioned to know where they are before proceeding with my two cents....

They are ear piercings (more or less for the sake of simplicity here...) and I suspect they won't be a problem.

When you first started talking with this school did you have to submit a photo of yourself? Were the piercings in the photo?

If they were, then don't worry about them.

If they weren't, I would wait and not mention anything. When you meet your boss you can wait for his reaction and judge accordingly. If you (as a male) ask your Korean boss if it's ok to have the piercings, then based on the traditional idea that "man does not equal piercings" you may get a flat out negative response from him.

However, if you wait and let him see them in person first, then there will be the impression of the man and the degree to measure against the piercings and he may be more apt to let them slide.

That's my two cents worth....ok, maybe it's more like a nickle....

[Yu_Bum_suk]

While it would be an absolute no-no at my small town public school, if you're teaching young children at a hogwan in Seoul it shouldn't be much of a problem. If you're teaching adults or high school students at a cram academy it will.

Wearing suits, however, may be a real issue if you're working at a school that basically wants a mascot, not a real teacher.

[ttompatz]

[Hotpants]

I would also agree that it's not acceptable to simply turn up with 'scaffolding' and 'conch' whatever they may be without checking with your employer first.

While Westerners may not generally have a negative opinion about body piercings, people in other parts of the world may have a different viewpoint. As a rule, you do not see many people in Korea with body piercings. Earrings are about the limit - that includes men, too - although if men wear earrings, they are labelled as 'gay' here according to my students!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[bellum99]

If you can't change to fit in better while you are in Korea.....don't expect Korea to change for you. You may take heat for being different but it is your choice. The most important thing is to not blame Korea for not accepting your "uniqueness".... this isn't Kansas, Dorothy.

[poet13]

I dont' wear an earring at work. My ink is only visible in shorts a t-thirts. I tell the students who have seen my ink that I am mafia, or a gangster. I don't tell them I'm a biker, that's too close to home...lol..
Their eyes get big and they just nod.

[Unposter]

I had a student (at a university) who had piercings (I think there were three) over his eyebrows. He had gone to middle school in Indiana. His spoken English was darn near fluent but his writing and general grammar usage was less than desired. Anyway, he worked part-time at a major hakwon (don't remember which one) and he planned to work there full-time after he graduated. He liked it there. Supposedly, his boss loved him--piercings and all.

At least in Seoul, Koreans seem to be more and more open minded. Outside of Seoul, in my opinion, time goes back quickly.

I think it all depends on whether you can deliver the goods. If the students like you and business is good, I am sure no one will care. If they do not like you, well, you could be as clean cut as they come and they will find a way to get rid of you.

As for whether honesty is the best policy, here, again in my opinion, the market decides all.

[poet13]

ok, i'll post serious now.

When my co-workers saw my ink, they were concerned. I took the time to explain, and to their credit, they took the time to actually listen. My ink is important to me personally, and they understood that. I'm in a small agricultural city, so quite a bit more conservative than seoul. But I don't think it has changed their opinion of me either way....but yes, for real, I tell the middle school boys I'm a gangster or mafia like I'm dead serious. When an English teacher hears me say that, they usually have to turn away so the poor kid can't see their smile.