Korean Job Discussion Forums

chi-chi · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Taiwan is too expensive, too.
Just how can the land of the mushroom cloud keep teachers, you ask? Because everywhere else is too expensive, that's why.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Taiwan is the best all round destination of the BIG 3.

Japan (Tokyo) is the best of the BIG 3 for money.

Taiwanese are friendlier towards foriegners than either the Koreans or Japanese and less up tight.

I found Koreans and Japanese to be overly up tight and stressed.

It would seem to me that teachers in Korea say that Korea is the 'best' place to TEFL and those in Taiwan say Taiwan is the best place to TEFL and those in Saudi Arabia say that they are in the 'best' place to TEFL.

All things considered - money, weather, teaching opportunities access to other Asian countries, relaxed attitude, I think Taipei, Taiwan is the best place to teach EFL.

I've taught in Korea, Japan, Thailand and Taiwan and going into my 7th year in EFL.

peppermint · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:27 am Post subject:

I think maybe Korea is a great place for someone starting out, who's not sure how they'll deal with the overseas experience. Because airfare and housing are paid, it's a pretty low risk experiment

dulouz · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Uranus

Reason to leave Korea....

(a) The Criminal Law System
Some Korean lawyers comment that one is presumed guilty unless you can prove your innocence! Thus the warning is clear - do not expect the same degree of rights you would enjoy under the western legal systems. Nevertheless, Korea has a Presumption of Innocence and the Prosecutor must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The major difference is that if you fight the case you do it before judges, for there is no jury system.

Once inside the Criminal Law System, you really need the assistance of lawyers. Costs are not cheap. Recently an expat teacher who was charged with issues of Internet pornography, ( and was reported in the daily papers ) and who pleaded Guilty at a very early stage of the proceedings had to pay his lawyer 5,000,000 Won for a Guilty Plea presentation. The Judge fined the teacher 5,000,000 but allowed the teacher to remain in Korea. Thus the transmission of one photo over the Internet [ not for profit ] cost the teacher 10,000,000 Won but avoided a jail sentence.

batman · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 4:46 am Post subject:

[quote="dulouz"]Reason to leave Korea....

(a) The Criminal Law System
Some Korean lawyers comment ...[quote]

But if you stay clear of criminal activities then this should not be a problem. Different country, different laws. No big deal.