Korean Job Discussion Forums

[butter808fly]

Im a big gurl... and was quite worried that Id be fired for being fat in Korea! (as ive actually read this happening)... but I finally decided Id better be honest with my pictures and I just told them 'im overweight, is that a problem with you?' Ive been told that the kids will tease me, the kids might grab my breasts (DD) and the Koreans will stare. Ive read that Koreans see fat as someone who is lazy and doesnt work hard. The place Im going to go work at (yay, leave end of July!) kind of hinted that I might be quite tired working all day, after I told them I was overweight. I just assured her that Im a very hard worker and all was well.

Im so glad to hear there are other heavy ppl in Korea! Im not 'proud' of my weight and I hope to lose the rest of it while eating all that fish, veggies, and rice...

[The Man known as The Man]

[rapier]

So from this thread I can only draw the following conclusions:

1) Most fat people are Americans.
2) Many of them can't get jobs back home, so decide to resort to esl as an easy option.
3) Most of them land up in korea, because its an even easier option.
4) They have formed their own ghetto in Taegu where they celebrate their over-weightness.


How about getting to the gym and losing a few pounds?

[beast]

Dude,
You'll have a great time here! You sound like you have the right personality and sense of humor to do just fine. At the beginning you won't even understand what they are saying about you so it won't get to you too much anyway. The weight will probably really melt off quickly too as some other posters pointed out. In fact some people may even be in awe of you and won't mess with you when you go out. I'm big too, not fat, but I am six foot two and weigh about 250lbs now. I'm a bodybuilding freak and have only 5% body fat, but I still get called "teje" (pig) sometimes by the kids. Hope you come, have a blast and enjoy your year!!

[Big Guy]

> 1) Most fat people are Americans.
I'm Canadian.

> 2) Many of them can't get jobs back home, so decide to resort to esl as an easy option.
I have a job as a Computer Engineer making three times what I will in Korea.

> 3) Most of them land up in korea, because its an even easier option.
I am 100% going for the experience. I don't need the money or the job. I love working with children and to me it is a great break in my life before I start up the corporate grind again.

> How about getting to the gym and losing a few pounds?
Finally a point I can agree with. I'm working on it, slowly but surely as they say. Years working infront of a computer combined with poor eating habits apparently is not good for the waistline. Hopefully the little rugrats in Korea run me ragged.

I'm not proud of my weight, but I'm not going to run and hide about it either. I will work it off, but in the meantime I wanted to know how hard it would be for me to get a job in Korea with it. I have never had a problem getting a job in Canada with my weight, at least for engineering oriented jobs the employers don't seem to consider it an issue. If people want to poke fun of me I'm fine with that. Heck I deserve it for letting it get this bad, the redicule will just be more motiviation for me to stick to a strict schedule of diet and exercise. I just read that there is a rugby team in Daegu and if anything will whip me back into shape it will be rugby (played it for 13 years).

Feel free to make fun of my weight all you want, but don't make assumptions about all fat people, that we just run to Korea because we can't get a job.

[PECisDplace2B]

Don't worry about the weight, but I would ditch the beard. Once you get settled here you can grow it back.

[marista99]

Hmm...I'm fat and I have a job in the US. I guess I must be one of the lucky few. Although I know lots of fat Americans with jobs, and none of them are considering "running away" to Korea or any other country to teach ESL.

[Grotto]

[Alias]

Big Guy,

You will have no problem getting a gym membership. Just becareful in the locker room. The Korean men like to be frisky.

[marista99]

On a slightly different topic...how much does a Korean gym membership cost?

[Alias]

[Alias]

[jajdude]

I guess if you are happy and secure with yourself it shouldn't matter.

Heard on "Arirang" TV about some silly poll recently that said around 60% of Koreans are concerned with their weight! Unbelievable as it seems only maybe 6% are overweight (mostly guys over 40 I think) and more than that, maybe more than 10% ....?..... are underweight.

I know this will not be appreciated by some, but I think you are coming to a nation of very insecure people. As such they will react through that insecurity. Of course secure people do not act like so many Koreans do. That is why many Koreans have little class.

Yes, I know, lots of them are great and cool and all.....

[Falstaff]

Yes, you can get a job in Korea as an overweight person. I know, I just have. Be up front with your employers. I found that some were very interested in me until they saw a picture, and all of a sudden the position was filled, or the teacher I was supposed to replace decided to renew, or whatever. I found a job I was happy to accept, and I'm heading over in about a month.

For those who are curious about numbers, I'm 5'9" and am about 330 and have taught for 5 years in the American public school system. Having a thick skin is important here, too.

And for the self-righteous arseholes who think they have the answer to everyone else's problems, obesity is becoming one of the largest worldwide problems, not just America. As for me, I tried to lose weight everyway known to man for the past 10 years. Dieting, exercise, everything. It wasn't until I had a full physical with an extensive blood panel that I found the problem--faulty thyroid. Anyone who is trying to lose weight should have a physical with a full metabolic screen. You'd be amazed at what you might find. I'm at 330 now, that's down from 400 about a year ago.

Rapier, yes I am American. I had a good job here, but am going to Korea to escape the paperwork and testing nightmare that is American education. Anyone who thinks teaching is easy is either a) horribly misguided, or b) not teaching well. As for Daegu, can't help you there as I'll be near Seoul. But maybe I will go to Daegu one weekend and belly-up with my portly brethren. After all, I'd rather hang out with people who are happy with who and where they are then those who are courageous enough to belittle others on an internet message board.

[marista99]