Korean Job Discussion Forums

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Owning a hagwon certainly isnt a license to print money. Govt regs set caps on tuition & enrollment.

Died By Bear · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:32 am Post subject:

Teaching in Korea long term turns a more than average percentage of men into alcoholics. It's so much fun, but on the other hand - bad for your body.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 4:57 am Post subject:

Lots of options...

Teach and network. This can lead to to better paying positions with lower hours (if you have the qualifications) but also open doors to things like consulting, editing...

You can also consider starting a business (esp if you get a F-visa) and earning a living from that.

Korea can be expensive but it also can be a good place to save. With a family it becomes harder because education can cost you a lot in K-land.

Can you work and retire debt free by your early 60s? Sure you can.

Can you start in Korea and branch out to other places as you gain experience? Indeed you can.

It will really depend on your qualifications...

Are you a certified teacher?

That boosts your "employability" and your income potential.

Do you have degrees in a related field (TEFL-ESL related), esp a MA?

That can boost your job potential as well as you earning potential.

Did you or will you learn Korean?

That can be a huge advantage in Korea if you do intend on staying there long term.

Basically, as Ttom said you will need to network, attend workshops and conferences. I would add that you absolutely need to upgrade your qualifications as time goes by as that keeps you ahead of the curve.

Lots of people (some on here) have done exceedingly well in Korea so it can be done.

Feel free to pm me if you want to discuss this further and good luck. I do understand your move or your intention to move very well. A friend of mine who was in Korea years ago (he left in 2002ish) is going back this year. Job market changed on him and his family in Canada and he will be out of work soon.

Anyway, best of luck.

Zulethe · Joined: 04 Jul 2008

OP, I'll give you my two cents. Mind you, I'm a devout existentialist.

I'm in a similar situation save the lack of money.

At the end of your life when you're sitting on your death bed, which decision will have meaning for you?

Will you be financially well off but regretting the decision not to return to Korea?

Or will you be broke, beat down, but content knowing that you chose the path that you wanted? (worst case scenario not necessarily saying you have to be broke or beat down).

When you gravitate towards something there is usually a reason.

I'm going to finish my MSW this spring and then it's back overseas.

happiness · Joined: 04 Sep 2010

I have no debt, i have a roth, and its possible ill reach a million by 60.
ive done my damndest to avoid any debt. i think thats the key..
but even then, i know ill never retire. id be bored to death.

who retires nowadays, we have tons more free time than our parents did.

No_hite_pls · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 5:42 pm Post subject:

swashbuckler · Joined: 20 Nov 2010

No_hite_pls · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 10:26 pm Post subject:

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

Well, I'm not a financial planner, but I would say you should have financial goals. You should have an emergency fund. That could be as little as 2 months worth of salary in savings. Preferably, it should be about 3 months worth of savings. Pay more than the minimum on your debt. Once you've built up your emergency fund, keep on saving but much less and focus on paying off your debt. If you want, start investing a little money to where you're investing a little each month. That could be as little as $150 dollars a month. Don't wait until you've paid everything off before investing.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 5:07 am Post subject:

silkhighway · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Location: Canada

silkhighway · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Location: Canada

One more thing..things like "learning Korean" or "upgrading qualifications" should not be factored in your decision, because they are based on huge assumptions that you will have the time, resources, and natural inclination to do those things. Especially if you have been in Korea a few years before and didn't do it then. You should assume that any upgrading that happens will at best, keep up with where you are now employability-wise.

Zulethe · Joined: 04 Jul 2008

People keep harping on debt...who cares? Does it really affect your mind if you'er 1 dollar or one million dollars in debt?

Debt is a social construct that our society has taught us to worry about.

Really think about it...would your life really change that much if you had no debt?

Only if you let it.

So you spend 30 years to pay off your debt and then die. Or you live your life with debt and enjoy yourself to the end.

I feel exactly the same now that I have significant savings than when I was broke...to be totally honest I had less stress when I was broke...having money is what stresses me out.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 1:37 pm Post subject: