Korean Job Discussion Forums

BluEnglnd · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Location: Seoul, Korea

I am a 28 American English teacher in Seoul, Korea. I've been here for almost 3 years. I plan on in a year marrying my young Filipino gf and bringing her with me to Seoul Korea to settle down more permenantly as I teach in the Seoul public school system hopefully and have our family here. The US, is not where I want to settle down. By the way, she speaks English and has a bachelor's too, so hope she can find a job too. If anyone has been in a similar situation as me... could you tell me some advantages and disadvantages to longterm life in Korea for myself, my soon to be wife, or any kids we might have? And also, what initial things should I do now, or what should I make sure to do in the future to make settling down and planning for the future for us easier and better? Any advice is appreciated about longterm family living for a foreigner in Korea.

Atavistic · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:

First, see if you like it here before deciding you're going to start a family here. Really.

Second, your wife can not get an E2 teaching visa. However, if she is married to you, she should be able to get a spousal visa.

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

life is what you make of it.. korea can be a great place to live if its for you.
your wife can not get an e2 teaching visa.. BUT she can get a job teaching
certain hakwons are looking for philpina teachers due to lower wages..
but if you wish to start a family then I doubt this is a concern for you..
try to live in a suburb town! much better standard of famliy living.
if you move out towards Pyongteck there are alot of philipinos there..

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

Its gonna be tough. Basically you will be left to support your family on an E2's wage. Remember, as an E2 you are basically going to be unable to LEGALLY work more than one job. Your wife, being a Fillipina, will not be legally allowed to teach. That means one hagwon wage for an entire family. It also means little legal standing if the shit hits the fan and you are caught making money outside your job.

You could ofcourse live outside of Seoul where life isnt as expensive but then again on an E2 other issues arise. How do you own property? What about your kids? Do you know if your kids can get Korean nationality if they are born here? If they could you could maybe reverse angineer an F series visa for yourself and your spouse. Then life would be much easier.

yu suk mi · Joined: 15 Nov 2007

Why do you need 10 threads saying the same thing?