Korean Job Discussion Forums

stvjeff · Joined: 07 Mar 2008

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and didn't find any threads that addressed my question.

I will be leaving the US to attend graduate school in korea next year and wanted to know if it was possible to teach part-time while I'm there to help pay for tuition/rent/living expenses.

I'll be able to teach from the afternoons thorugh evenings, but wanted to know if there generally positions for this schedule. Also, will I have trouble with Visa issues?

I appreciate any insight and thank you in advance.

Steve

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

I'm no expert, but a student visa and a teaching visa are very different. Don't expect to teach legally, but do expect to pull in some good money doing privates with students at your university as long as no one rats you out.

But that's illegal, so nevermind.

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

We discussed this about two days ago, if you want to search it. One immigration official did a Q+A online and said that a student can hold jobs after 1 year and it must be related to their studies (then listed lawn mowing). Other people have told me 6 months. Other sites have said no working at all. The ones that said you were allowed to work after a certain period of time still required permission from immigration.

So, there is no possible way to plan ahead. Whatever the law is, it is not enforced. The de facto rule is "You're allowed to do whatever an immigration official says you can do if you're lucky." Most Eastern countries do not have the same respect for rule of law as Western countries (unless you think Singapore and Hong Kong are Eastern).

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

In my city, they enforce the six month rule. Or at least, they give permission for students to work after six months.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Full-time students are allowed to teach privates legally, however.

stvjeff · Joined: 07 Mar 2008

Thanks for the reply bassexpander. Can you please point me to a resource where I can read more on teaching private legally?

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

If you are in Korea, you can call immigration's help line at 02-2650-6223. That's the best info. I can give you.

stvjeff · Joined: 07 Mar 2008

Thanks! I'll give them a call.

TDR · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Location: Busan

Whoa, I don't know about this six month thing but I'd love to see that Q&A if anyone has a link. Lawn-mowing? Who in the heck has a lawn to mow in this country?

I have three friends who are currently doing their MBA's at Sejong Uni in Seoul and all three are teaching full time. The program is nights and weekends. Two are with SMOE and the other teaches at a college outside of Seoul.

I am going to see them this weekend, so I will enquire about exactly what visa they are on and if they had to jump through any special hoops in order to do both.

-TDR.