Korean Job Discussion Forums

teachteach · Joined: 26 Mar 2008

I just got back from a little vacation. I go back every year and I tell you that nesteggs from Korea don't go very far back home. I had a meal at the wal-mart mcdonalds, did some clothes shopping, and got a new keyboard for the comp. Grand total 400 dollars. A little vacation back home can eat all your savings from Korea (a little exaggerated but you get my drift)
I don't think that salaries here keep pace with the economy of either country no more, and it's starting to feel more like Thailand where you can live relatively well in your host country but can't last too long outside it.
The ironic thing is that unless you're a tradesmen in Alberta, nobody's making a decent living anymore in Canada.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

That's one reason I left. The economy is built totally around oil right now, and if that industry suddenly becomes less profitable, the country will become a dustbowl.

Plus it was annoying me that people with no university education were making twice as much money as me up in Fort Mac.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

If you think that's bad try going out on Queen street west in Toronto. The yuppies have taken over and everyone expects to get tipped. It's called Gentrification. The bar where they filmed "The Last Pogo" The famous punk rock movie is asking over 20$ for a small pitcher of beer.

michael5799042 · Joined: 16 Jan 2008

I agree, but living well in Thailand is very different from living well in Korea.

brento1138 · Joined: 17 Nov 2004

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

Ying can back me up on this. There is nothing wrong with learning a useful trade. It's not just oil, but health care too. My cousins are pulling in big bucks looking after the elderly in British Columbia. They did two years of school and training instead of four in university. Not quite apples and oranges either. They also had to live on call for two years before they gained enough seniority in the union so they could work schedules that many people here would laugh at. They are set now though and have no regrets. Welding and mechanics pays well too.

Now, if you want to do those types of jobs, more power to you. It's a trade off. Whoever told you you would be making big bucks because of a Bachelors in anything was misinformed or lying.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

skconqueror · Joined: 31 Jul 2005

actually I find clothes MUCH cheaper in Canada then in Korea.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

teachteach · Joined: 26 Mar 2008

Don't forget that is was wal-mart, the cheapest you can get for clothes. In retrospect I should have waited to buy them back here.

In regards to the Bachelors vs skills, I think we all had the experience in high school where it was ingrained in us that only winners go to university while underachievers or people going nowhere in life go to college. I think we all beleived that the Bachelors magically opens doors while those who learned a trade won't have any success.

I think it has a lot to do with the post and pre 9/11 things too. When I started Uni in 1998, our schools newsletters were full off all these great jobs with the government and large corporations in Toronto. But when I visited the school in 2006, the same newsletter was full of 'rewarding careers at call centers' and the like.