Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nlb65]

Hi,

I'm looking from some advice. I am considering doing an MBA in Business Administration while I am in Seoul. I have been here for two years and am considering on staying a fair bit longer. While I am here I would like to further my education.

I am looking for an MBA in business that is available to do part-time and also recognized in other countries. Are there any courses like that available in Seoul? Are there any MBA Business programs that are offered in partnership with western universities?

Any advice you have is appreciated.

[byunhosa]

Your choices are (a) to do a correspondence course at an international school, (b) an online MBA, or (c) one of the global MBAs at a Korean university. Obviously, each has its pros and cons.

I understand some of the more prominent European b-schools do offer correspondence courses (Manchester in the UK, for example). Some U.S. schools may as well. These degrees may have more brand equity in your home country than either (b) or (c), though you lose quite a bit from not interacting/networking with your classmates, which is where much of the value of an MBA originates.

If you plan to stay in Korea for some time, you might check out the global MBA programs at leading universities in Seoul, e.g. Korea University, Yonsei, and SNU. I believe they are eager to attract Westerners and may provide you with scholarship $.

You should search the archives for previous threads on this topic. Good luck!

[Imbroglio]

http://biz2.korea.ac.kr/academics/mba/career1.jsp?d1=3&d2=8&d3=1

[bucheon bum]

a big part of getting an mba is the connections you make. Obviously doing it online or via correspondence would negate that factor.

What is your background? Why are you interested in getting a MBA?

[bogey666]

[KoreanAmbition]

OP,

Can you provide a bit more information please?

First, is your undergrad in business?

Second, you have to ask yourself if you are doing the MBA for:
i) The knowledge
or
ii) The brand of the school


When you do your MBA make sure you get what you want out of it, because you can't go back and do it again.

And although I don't disagree with bogey's comments, I would like to say that an MBA is also what YOU make of it. You don't always need the top school's branding to achieve strong salaries, as long as you know your stuff and can sell yourself.

Your MBA will be worth a lot in 20 years if you can develop your career properly. Long-term gains can be worth more than the short-term sometimes, and that's why branding doesn't have to be as good if you can pull good knowledge out of the program that you want to use through the years.

If you aren't lazy and getting fired, then an MBA should at least put you into a high salary bracket down the road, which at the very worst, places you in good condition compared to most people.

[GoldMember]

A Korean MBA, let me guess what the curriculum is:

Wheel Chair Antics 101

Bribing Government Officials 202

Creating Illegal Slush funds 102

Price Gouging 201

Protectionism via high tarrifs 302

[DCJames]

[seoul101]

Utterly worthless? Care to elaborate?

Can someone who has studied one here comment on how it helped them afterwards? I'm also considering this possibility, perhaps the Sejong/Syracuse one.

[brento1138]

I've talked to a few ex-teachers here who've done their MBAs. They seem to be working very well-paying jobs and enjoying life here in Korea. Anyhow, do the MBA if you want to stay here in Korea. Remember, MBA done here in Korea = work here in Korea. Lots of jobs to be had, and the market is growing as Korea becomes more international...

[bogey666]

[KoreanAmbition]

If someone wants to know someone on these message boards that has recently completed an MBA in Korea, please PM and and I will pass the information along to that person for them to respond to you if they like.

(I don't want to give out names on a message board since it's not my place).


While I agree that an MBA from a Korean university is mainly beneficial for working in Korea, don't let people dissuade you if you have you the proper credentials outside of your degree.

If you have relevant work experience then an MBA could be just letters. However, a Korean MBA is definitely going to make life harder for selling your qualifications in the west (and moreso in Europe) unless of course you got straight A's, including that course in "wheelchair antics" and "bribing government officials".