Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marlow]

So, is it worth coming to Korea for a year or so if you are Canadian? For personal reasons I'm stuck here for the medium term, but if I were in Canada with no family ties and looking for something to do, I would totally not bother coming to Korea.

First, it's likely you'll get slammed for Canadian income tax if you only come for a year.

Second, the exchange rate sucks. Basically it's never been so bad since January 1998.

Third, there is the fact that wages have basically been stagnant for about five years, while many everyday prices have gone up about 20% in the same time.

Fourth, and least annoying, there are the added regulations involved in coming here.

Honestly, if it weren't for my family and the need to think about shit before just cutting loose, I'd be gone and never be back until salaries go up to 3.5M and the exchange goes to about 500 won per dollar.

[blaseblasphemener]

agreed. if you're going overseas for a year, Korea would be one of my last choices. Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, all would be more interesting, better weather, and more foreigner friendly, not to mention easier regs.

Korea is on the decline, I would say. Good still if you have an F2 though.

[Draz]

[bogey666]

[ajgeddes]

I voted Yes. Not everybody is paying off loans.

[earthbound14]

low wage, no recognition from either Koreans or Canadians (doesn't look good on your resume), lower over all standard of living (sometimes I get so sick of paying so much for such a crappy apartment when I could be putting money into a really nice house back home), inhaling bad air 24/7, stupid laws that are rigidly enforced while really intelligent laws like running red lights are not enforced, poor representation in the media, poor treatment from Korean employers (which I find tough to handle, as I feel as if I was invited to help people in Korea and really let's face it having some newly modernized azz wipe telling me how things are really chafes my butt...) and on the flip side all the annoying westerners I meet who give us all a bad name by acting like they are god's gift to the world because they come from the most modern places on earth....

The only reason I'm here is for the experience of being somewhere new, travel and of course my future wife. In that respect I love being here and I don't actually plan on leaving terribly soon....despite the fact that this is really not the best situation in terms of money or equal treatment I still feel being in a new culture more rewarding, especially since my family will forever be entwined here. I just wish Koreans knew that and would start treating me a little more equally as someone who is willing to love Korea rather putting me in a situation where I like it but I put up with a lot.

[jajdude]

[kimchipig]

When I was first in Korea in 1994, I got one Canadian Dollar for W524. My base salary was W1.2m and I made another W800k in privates.

Today the rate is C$1=W1044. Salaries have not kept up even with inflation in Korea, let alone exchange rates.

The xenophobic nonsense and abuse I took in Korea was worth it when I was saving $3,000 a month and paid all my student loans in a year.

It sure would not be now.

[Draz]

[marlow]

[ds_fan]

muppets, if you think its not worth going to in the first place why the hell are you still here?

I fail to see everyones fuss about the e2, all it means is an extra month or so sorting out crap by mail, a possible interview- which happened before anyway, and a piss easy medical test which you can pass by not taking drugs for about a week before you arrive. Hardly like it makes much difference. Its not like a few extra sheets of paper filled out, 100 quid in expenses and a piss and blood test make much of a differnce when sorting out a visa for anywhere.

[marlow]

[Kimchieluver]

I picked yes. I think the economy will recover. The current exchange rate sucks, but it really only affects me on vacation time. If I was only coming here for a year or two, it might not be my first choice. As for the new regs, they aren't that much more of a hassle than other countries.

[kimchipig]

The Korean economy has been in the tank for the last ten years. It never recovered from the 1997 crash. Every attempt to do something for the economy there has been at best a short term fix that ended up doing more harm than good. For example, the great idea in 2000 of giving everybody and his dog a credit card. Worked good for a year or so.

Korea has some real systemic problems. First, it is constantly letting nationalism get into the way of making money. Look at the craziness over American beef that is going on now. Think that this doesn't affect the economy? Apologists well say, "well, it is not large" but Korea has been bleeding from a million little cuts for the last 10 years.

Second, Korea is losing market share to China in a big way. There is very little that can be made in Korea (using Japanese technology) that cannot be made in China (using Japanese Technology). China is making and exporting cars now. It is only a matter of time that Korea's export markets are overwhelmed by China.

As for the Won gaining to 700 on the Canadian dollar, dream on. The Canadian economy has excellent fundamentals such as low taxes and an excellent current account balance. We have oil and gas as well as pretty much anything else China needs for its economy.

It takes time to establish yourself wherever you are. You can't expect to make big money the day you get out of university. It is going to take ten years. You can't expect to have that dream home and car when you are 24 years old. By the time you are 35 there is a good chance you will have those things if you are willing to go where the jobs are and work hard. That place is not Nova Scotia. If you want to make money in Canada, try Saskatoon, Calgary or Vancouver. Companies will fall all over you offering you jobs if you have any kind of skill.

But if you have a MA in Medieval Studies, Korea is a good place I suppose.

[wylies99]

Canadians in Korea can get cheap Leafs jerseys so when the Leafs win the CUP ( ) they'll be the best dressed Leafs fan at the parade. Same goes for the Flames and the Canucks.



Like that'll ever happen.