Korean Job Discussion Forums

demi · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Location: London

Why can't I post anything in Jap. forums? I wanna ask some questions as I might be moving out there. Does it require a separate registration or something? I tried to register in there but obviously I can't because my e-mail add. is recognized already.

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

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Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

I lived in Fukuoka for 6 years so if I could be of help, just ask...

demi · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Location: London

Thanks for the feedback andrew and dev.

I'm kinda fed up with Korea. The narionalism. The scenery(it's not a very beautiful country). But I can't help thinking that Japan might be very similar. I have to get a new job set up pretty fast.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

cangel · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: Jeonju, S. Korea

Korea and Japan and night and day. Not even comparable in my opinion. I vastly prefer Japan to Korea in many respects but Korea does have its little charms. The Koreans are much more eager to attempt English is one thing that really stands out. However, the geography is better in Japan, the people more hospitable and quieter. You don't get the nationalism you get here but on occasion you do get the pro-emperor nationalists in their black RVs and loudspeakers. The big thing that brought me to Korea was the language market sucks in Japan and hasn't changed in 15 years. In fact, it's pretty much in decline. If you have any specific questions, PM me.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

blynch · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: UCLA

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Further to Andrew:

7 ) The tax rate in Japan is around 11% for foreign esl teachers, last time I looked. This compares with 2-3 % in Korea. (0% for US teachers 1st year!)

8 ) Cost of living in Korea is roughly 1/2 that of Japan. This has already been alluded to in a subsequent post.

I visited Japan last August, & was impressed with how clean & spotless it was. I had problems re-adjusting to left hand drive (Australia is left hand drive like Japan) after living in Korea (right hand drive) for 3.5 months. Oddly enough, I had no problems adjusting from left to right hand drive going from Japan to Busan in Korea.

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

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Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat · Joined: 01 Apr 2007

Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat · Joined: 01 Apr 2007

I like both, but for me the edge goes to Japan. I find all that Korean animosity fairly annoying actually, and I'm convinced it mostly just amounts to jealousy. Korea's not bad, but at the end of the day, in a lot of ways it only wishes it could be Japan. However, (as other posters already mentioned) Korea is generally still better for making money teaching English.

Both places can be a lot of fun, but personally I prefer Japan overall, and am planning to go back there in the near future. I know people who have gone the opposite way and swear by Korea. It really just depends on the person.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

I agree with Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat.

Generally, most Koreans hate Japan as a country, although they may have individual Japanese friends. Japan ruled Korea with an iron fist for 35 years, assassinated the Korean royal family, banned teaching of Hangul in schools, forced Korean women into sexual slavery, etc etc.

If Blynch needs 1st hand proof of Japanese atrocities to Korea, look no further than Tapgol (Pagoda) Park in Seoul, where the Japanese reputedly massacred around 7,500 Korean independence protestors on March 1st, 1919. Koreans have long memories!

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Koreans did sexual slavery too, in Vietnam: http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/?catid=3&newsid=13820