Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jurassic82]

I wanted to say thank you to all of you out there who complained about Korea and said the hell with it and went home. I have heard so many people complain on this board about the new regulations and said it just wasn't worth it to stay. I don't know about the rest of you that are out there looking for work in Korea but I can say for myself that pay scales have definitley gone up for those of us that are willing to jump through the hoops at immigration. I have had no problem as of yet negotiating pay with school and it seems like a newbe could request 2.3mil and more and likely get it now with the shortage.

I do agree that these regulations are a pain in the behind and the inconsistancies of immigration can be extremely annoying. Many of us tend to forget that regardless of all these hoops we have to do to get a VISA it is still worth it coming here. So many people acted like once March 15 rolled around and the new VISA regualtions came into effect it was going to be like the apocolypse for all us. Again I do agree that getting all these documents (Criminal Check, Apostille, Health Check, etc...) is annoying but I can't say I disagree with all of it. Being in Korea for two years now I can say I have worked will some real winners that had no business being around children or teaching. I have known many that came here running from problems back home. In my two years I have had one coworker let go because he showed up to work hungover so much that he was shaking holding a marker. I have known two people that have been deported for drugs and have heard countless other stories. I think these background check are important and I have to say I am constantly annoyed at how we are instantly judged by a lot of koreans because of these BS documentries they show on TV with English teachers getting drunk in bars and fratenising with Korean women as if Korean men aren't doing the same. Maybe they should do a documentry of them going to the Anma after work with coworkers. We have all been instanlty judged as lazy and arrogant even though these documentries only represent a small fraction of the exapt community in Korea. Hopefully these new regulations will make many of us look more legit.

People say that this criminal check is here to weed out a lot of us. As far as I have seen I haven't heard many stories of a person getting denied a VISA because of a minor infraction back home like a noise violation, bar fight, underage drinking, traffic accidents..... I have had friends that have had similar violations like these and have had no problem getting their VISA's regardless of the new regulations. TO all of those out there who have no more patience and aren't enjoying your stay in the land of the morning calm then go home and I wish you the best of luck. To the rest of you out there that are thinking of coming to Korea it is still worth it but do your research. There are many bad schools out there but they can be avoided. There is a lot of good advice on this board if you fish through a lot of the garbage that is posted. Best of luck to all of you out there

[sadsac]

Korea is not a place to earn reasonable money any more, primarily due to the absolutely appalling exchange rates. The reality is that 7 years ago we were earning more money than we are today. Leaving is good.

[jadarite]

Leave and go where? Do what?

[Bibbitybop]

No one disagrees with background checks for teachers. Personally, I disagree with AIDS tests and drug tests (at least for drugs used before someone came to Korea), but those are easy to pass for most of us. They should also be implemented for Korean teachers, but that's another story. The problem is the process Korea wants people to get these, esp. the CBC, with the apostilles, notarizations, etc. The even bigger problem is that first time E-2 holders and anyone with any kind of criminal record, no matter how small, must return to their home country for an "interview" with the Korean Consulate. This is worthless interview and keeps global EFL teachers from coming to Korea as well as teachers in the home country due to the the distance between Korean Consulates and their home.

The more qualified teachers in Korea, in public schools and universities, are not currently getting the pay raises of hogwan teachers and I know many EFL veterans who are leaving Korea for other countries.

I personally happy with my situation and job in Korea, but for those on the border between happiness and headache, Korea is driving good teachers away. They are now even inviting students with no degree to come teach here to fill the void.

[Gamecock]

[Tobias]

Many will complain and leave, but rest assured they'll be back...sooner or later. Let 'em go to Thailand and teach for 900 bones a month teaching 80 students per class in a room with no a/c. They'll be back. Enjoy those "higher" salaries while you can.

[sojourner1]

It's still worth it, you just have to find a good job that is good to you. Too bad it's difficult to change jobs due to immigration visa laws when you do find yourself in a job you wish you hadn't taken. I think I did fine this time around to my big relief.

[DongtanTony]

[gwhitey09]

Sojourner, did you eat that catfish yet?
Did you catch that thing?
I am intrigued.

[bassexpander]

I got 2.2 as a newbie seven years ago.

There were no degree checks back then.

The OP's post doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[esglumac]

Youre right, OP
Most people in Korea ( including myself) have not learned from thier past mistakes.
I don't know why anyone would choose to live in a homogenous society , espcially long-term unless you had no other choice...or your family life and finicias were so messed up...
Personally, it sounds really depressing and there are parts of the world that are much better then Korea.

[KoreanAmbition]

It all depends on how much you earn each year.

When you make a lot of extra money, it's easier to tolerate the things you don't like.