Korean Job Discussion Forums

Leper Messiah · Guest

I have a friend who worked in Korea about two years ago and he tells me that the only reason he stayed there for as long as he did was because his girlfriend was Korean. He said that he'd rather live on the street than go back. I'm considering going there myself to pay off those damned loans more quickly, but between what he says and what I've read here, it seems you're more likely to wind up screwed-over unless you become a complete brown-noser. Is it really this bad, or are the persepectives on this board skewed?

canuckistan · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:48 am Post subject:

It does take some getting used to at first, but no, it isn't as bad as some people make it out to be.
If you learn as much as you can about immigration/labour law/procedures here you can really minimize the silly stuff that unawares get hosed with at work. The rest is good friends and fun times!

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

It's not all shit and roses, but it is good. Like Canuckistan said, you have to learn a lot so you don't get completely hosed.

Come here if you want. Be prepared for bad things (only smart) and you might really like it.

Austin · Joined: 23 May 2003 Location: In the kitchen

If your only reason for entertaining the idea of coming to Korea is money, you may well regret stepping foot in this great nation. However, if you are able to gradually attain your single-minded goal, you may be able to overlook the nuances that make Korea a unique and amazing place. Unfortunately, many people that find themselves living here did not come for reasons that would have made their stay a more rewarding one, so the picture that you are left to decipher is unclear.

If anything, it is a journey inward, for no matter where you go, there you are! As such, you are the only one that will be able to answer your question.

Have you ever lived and traveled to other countries before? What did you learn from those experiences?

Austin

Butterfly · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Kuwait

Jsspiff · Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Location: New York

Hi, me and my friend Jen want to go to Pusan in Jan 2005 (she still has a year of college before we can go, hence why so far away) but we don't want to get, as Canuckistan said, hosed. So if any of you have advice, links to reputable sites, all of that, send it our way! Thanks!

John and Jen
Twisted Evil

Leper Messiah · Guest

Butterfly · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Kuwait

bjonothan · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Location: All over the place

What the others said pretty much has it in a nut shell. Before you come be prepared. Find out what can make your stay here an easier one. There are some things that I cannot get here that I miss from home such as spray on deodorant, so I packed heaps this time. I am the same as your friend. I have a woman here so I had to come back. Reading this forum and getting links to some other good sites is a good start. The money here isn't all that bad. For Kiwis, Canadians and Aussies we have taken a bit of a pay drop if you work out the exchange rates now. The money you can earn here will be easily enough to live on and save a good portion if you don't spend money like me. And remember, how many times do people say positive things as opposed to negative things about a place??? Good luck! It will probably only be for a year.....

Austin · Joined: 23 May 2003 Location: In the kitchen

Leper Messiah,

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Austin · Joined: 23 May 2003 Location: In the kitchen

Is there an echo in here?

Austin...

lol...the highest form of flattery, but the lowest form of intelligence!

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

If money is a motivation, I know lots of people that sock cash away here. IF you have a hard time adjusting to change, or a closed mind, stay home and flip burgers.

I've seen lots of people come over here ONLY for the money and the other aspects of Korea just grew on them.

How to not get screwed? Go with a bigname chain (not Wonderland) I haven't heard of many people getting screwed going with a well known school. Sure the money is usually less, but the security is there. Also do what most dumbasses don't do...RESEARCH RESEARCH and more RESEARCH. Don't be hasty to sign anything. There are craploads of jobs out there and recruiters/directors love to PUSH crap on ya. Think of it like buying a car, you wouldn't go out and buy the first thing you saw right? Wel the jobs are like that.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

re: "becoming a brown nose".
If making an effort to get along with everyone you work with, including your boss, rather than automatically seeing him as the enemy from day one is being a brown nose, then yes, it helps.
The western notion of workers vs. bosses will not help you here. I f you walk in on day one, seeing your boss as the spawn of Satan, make a lot of demands etc, of course he'll want to sc**ew you over.
Think positive. think "work with/for your boss, not against/under him" and you will often avoid the whole adversarial no-win scenario.
Of course, plenty of bosses are scumbags. But i've virtually always found that if you try to form some degree of friendly relationship with him, he will not sc**w you. Its the workers that piss him off that he'll do that to.