Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

I have been thinking about getting my MFA here in Asia and thought why not try Hongik. Has anyone ever done or known anyone that has did this?

[ajgeddes]

Are you fluent in Korean?

[chaz47]

[ajgeddes]

[chaz47]

[snowgoose]

My knowledge of this topic is, that Korean universities in general aren't rated that highly or get much recognition outside Korea. This would probably shock the hell out of many Koreans who esteem the top universities here, but even they aren't said to have the same kind of rep outside Korea as they do within Korea. I can't say about Hong-Ik since it's a design and arts school, but the academic level (the TEACHING/RESEARCH level, not what it takes to get INTO the uni) of most Korean universities is not that great. Maybe they know about all the plagiarizing, even by professors, and how easy it is to graduate. But Hong-Ik might be different, if it has a lot of famous artists who've made a mark internationally. Is that the case? Don't know. I think KAIST has a good rep for research and development though, I think. Real research, not with faked results like Dr. Hwang, the stem cell research guy.

Anyway, for Koreans applying to study overseas, do postgrad or exchange at universities in other countries, the Korean univ they went to doesn't mean much I heard, and they don't see a whole lot of difference between the provincial universities and the famous, big 3 - Yonsei, Korea, Seoul Univ. However, from what I've seen of students, there IS a lot of difference between the, I guess "intelligence" and sharpness of students who went to top Seoul universities, and students who went to universities outside Seoul.

[snowgoose]

Why get an MFA in Asia at all then? Why not go home and do it, where you know that the money you spent on doing it will have been spent on something that at least has recognition in your country? If an MFA froman institution here is not going to be seen as having much value, why not just self-study in Asia, meet other artists etc without being a formal fee-paying student, and save that money? You could always use that money and do an MFA when you get home, later.

[chaz47]

I'm hoping I can "sell" my experience here in Asia to a university in the US someday. I want to get a job at a nice little Liberal Arts college like the one I went to. If I can't do that, then I at least hope to be able to use the degree to get a university position in Hong Kong or maybe Japan after probably tacking on a CELTA. If anything I could probably come back here.

I currently work at a university now so I'm gaining experience as a lecturer. As far as artistic self-study goes... hmmm... I do it here and there but want to be immersed in it again with inspiration surrounding me.

I think Japan would be a better idea but I'm kind of betting the won won't significantly appreciate before I finally go.

[Lunar Groove Gardener]

Studying swimming in the desert.
I guess you'd learn a lot about what water isn't,
and from people who learnt about water in a similar way.

The foreign-born, advanced degree students that I've known here (two dozen) say NOTHING in praise of the programs for foreigners, the depth of what they are taught, the hierarchy of foreign vs Korean student treatment, nor the experience overall; though some of their profs are kind, many are not.
They get good grades to do grunt work and shut up, and wish they were elsewhere .

Assuming that learning is the fundamental goal, I don't see Korea making the list of countries for the study of anything, excepting the Korean language(perhaps).

Generally Korean students desperately seek their advanced degrees abroad if at all possible, period. Ask professors in the university where you teach where they studied, somewhere abroad will be the most common response.
(Interject your own oxymoron here)

In Italy, France, Spain...the language and culture may come more naturally, as well as the general approach to things being less tight-arsed, decapitating and dire. You might also find the odd English language student for spare change, bum study etc.
Just my skewered opinion, good luck.

[snowgoose]

Do you need to do an MFA at a university here to gain experience in Asia? I'd check it out with people back in the US, the ones who hire people before I spend money (since you seem worried about the won) on something that doesn't mean much more to them than just doing non-academic, non-graduate study or work here. I don't know, is doing an MFA really cheap in Korea? I suppose you can gamble it then. I wouldn't though. I've no real idea, but I'm going to guess that Japan might have more cred than Korea, as far as their universities go. I doubt that a degree from a Korean university will get you a job in Hong Kong. It might, if you're Korean, went to Yonsei or something, went in through the exam system which everybody knows is super tough (just as entrance exams in Taiwan, HK etc are too). But people know that foreigners can get in easily, just pay some bucks - well, that's the image I'm told it has. Korean companies aren't that keen on hiring foreigners who got degrees here for that reason. I asked a few big corporation employees I've met. They want the American or British or European universities, with good reps and "name" value.

Also, jobs in HK etc are competitive. They're interviewing people who went to Oxford or something like that. Korea just doesn't rate up against that.

Also, I've heard that some universities outside Korea, they don't rate working as a lecturer here that highly either. That's because university standards for hiring foreigners is considered low, and because they think that many Korean universities have rather weak programs, that lecturers aren't expected to do a lot etc. Basically, that the experience isn't that valuable, doesn't compare well to the US, Britain etc.

[Poemer]

You might be able to "sell" the experience you are getting in Asia right now, but selling a degree, especially anything in the area of fine arts, is probably going to be a tough one. If you are serious about getting an MFA anywhere, especially Korea, then you need to take a long, hard look at the faculty you will be studying with-- Do you admire their work? Are they active in their field? You also need to take a look at current students-- Are they producing work of a quality that will inspire you to do your best work? Art instruction is particularly rigid in Korea, same techniques and subjects repeated ad infinitum.

Korean universities are far from revered in most places outside Korea and I have not heard good things from the Koreans I know who have done postgraduate studies here in a variety of fields. I can only imagine what it would be like for a non-Korean.

Remember also, the arts are not particularly respected in Korea. Fine arts, along with foreign language study, are majors for silly girls to take while they search for their husband.