Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MoneyMike]

Hey guys,

I'll be graduating with a BA in May and am planning on coming to S. Korea for a year or two to do some teaching. Spent half a year living in Tokyo a couples years back and had a blast, been looking to try life in another Asian country since I started my degree. I've been checking these forums pretty extensively and have found a ton of good information.

One question which I didn't notice anywhere else. I plan on coming down with a good friend of mine who wants to teach there as well. She's already got a BA and has been volunteering to get some ESL experience here, I'll be taking an ESL course before graduating. Is it realistic for us to put ourselves up as a package deal? Or should we just both look for work and try to come down at similar times? Also, with me being a guy and her a girl, if we do get on at the same school, are they likely to allow us to live together? There's nothing sexual between us, but I would much rather live with her than someone I do not know at all. I'm just not sure how they would look at such an arrangement, my general impression of S. Korea is that it is very conservative, but then again I've never actually been there so what do I know?

I've read that rather than putting you up some schools will give you an allowance for rent, would it be more realistic for us to both look for contracts which do that and then just try and find an apartment together?

Thanks for any advice!
Mike

[oskinny1]

Mike,

All that training won't be necessary in Korea, but it may give you a pay bump of 100,000 or so.

You will not be living with someone most likely, so don't worry about that (unless the job says so, then run away). As for you living with your friend, some may do, some may not. Some schools will try to put you both in a one room apartment (studio), some will give you a nice spacious place.

Decide what you both want to do first. Do you want to live together? Then tell the recruiter that and accept nothing else. If you don't mind working different jobs but in the same area, that could be good as well.

If you take the last route, be sure to know which hours you both will work (no use going with each other if you are working mornings and she is working nights) and exactly where you will be in whichever city you choose. Living on the opposite sides of Seoul or Busan can really suck.

[MoneyMike]

Thanks for the thoughts skinny!

I had thought about taking an ESL course more for a bit of introduction in to how to actually teach a language to someone I don't share a language with. I know its something I'm likely to get a bit of direction from from the school I end up with, but this being my first ESL experience makes me a little hesitant to jump straight in without getting my feet wet somewhat.

[Hyeon Een]

Just tell them she's your sister then everything will be fine.

It's not actually too dishonest either because Koreans call other people "brother" and "sister" when speaking Korean all the time. (And sometimes when they speak English).

If you're different colours they might not believe you though.

[MoneyMike]

Hahaha, yeah we're both pasty white so I guess that's an option too. She'd suggested telling them we're engaged or something like that, but I don't want to have to maintain a deception like that for a whole year.

"Uhhh, Mike, don't you think your fiance will mind you hitting on that lady?"

Hahaha

[Otherside]

Best is probably to come as a "package deal". Tell your recruiter that you are cousins or what not and try get 2 jobs close to eachother, with housing in the same complex. For your situation, I'd recommend that 2 single apartments are better than 1 bigger place, for the following reasons:

1. Some schools try and skimp on couples housing, so you might find yourself living in a place designed for 1, or marginally bigger.
2. A lot of the couple housing has just 1 bedroom, with a lounge kitchen area. I doubt you'd want to be sharing a bed(room) with her.
3. You wouldn't want to bring a girl home with her there; apartments are generally quite small..and could be a bit awkward - the reverse applies too.
4. Finally, it's possible you guys may have a blowout. Nothing worse than living and working with someone you cant stand. This compounds further as your housing is linked to the job meaning 1 of you can't just move out etc if things turn rough.

Having 2 apartments on the same floor or building provide 90% of the benefits of living together, yet save you most of the hassles and potential pitfalls. Good luck.