Korean Job Discussion Forums

[popper1976]

I was adopted from Korea when I was a baby to a family in the U.S. Now I'm trying to go back to Seoul and "find my roots". I've had mixed reactions from recruiters and people I've talked to about teaching ESL at a school and being Korean and not white, even though I'm a native English speaker. Anyone out there with similar experiences?

Also, are there ANY other jobs out there besides teaching ESL? I have a lot of experience teaching ESL here, but am also looking for other cool job opportunities in Korea and haven't found any when looking on the internet.

[Thomas]

There are quite a few places that hire Kyopos and I hear some of the jobs are fine. Working in EPIK, I saw many Kyopos in the program, many of them "looking for their roots". Some had a great time and others didn't... those that didn't usually found that many Koreans wanted them to be "perfectly Korean" in language and culture but also capable of teaching perfect English. For some this was difficult. There are probably some people here who can explain that a bit better. I think regardless of a good or bad experience, if I were in your situation, I would be looking to go to Korea and see what ther is there (and hey, I really enjoyed Korea).

The only other consideration I would offer if if you are male to be careful... you may be eligible for the draft.
Good luck.

[Derrek]

I encourage you to come here and give it a try. The following I will say is almost all negative, but just so you know (there are positives too, of course)...

I'm not Gyopo, but i've been in Korea for over 1 1/2 years, and have some grasp on parts of the culture by now. If/when you come, please keep an open mind to the fact that you will likely not be received as a brother -- rather, you will endure more hardship, unless you speak excellent Korean. Koreans will treat you like a foreigner, while at the same time, subjecting you to the negatives of being "Korean". It's not in every situation, but believe me -- you WILL encounter it.

When I discuss the issue of Gyopos with my Korean students, they are almost Universally -- UNIVERSALLY of the opinion that Gyopos "think they are better", "stuck-up", etc. Koreans are (pardon the expression) a little like lemmings. They stick together on fashion, as well as other things. It's almost as if they lack originality, or are, on a whole, less able to be an individual. Likely, you will not "follow the crowd" in everything from dress style to how you treat different coworkers and the boss. This can alienate you a bit to some. Even your Western body language will be cause to stereotype you -- they use less hand jestures, etc. They won't offer you the same slack they would offer a foreigner of another color.

On the subject of finding your parents. If it is possible for you to find your birth-parents, there is no doubt you have wondered if you may not be welcome, etc. It is possible. Personally, I can't see how a mother or father could not "wonder what happened" to their child, even if they abandoned them. Then again, some people are weird -- especially Koreans.

On a more positive note, however, it is also true that when a Korean husband/wife divorce, the father often gets the kids before the mother (maybe the mother only gets them if the father doesn't want them?). Imagine being a mother and getting a divorce. You haven't had a job. Your society looks down on you for being divorced, or a single mom. Your now ex-husband didn't want the kids, and you can't afford them. No one in your Korean family wants to spend their money to care for them (yes, this is common) -- so they go up for adoption.

This could have been your situation, and I have to think that in any situation, at least one of the parents would have some level of interest in what happened to their child!

In any case -- go for it. Just don't build it all up too much in your mind, and don't expect too much. Then you won't be disappointed in the outcome if it's bad.

I will leave you with one rare, yet really touching story...

I read online about a Gyopo who came to Korea and found her birth parents. They were actually still married, and ecstatic that the child had found them. Apparently, the father had gone to jail for something, and had no support family to help the mother, who was then extremely poor. She had to give their daughter up for adoption. It was very touching to read about the parents meeting their daughter again, and the interpreter who helped them.

[Zyzyfer]

One of my roommates at my last job was an adopted Korean who was raised in Colorado. It's not as easy to find a job as your average whitey over here, but it's definitely not impossible. The guy was on the same quest as you, trying to find his roots.

[Eazy_E]

I have a kyopo friend whom I see all the time. She was born in Korea and adopted in the US at an early age. As far as I know, she's not very interested in finding her birth parents or even in getting back to her roots. She also does not speak Korean. She's an EFL teacher and had a tough time finding a job, but eventually did because she agreed to be paid a bit less (about on par with a Korean English teacher... I don't know exactly how much). I don't know whether she could have found a job at the same pay rate as the foreign teacher positions. You'll have to find that out for yourself.

Obviously looking like a Korean and being a foreigner can have some pitfalls. People talk to her at light speed in Korean and expect her to understand. They usually know better than to talk to me because I look like a foreigner. Most people in this area simply have trouble understanding her situation: looking Korean but being a foreigner.

Despite all the difficulties, she seems to enjoy herself here because she keeps her sense of humour about all the misunderstandings. She's going to stay for at least another year.

[Derrek]

[dulcineadeltoboso]

Please don't think you have to settle for a salary and working conditions similar to that of a Korean teacher. I was born in Korea and adopted as a baby, too, and all my offers were for foreign teacher's wages and hours. You have to apply to a lot more schools, but you can do it. PM me if you have any questions.

[jurassic5]

hello. just wanted to give my 2 cents....

i am a korean adoptee who is currently working at a hagwon in the apku/shinsa area of seoul and getting paid the same as the other non-asian looking teachers at the school. when i first began my job hunt, a bunch of schools rejected me because of looking Korean. (I didn't really care, since I didn't want to work for schools that had this kind of prejudice). But, after a month or two of contacting schools, I found one that did not care what race I was and what I looked liked etc. Although it took a little longer than I expected, it can be done.

Good luck and check out http://www.goal.or.kr/ for some info on schools that hire adoptees etc.

[cohke666]

Don't listen to Jurassic, I'm white and they aren't lookin to hire me. I tried to find some trabajo but it must be me, but I think the trend is toward korean-americans these days. If you wanna do something cool, go to Yonsei, either KLI (korea language institute) or the international program. Best place to find Korea is Shinchon.

[dulcineadeltoboso]

sorry, technical difficulties.

[Corky]

Jobs other than teaching: TV shows (especially Arirang tv), newspaper reporter, editor, tour guide maybe. Any other ideas? Best of luck!