Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Fermentator75]

How much can one get bye (I can survive on bare bones) with bringing if I was waiting for a ticket reimbursement (and how long until you get repaid normally) or cash needed while waiting for your first paycheck if the flight was already covered? Any ballpark figures? Mahalo

[JasperTeach]

people are gonna hate on you on here, you actually have energy

[kinerry]

[Burndog]

I think that the post appears trollish because you haven't asked any questions, and you've made a list of generalisations. This appears to be a post designed to elicit negative responses...which is why it might appear trollish.

Good luck with it all OP, I hope that you have a good time teaching and browsing.

[Kevtron]

I'd say bring at least $1000. When I arrived my paycheck was just over a month away (it's all monthly paydays here if you didn't check your contract closely), and money goes fast your first few months. You may also not get reimbursed immediately.

Once you get your first paycheck you'll be fine.

[Chambertin]

500 USD if you live on the cheap and dont need to buy a couple necessities for the apartment.
Many of the simple items you are use to paying nothing for are more expensive here. Then again other items can be had cheaper.

However 1k USD is the best.
Do you have a major credit card? Not a bank card or debit card, a real international credit card. If so then just use that for any apartment purchases and the 500 USD will go far.

[stayfocused]

Yea 500 to 1000 USD. If things get real bad you can borrow money from your friendly coworkers until your first paycheck.

[furtakk]

just to jump in because i'll be leaving soon as well, did you guys exchange money beforehand or did you just wait until you arrived?

[thoreau]

[OnTheOtherSide]

I came in with 300 bucks and I made it. But just barely. I would say 400 is about the safe minimum.

A thousand? Maybe if you're a spoiled rich boy who doesn't know how to conserve money.

[Steelrails]

I did it on 100 dollars, no joke. Between school lunch and kim-bap naras, I was able to eek out that first week. I actually had 35 bux left over from it all. Just vizualize what you will NEED, come with that, and spend your money only on food and other necessities.

[Fermentator75]

Thanks peeps... I am feeling better about arriving with less flow and making a list of the bare necessities to bring with. Traveling ultra-light.

[egrog1717]

Came with 200k, and was given another 300k by SMOE (contract "resettlement allowance") 2 weeks in....

Just just juuuust made it through a month to my payday...

[Johnysuth]

[Captain Marlow]

you can survive on a little, but take into account the fact that your first month you will be asked by both korean & foreign coworkers to go for dinners and whatnot.... the first month is when you'll make an "impression" on everyone you'll be working with... while foreign coworkers may understand the "i'm skint" excuse, i'd hate to tell one of my korean coworkers that excuse...

500,000 won minimum would be a "comfortable" cushion, more would be grand... just find some cheap korean food that you like, skip breakfast, and save the bars/clubs til your first paycheque and then go crazy...

good luck