Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vallillo]

Would you live in Korea until you retire and for your retirement?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from single people and/or those who are not married to Korean Nationals.

Why would you or wouldn't you? What do you like about Korea which made you say yes!

Thanks

[Steelrails]

Why not? If I make it that long I can't complain. I'll take being able to be alive that long and still able to function and contribute to society and not be picky about where I'm living. Seems fair enough.

[Juregen]

Korea is just not a good country for old people to live in.

[coralreefer_1]

I would spend much of my career with the US Dept. of Commerce (this is a hopeful career, not actually one that have developed yet) in Korea, though the whole time I would be sacking money away for a home back in the US, and a retirement home in Costa Rica. What I have to offer the Dept. of Commerce besides the typical education is the fact that I have lived here for such and such years and understand the language and culture..an understanding that will only increase with time and make me more and more valuable to them. For that simple reason, I would be willing to stay in Korea for many years so long as my pay grade with the government were increasing over the years as I brought more experience about the culture/language/business practices/understanding of Korean industries/ to the table.

Personally I don't find Korea to be that bad of a place until you get into areas such as land/business/home ownership. The laws do not seem to make it remotely easy for a foreigner to put roots down here without the help of some Korean who's name should also appear on the deed/title of the property. Of course it can be done, but who needs that much headache?

Property here seems WAY overpriced for what I could get for the same thing back home. For me to lay down 230,000 bucks for a 53 pyeong apartment in the middle of the city to deal with traffic, banging from upstairs or downstairs, etc..I could get a 4-5 bedroom house with a nice backyard, 2 car garage, etc etc..back home for the same money.

If I imagine myself as retired in Korea, it would seem like a lonely life. I cant imagine very many Koreans would have a foreign friend at that age where you actually felt there was a real friendship. For me, retirement would likely mean retirement from the day to day work I did, and move on into part-time consulting work from home/sailboat concerning my field.

As far as day to day life, after 5 years I cannot recall any negative experiences that are measurable. Of course i have had a few taxi drivers try to pull the wool over my eyes, but that kind of crap happens to Koreans as well. Otherwise, I have never been cussed out, harassed, spit on, or denied service or otherwise felt that I was denied anything that I wished to pursue. I must say Korea has treated me quite well over the years, though I understand some others many not have had the same experience. Some can roll with the punches better than others I guess, but for me, I truly enjoy the differences in culture, and quite frankly find the brash, somewhat crude and relaxed lifestyle I see here in Daegu very similar to the relaxed lifestyle that I came from in the southern part of the US. It has not been a HUGE transition from one to the other in many regards.

I find it refreshing that 3 grown men can sit like children on the sidewalk outside of the family mart in my neighborhood and enjoy their soju and each others company without worry about getting their clothes dirty or who will see them sitting on the ground and think they look like dirty animals. Something about this "simple" and yet complex society intrigues me.

By the way, I am not married to a Korean national.

[mc_jc]

I don't if I'd want to retire here- but it would be worthwhile to think about it. According to the pension scheme, you'd get a set amount of money after a certain age. By the time these payments kick in, if you are American, you could also collect Social Security as well. So, in essence, you'd be getting two pensions by the time you retire from work.
Also, the smart ones would be saving a small retirement nestegg also, which would help greatly if the payments are small.
But I don't think a person's retirement money would go far in Korea with the way prices keep on rising. I'd say retiring in the Philippines, Thailand, China or even Cambodia seems more reasonable.

[redaxe]

Definitely going somewhere less crowded, with better weather and nicer people.

[PRagic]

Well, OP, you're really asking two distinct questions: Will I be content to work in Korea UNITL I retire? Why not? Good job, great scheduling, lots of time off, and banking hand over fist. My wife is Korean and enjoys being here. She's not pushing for a move, nor am I at this point.

Would I retire here? Doubtful. Then again, we plan on retiring early, so we might actually do a few years of 'retirement' here. Who knows.

[nguyendtu02]

probably not. i'll probably miss my homes too much

[mattocmd]

But why would you want to retire here. Unless you have family here??? Go to Thailand and enjoy the low cost of living!

[English Matt]

No. Not in a million years. There are far nicer places to live. I guess there are some people who love the country and TEFL, however for those of us to whom Korea is not a good fit and have different aspirations I can only think that pure laziness would be the only motivating factor to stay....it's very easy (I would go so far as to say too easy) to get a job here and the money is good enough for a single person to live well on - that can provide quite a temptation for some and prevent them from moving on.

[backhand]

[ryoga013]

[Goku]

I'd like to retire in a stress free area.

It's too bali bali in Korea.

ALthough, frankly I love it here. So many good things here. But it's more of a younger persons market.

I'd like to live in some kind of remote village where everyone is friendly and kind. Maybe somewhere in the midwest USA? or possibly a place like italy or greece.

But Korea could be a nice place to retire. IF you have a korean family that isn't psychotically stressed out

[hugekebab]

[VanIslander]

a nice little place by the sea on the rural parts of the south coast and islands can set you back 200,000 won a month, no deposit

i know from experience

a retirement home in the country is affordable and beautiful and right up the alley of those who'd rather die than live in one of those old folks factories they call 'communities'