Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dgl]

How much money did you/are you setting aside to come to work in Korea? I'm planning on coming next year and am currently working out how much I will need to save. I�ve made some rough calculations below, with rough figures relevant to each of the major currencies so that most people here can comment on my calculations.

Flight ticket:

�500-600
(USD) 800-1,000
(CAD) 850-1,000
(AUD) 900-1,100
(NZD) 1,100-1,350
(ZAR) 6400-7680
(Euro) 550-670

General equipment for living and teaching in Korea:

�50-150
(USD) 100-250
(CAD) 100-250
(AUD) 100-275
(NZD) 100-340
(ZAR) 640-1,920
(Euro) 50-150

Initial Money for surviving until the first payday (1,000,000-1,500,000 Won):

�500-750
(USD) 800-1,200
(CAD) 900-1,300
(AUD) 900-1,350
(NZD) 1,100-1700
(ZAR) 6,400-9,600
(Euro) 550-840

Total:
�1050-1400
(USD) 1,700-2,450
(CAD) 1,850-2,550
(AUD) 1,900-2,725
(NZD) 2,300-3,390
(ZAR) 13,440-19,200
(Euro) 1,150-1,660

Am I planning to save too little? Too much? Or just about the right amount?

Is there anything I haven't accounted for?

[mmstyle]

Not including your ticket, I would recommend saving at the high end of all of those numbers. better safe than sorry, and who knows what you might need to get for your place.

[PRagic]

1 job

1 free air ticket

1 or 2 suitcases with whatever presentable clothes you can muster up

1 wallet with as much money as you can comfortably afford to bring

It's not rocket science. Remember, as exciting an opportunity as this may be, people have been doing it for decades with very little planning. Get a job, get here, keep an open mind and a positive attitude, learn as you go, and keep it simple.

The first on the list, 'get a job' is the most important. You can do all the homework on living abroad possible, but that isn't going to count for squat if your job is a bust.

[Triban]

After paying for the plane ticket, I brought along $1000 USD; I still have $521 USD sitting in my apartment.

[Jammer113]

I also recommend saving on the high end of that. I brought a little more than that, and I managed to spend everything my first month... but I also wasn't careful, and had some unexpected expenses.

Consider the possibility of having an absessed tooth your first week here. I had a systemic allergic reaction my first week here, and I know others who had to go to the hospital their first week.

You could have other problems too, like maybe the bed in your apartment isn't habitable. Technically that would be the school's job to fix, but in the meantime, you're sleeping on the floor in winter, thousands of miles from home with no support system.

These things happen, and can be a lot worse if you have zero cash as a cushion.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

That will be fine.

A lot of people who were broke back home just turn up with nothing and get an advance until payday... Trust me, I've seen it... It's embarrassing, but they do...

The figures you've mentioned will be PLENTY. no worries.

[ChrisGuy]

[Kikomom]

If the airlines are still charging for overweight luggage, you may find yourself dipping into your cash before you even get off the ground. You may want to add a couple hundred extra for that and airport layover meals.

[dgl]

Cheers for the replies.

Has anyone/is anyone asking their parents to help them pay? My parents, who are far, far too nice, have said they would help me a lot with the costs; it doesn't feel right taking their money though.

[lifeinkorea]

[KoreanAmbition]

^^^^^

lifeinkorea,


I'm going to wage a bet and say that I think the OP isn't talking about doing privates.

He's talking about asking his OWN parents for money.


I could be wrong, but that's how I interpret it.

[dgl]

[Kikomom]

Keep them in the loop, dgl. Let them know how much you're trying to save and what you'll be needing it for (not be paid for 30 days, etc.). Discuss your backup plans with them--use of a credit card, asking your boss for an advance. And what your financial plans are for an emergency situation.

From a parent's pov, it's nice to be informed and know that you're prepared, but tempting to let you do it all on your own if you're being secretive about it.

[ChrisGuy]

dgl, im betting were in a similar position.

My story is im from the UK, just out of uni. I cant get part time work cause im over qualified and under experienced (origionaly i wanted part time work to just save up to travel and then not have to work while I wander around...).

I have a student loan, a max over-draft of �2000 and im give or take �1300 into it. I have �700 in an ISA, so this gives me an absolute maximum of �1400 avaliable to myself... im hoping not to need this much too! If push comes to shove, and a few people on this forum strongly suggest it, I will look into taking out a loan and just have to make that a priority to pay off, or perhaps a credit card. I dont want this to happen however!

Im hoping that I will be able to get over there and survive till my first pay check... im fairly sure this will be no problem.

One wurry that i do have is about key money for my apartment. Im not 100% on this, will I only have to pay it if I rent it personally, or pay it regardless (ie. my school renting it)? Any help with this is greatly appreciated.

As for parents, my mother doesn't have the money to lend me... i want to send some home to her. And I dont want to be in debt with my father so...

So... how similar is our situation just out of interest?

[cruisemonkey]

dgl,

I'm impressed by your thoroughness (currency conversions) and foresight (I've seen people 'show up' with no money).

Cruisemonkey's 'Rule of Thumb' -
Have enough cash to survive for a month; plus: 50% extra for 'emergencies'; and, enough to by a one-way ticket home - CYA.

It is never a good idea to ask a Korean employer for an advance on your salary - this exposes 'vulnerability'. You don't say if you will be working in the private, or public sector... but it doesn't really matter. At the risk of generalizing, virtually all K employers will test for signs of 'weakness' on your part when you first arrive - it's a cultural 'thing' (akin to the need to know your age in order to figure out how to relate to you). At hogwans, weakness is likely to be directly exploited. PSs are more subtle.

It�s better to be in debt to your parents than to a K. If you CYA it's unlikely 'bad' things will happen... if you don't, it's likely they will.