Korean Job Discussion Forums

sigmundsmith · Joined: 22 Nov 2007

... leave Korea?

I am asking this as the Korean board on this site generates a high rate of negativity compared to other countries that employ a high rate of EFL instructors.

For example, if Japan or China offered what is given in Korea and you could save reasonably the same amount of money would you leave?

I have a funny feeling that Korea knows this. They may understand that Korea is not friendly to non-Koreans and that other Asian countries are more attractive to live, adjust and work in. So, they offer a substantial package that easily out-weighs those offered elswhere.

Even though I enjoy my life in Korea, am doing my masters at a University in Seoul and see some potential for myself here (career wise) I could quite easily go left or right of Korea.

NB. Sorry if this has been done before. Did a search but unsuccessful.

benji1422 · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Location: Los Angeles & Seoul

Dude are you kidding? Most self-aware Koreans are aware of all the s--- that gets talked about on here: The sexual racial politics of the korean girl sl-t/korean guy stud hypocrisy, the xenophobia, the bad driving, the can-you-eat-kimchi-can-you-use-chopchicks nonsense. ALL OF IT.

I have a sense that most EFLers are only interacting with lower middle class or middle class Koreans who have never left Korea or Asia and have never lived overseas and are vaguely similar to the Sarah Palin/Fox news hicks in Georgia/Ohio who have similarly skewed/retarded views about the rest of the world as well. You act like Koreans have a patent on knee-jerk nationalism.

But yeah, self-aware people who have been educated outside the country or speak English with fluency are aware of all the weirdness in their country and have been honest to me about it... and that is a big reason why they offer you guys the incentives. Because they know Japan/China is more attractive in terms of status.

Olivencia · Joined: 08 Mar 2009

I'd still choose Korea because the alphabet is easier. Makes it so less complicated reading the menus in restaurants.

Tundra_Creature · Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Location: Canada

There's a similar package in the northern tundra regions of Canada, but that itself is also a different ballgame.

nomad-ish · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject:

Old Gil · Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Location: Got out! olleh!

In a heartbeat.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Change of scenery never hurt anyone.

UknowsI · Joined: 16 Apr 2009

I simply like Korea as it is and wouldn't want to be any other place even if they paid me. I guess that's why I am in Korea...

(I am not saying Korea is perfect of course)

sarahsiobhan · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:40 pm Post subject:

Tundra Creature, those jobs in the North are well paid, certainly, but I am not sure that the savings aspect would be the same, as the cost of living is huge up there. I could be wrong, though.

Although, your username would suggest it would be a perfect job for you!

:)

And to answer the OP's question.....yes.

Tundra_Creature · Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Location: Canada

DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP · Joined: 28 May 2009 Location: Electron cloud

I would give 30 days notice as I love my school, but yeah I'd be in Japan like a shot once that was up. Or I might wait till the end of my contract, so I can mentally prepare for leaving all my firends in Korea and starting up a whole new life again...

But either way I'd be GAAAAAAAAWWWWWWNNNN!

Whitey Otez · Joined: 31 May 2003 Location: The suburbs of Seoul

I think most of us didn't go to university with Korea in mind.
I think most of us came to Korea with further destinations in mind.
I think most of us wish every country could pay comparably so that we could actually move on and not feel like we are making a poor financial decision.
I think my friends that have gone off either home or to a different place are happier that my friends who have stayed here year after year.
I think no matter where you go, you bring your own problems with you, but there are certain places and societies that add their problems to your problems.

So to the OP, I'd say absolutely, I'd move to any other country that offered a similar deal.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I was offered a great job in another place with a similar package. It was for a 3 year contract, though, a time period which I wasn't too keen on.

VanIslander · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:23 am Post subject:

similar packages already exist in Japan and China, only it's harder to get in the former case and only a small percentage of jobs in the latter case

give me a similar package in Thailand and I'd be out of here, but not China or Japan

ThingsComeAround · Joined: 07 Nov 2008

Give me a similar package in the Ukraine, Austria, or Amsterdam. Forget Asia! Laughing