Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jules2julie]

So far, I have received supportive responses from recruiters re: bringing my 3 cats to Korea. One school is even willing to provide a larger apt. I welcome any advice, insight, suggestions, feedback re: bringing one's pets! I am in the United States... it's a loooooooong flight, I know! In my worst moments, I get really scared that it may harm them. I am not opting to leave them behind. Please share... Thank you!

[Moldy Rutabaga]

I flew with my daughter's two cats on Northworst from Vegas to Busan this summer. The airline gouged us $150 for each cat but allowed them to sit under the seat with us in a crate. I recommend you look into which airlines allow pets (Singapore Air doesn't) and whether they will let you take them into the cabin. My cats did fine under our seats as they could see us, and the humming of the jets seemed to lull them to sleep.

Korea is much more pet-friendly than it was even five years ago. Our cats are indoor cats and so there is no problem with them. Food and other supplies are plentiful through online shopping. They'll be fine. Immigration will want to see forms that they have had shots, and they will inspect the cats to see that they are healthy, but your problems should be minimal.

[jules2julie]

I really appreciate your post and encouragement, Moldy Rutabaga! All best to you and yours!!!

[Moldy Rutabaga]

You too.

My only caveat that I ought to have mentioned is that life will be more difficult if your cats are used to going outside. That is just not doable in Korea. Koreans consider any cat outside a stray and may kick them or run them over.

Our home has a large balcony which we fill with plants. The cats are happy with that in lieu of going out, although they tend to treat it as their salad bar.

If you fly Northworst, they are very strict about their 15 pounds with crate limit. We had to put ours on a diet for a while! Best wishes.

[youtuber]

[fermentation]

I'm surprised youtuber knows the OP's cats better than the OP. I do agree 3 cats seems a bit overkill but who am I to judge. I would probably get several pets myself if I had the space and money.

Anyway, you should keep in mind not to let your cats roam outside unless you're with them and they have a collar or something. While I know many people who have cats and experience no trouble, there are some people in Korea who really do not like cats. So be a bit more aware and careful in Korea.

[macki]

I'm hoping to take my cat with me, but I have some reservations about the length of the travel period. She's traveled by plane before, but that was only a two hour flight. Moldy Rutabaga, how were your daughter's cats after the flight?

My cat was de-clawed when I got her, so no worries about her scratching up furniture, floors, or walls (really??). So far it's looking like it'll cost $100 to take her, but the weight limit is 22 lbs so that's not a problem.

[coffeesoda]

Bringing the cats isn't a problem. You need to have the rabies vaccine at least 30 days but less than a year before they enter Korea. You'll need to get a health certificate from your vet 10 days before departure.

To minimize any travel discomfort for the cats you'll want to try to get a direct flight here, too. Say from LA to Seoul.

The total cost for bringing your cats should be:
1) rabies: I'm not sure... $60-ish for each cat
2) Health Certificate around $60 per cat
3) In-cabin $150 per cat. (I've paid $220 before.)
4) Travel cage: around $35.

As for carrying bringing them into the cabin, I believe most airlines only allow two pets in the cabin per flight. So one may have to go in pet cargo. You'll have to check on this one though. Also, you have to make a reservation and tell the airline ahead of time that you want to bring your cats as carry on.

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Well, my cats certainly needed a bathroom break after some 18 hours in their crates! Poor things. If I did it again I would take them to the airport bathrooms with some litter during layovers (and clean up after them).

But they were surprisingly good during and after the flight. They mostly slept. They had very little appetite. Much better than I expected.

I find the hard crates better than the soft ones. If you are traveling on your own you may want to check into what Coffeesoda has just written -- the airline may limit you to two cats a person. And some airlines have regulations about checking pets into cargo when it is very cold or very hot. When I left Vegas it was well over 100 degrees. Not safe.

[DebEVoyager]

Whoa! How did you get a job that would allow you cats?

I have received four different job offers and as soon as I say cats..they say NO! I have even haggled, begged, etc. They all act like they will work with me but then the ultimate answer is no

I am having to leave my cats in the States and am very sad about it. After the fourth time I decided to leave the cats with somebody I trusted to care for them...but I am very curious as to how you got a positive response about cats

Do tell me who your employers is, is it Public or private?

I am not going to them for a job, I am simply curious as my sister will move soon and maybe she can at least bring her cat..

[DebEVoyager]

BTW Delta airlines has a good program for transporting pets either with you or without you...

Also the US health check for International animals needs to be 10 14 days before departure, rabies must be 30 days.

Dang now I am really bummed about my kitties =<

[jules2julie]

@DebEVoyager~ All of my potential job offers were aligned through recruiting companies, both stateside and in Korea. I was informed that it would be more difficult to bring my pets w/ a public school contract. So all of my offers were for hagwons! I am actually surprised by what you shared... I found the people I worked with to be very accomodating! Maybe you should keep looking? Thank you on the info re: Delta, etc.
Best wishes!

[DebEVoyager]

^^^^ yeah, but the stability and paid vacation are so much more comfort than my cats would be...so I guess that's the way it goes for now.

Once I am in Korea I may consider for my next contract a hagwon but for my first time I am just too nervous about the horror stories...luckily they will be safe and hapy here in the States.

Good luck and ur welcomd for the info, if you need any more let me know I have researched this thoroughly but since you are in GA I felt I should chime in about DELTA...make sure you check the airline and make sure it is pressure controlled and will allow that number of pets

BTW Korean Air has a policy of only one animal per person, and that is only if they have room.

Good luck!

[himynameishowie]

I also brought 2 cats from the States and it was really easy, though a bit expensive. I chose to put mine in cargo because a) one of them was over the weight limit for Korean Air to be in the cabin (it's 5kg including the carrier) and b) my other cat is very skittish around a lot of people and it would have been miserable for both of us. Also, people near you could be allergic and that's no fun either.

I took away their food about 12 hours before the flight and let them have just a little water before we left. They were in their carriers about 24 hours total and they did great. I went to baggage claim and they were just waiting by the animal quarantine area.

I know many airlines limit the number of animals per person so that could be a problem for you. The cat treats here are awful but you can find good brands of food. Also, litter is really expensive unless you get it from Costco.

If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

[emetib]

I'm heading over to So. Korea at the end of January and my cat is a little over a year into a three-year rabies vaccination (it expires late 2011). How will that affect him with the quarantine rules, does anyone know? I am trying to find out what exactly I need to ask the vet for when I take him in. Any help would be greatly appreciated!