Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Foster]

Hi,

I'm currently a final year uni student in the UK and looking to start teaching in Korea early next year. I know that I've got a long time to go yet but I have a few initial questions if anyone has a moment to answer.

Firstly, I have a lung condition (cystic fibrosis), but I have it quite mild, it's basically asthma and it's well controlled. I also keep fit and healthy most of the time. I was wondering how bad the pollution really is in Seoul and if it's much better in Busan? (Planning to be in one of these cities) I have spent time in India and Cuba and as long as it's not as bad as that I'll be pretty content!

Also, re working, obviously I'm planning to teach (hoping to get a public school gig if I can prepare enough in advance) and I realise it's illegal to teach privately in addition to your job, but I'm wondering if that includes all types of work, e.g. instructing part-time fitness classes? I'm qualified to do so and it's just something I wondered about.

Anyway, I have loads to ask but that's all for now, so ta very much!

~Elly.

[Goon-Yang]

The only way you can get a non-teaching job is to either get a company to sponsor you (for your visa) or to mrry a Korean. (unless you are a gyopo)

In order for a company to sponsor you you have to be able to do something a Korean can't. Teaching aerobics or whatever is not going to cut it.

You are SOL.

[Foster]

Thanks for the info. What does SOL mean?
Also I'd be quite suprised if lots of Koreans teach what I'm talking about, it's pretty new to the market.

[StavvioD]

Hi Elly,
I went to Korea straight after I finished uni too and it has to be one of the best things I could have done. With regards to the pollution, I don't really think you'll have much of a problem. One thing though; in and around spring time there is a yellow dust storm (I think it's called hwang-sa if you want to google it) which is kicked up in the Mongolian desert and travels across the industrial areas of China before reaching the Korean peninsula. I didn't really notice it that much last year (2009), but alot of Koreans would wear face masks to prevent them inhaling too much.

Have a look into that, but don't let it influence your decision. Korea's a great place.
Good luck with your final year and plans for coming to South Korea.

[Foster]

Thanks v much Stavvio! Would you say the pollution is much worse than Seoul then, as in, it might be significantly better for me to be in Busan or there isn't much of a diff between them?

[StavvioD]

As far as I'm aware, it generally affects the whole country. Busan, although I haven't been there is also a big city, so I would imagine that the levels of car exhaust fumes etc would be similar. I never had any problems with the car fumes, but then again, I'm not particularly sensitive to them.
I dont want to scaremonger or anything, but look at a few of these videos on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeGq6DBne_g

Last year it was NOTHING like this from my opinion, in fact I barely noticed it at all. I think it causes similar effects to hayfever...

[ldh2222]

The pollution DOES suck.