Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tacticalbuddhist]

How many of you decided you liked Korea so much that you decided to stay? I assume getting married and having kids is a good reason, but are there any others?

[PatrickGHBusan]

Good question.

I know several people who made the "permanent" move to Korea and thrived.

I was in that category until an unforseen event changed things. I arrived 1997 and left 2008. I would still be there but as I said, plans change.

I married a Korean woman in 1999 and we had our first child in Korea. We now have 2 kids and live in Canada. Going back to Korea is not outside the realm of possibilities.

[giraffe]

I've never lived / worked in korea but I did marry a korean girl (no kids yet...). I've visited korea alot over the last 4-5 years though. We're discussing the idea of moving there semi permanently. We're not enjoying Canada soo much. Mostly because its hard for my wife to find a decent job doing something she would enjoy plus she misses her family and friends soo much. Me on the other hand I work freelance from home soo Doesn't matter where I live as long as my clients can deal with the 12 hour time difference I'd love to live in korea. And I'm a military brat so i moved around alot when i was a kid. I've never had any attachments to anyplace in Canada or Europe where i used to live. Havent kept many long term friends either because it so I've no problems moving away far.

Possibly next year or the year after we might move to korea "permanently" but as PatrickGHBusan said , "Plans change"

[PatrickGHBusan]

That is interesting giraffe.

My wife found the move to Canada interesting but it took her a while to find work in her field and she had to go through quite a few obstacles and frustrations along with the expected dose of discrimination.

We are happy in Canada now but Korea is an option. I get offers on a regular basis (that is what 11 years there does I suppose). I work for the public sector and I also got offers from other public sector departments that would send me to Korea. We are considering these as they come and if a really good one comes along, we would have no problem jumping on it.


I do miss teaching a lot but i would like to try working in Korea in another field. The offers that are sent my way now are mostly management level positions.

I also run the consulting agency I started years ago in Korea but with 2 kids, my full time position and other commitments (hello community work..lol) I have had to hire a manager to run daily operations. That was a quest onto itself as it is suprisingly hard to find qualified people who will turn out to be good fits for your business!

[giraffe]

hey Patrick,

I guess my situation is different than yours. Seems like both your wife and you were pretty settled and had your own careers in Korea with a dozen years of experience!!! THAT'S GREAT =p.

But Me and my wife on the other hand we're both in our mid 20's =p. I have 6 years experience in my field but I've never worked in Korea. I'm hoping if i move to Korea I can keep most of my clients ( most of my clients are in the USA or the UK) and I'm also hoping that I can make contact with some Studios in Korea and get a few Korean clients going as well. I have a couple of client friends who deal with Korean studios and expressed they would put in a good word for me =p. I refuse to take part in the English teaching industry in korea. Mainly because i dont care for it, I should work doing what i do now because I LOVE my work and also I'm not qualified to teach ( no teaching degree and no university degree).

My wife has no experience working anywhere ( other than teaching a few summers at a few different hagwons in Korea). She definitely doesn't have any experience in her "field" I don't even know what her "field" is. With a degree in English/ Economics from a Korean national University and no experience She can't do much with that here in Canada. And honestly I make good money to support us and I don't want her to work a job she will hate such as retail or sushi waitress =p. She did get job offers teaching English at some ESL schools in Toronto but she doesn't want to teach English so didn't want to pursue it further. There are options here but unless she goes back to school here or makes really good connections The job market for a Korean with an English/economics degree that immigrates straight to Canada right after getting married and finishing university with no experience Is pretty slim.

Moving to Korea will have its own challenges. We'll probably have to live with her parents temporarily, Shes worried ( at 26 years old !!!) that its too late for her to apply for jobs in companies 0_o ( that's Korean society for you..) I'm worried about my clients and a number of other than things. I'm just glad we don't have kids or didn't invest in a house yet =p. After 1 year , my wife is still adjusting to Canadian life. Hard for her to make friends , find job , keep herself busy etc... It's good i work at home all day so i Keep her company. If i had a 9am-6pm Job She would be really lonely and probably would have left to Korea by now ha ha.

I think moving to Korea is a good idea. Shes never lived away from her family for so long and I can see family is VERY VERY important to her. Especially having her mom around. And all her friends. If we move there, there's no excuse for her to not do what she wants to do ( no language / cultural barrier) and on the plus Side for me My Korean will Skyrocket if i end up living there a while giving me the chance to communicate better with my in-laws...

Anyways lots to think about. You never know. Plans change.

Sorry for the thread hijack tacticalbuddhist

[youtuber]

There are several reasons NOT to make a permanent move including:

-no job stability
-low chance of property ownership
-poor health care
-no family
-no acceptance by Koreans
-pollution
-small apartments
-ect ect


Most foreigners get married here to increase their stability. It adds an element of family and you get a great deal of help from your wife with the language issues. There is also that F-5 visa. These are all poor reasons to get married though.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[mc_jc]

This is a very interesting thread in that many people who've retired from the military somehow stay in Korea. A lot of these guys are married to Korean spouses and they draw on their retirement pay to stay in Korea.

Giraffe, if you have a home-based job that provides income, it might be an interesting move. You also wouldn't have to worry about the headaches of getting an E2 visa since you qualify for an F-2 visa.

After some planning, I'd say go for it.

[tacticalbuddhist]

Job stability is something that is taken for granted but is no longer a given in the Western world.

[tacticalbuddhist]

No, I thought what you posted was quite interesting.

[carleverson]

[redaxe]

You basically can't move to Korea "permanently" unless you marry a Korean and get an F-class visa. If you're on an E-class visa you are not a permanent resident, and your stay in the country is conditional upon your employment. You are a temporary migrant worker.

So, if you have no Korean blood, the only reason and practical means to stay in the country permanently, is marrying a Korean person.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Stan Rogers]

If you have a child, a teachers paycheck will be just enough to pay for your child to attend international school. I know a lot of people who went back to their home countries because of this.

You'd be no worse off by moving home and letting your wife be a stay at home mother. If you want to remain in South Korea, your spouse will have to get a job because you will be working for nothing.

[crossmr]