Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zanniati]

With a lot of help from the Dave's community I've found a job that I'm really excited about. This will be my first time in South Korea so I have some questions about things there. Hopefully you guys can shed some light. Just so you guys know, I'm an American male and I'll be living in Ilsan. Also, I know some of these questions have been asked before, I have read hundreds of pages of threads. A lot of the old threads are 8 years old.

1. How is the water? Will get it me sick and if so, what can I do to avoid getting sick?

2. Anyone else paying student loans? What's the easiest way to do this? I know my parents are definitely willing to help with the logistics if that helps.

3. Backpacks vs Messenger Bags - What's more popular in Korea? When I went to Europe NO ONE wore backpacks but everyone had messenger bags and I'd wish I'd brought mine.

4. I've heard most clothing is more expensive there. Is this really the case? Can I get decent pants/jeans for under $40 or nice oxfords for less than $30? Are there any articles of clothing that I'm just not going to find and should really just buy before I go?

5. What's the policy on washing and drying clothes? I know I have a washer, will I just be hang drying all my clothes? Also, I'll be living in Ilsan; should I expect to have access to a dry cleaners?

6. I'd read a bit about things people wish they'd brought but a lot of it sounds like it's now much more readily available. What should I bring with me? Is there anything on this list that I should just get there or visa versa?
Toiletries - Certain Dri, Advil, Towels
Bedding - Pillow, sheets, comforter
Foods - Pancake Mix, Maple Syrup, Mac and Cheese Powder
Boardgames - Catan, Dominion
Gadgets - DSi, Kindle, Netbook, Notebook, iPod

Any info on any of these would be great.

[MoneyMike]

1. The water's fine, and if you are dubious about it bottled water is cheap and readily available.

2. I kept a Canadian bank account open to pay my student loans. I go to the bank once a month to wire money to my Canadian account, then use my online banking to make loan payments. Depending on what bank you use this is probably the best option. You could always wire the money to your parents account and have them make the payment as a last resort.

3. I don't see too many backpacks around, but I wear mine all the time. I probably see more messenger bags. Really though, you're going to stand out no matter what, so wearing a different bag from everyone else isn't really going to add to that.

4. You can find clothes in all price ranges, but the problem is size. I haven't found a single store in my city that sells shirts that fit my shoulders. (I do have pretty big shoulders, but not obscenely so) Koreans generally have really narrow legs too, so pants can be tough to find if you're not super skinny. I'd suggest bringing as much clothing as you can. Western sized stuff can be found in Seoul apparently, I've never gone looking for it yet.

5. Yeah, you'll probably be hanging your clothes to dry. One thing to note, the washing machines here can be tough on clothes, they tend to stretch out the collars on my t-shirts sometimes. And yes, dry cleaners are everywhere here, and real cheap. (I just brought in 2 pairs of pants to have tears stitched, then had them drycleaned, along with 2 ties, all for like 6 bucks)

6. I'm not sure what Certain Dri is, anti persperant maybe? If so, definitely bring lots. They do sell deodorant here in the summer time, but you probably won't be able to find your favorite brands. Advil I think you can probably get pretty easily, I use Tylenol and its easily available. Also, the big chain stores have towels for reasonable prices. I'd save the space on towels and bring clothes. (Though maybe one towel for when you first arrive)

Bedding you can buy here, and it would take up too much space in your luggage which you can put to better use.

Pancake mix and maple syrup are easy enough to find here, and I've seen some mac and cheese, but no brands that I like. Seriously though, any food you bring is gonna be gone in like a week, so just suck it up and eat what you can find here.

Depends on your city I suppose. Board game caffe's are pretty common here in Korea, and they usually have Catan and Dominion, so shouldn't be a problem. Wouldn't be a bad idea to bring along a copy though.

Gadgets I would bring. Kindle's aren't easily available in Korea from what I've seen, and you wouldn't want to pay for a second anyways, same with netbooks and notebooks. iPod is a no brainer, and you'll probably wanna bring the DSi for the flight if nothing else.

[chrisinkorea2011]

you have had the other person's answers so il share mine with you as well.

1. The water actually depends on where you are at. to go in depth on this, most cities test their water and it is at drinkable levels HOWEVER because this is a different country you might still get mild sickness if you drink it (solely because again, different country, different germs etc.) I always use it for food cooking and all, just make sure you boil it, and there is ALWAYS a water purifier wherever ive gone lol

2. haha out of all the teachers ive seen here who are foreign, they (myself included) always wear a back pack. very few actually carry a briefcase. but its up to you really.

3. (sorry switched this one) - i have some student loans, its easy to save money here as long as you dont become an alcoholic fiend like ALOT of foreign teachers do when they come here (of course a lot of koreans drink in excess too! its funny) if you manage your money, u can pay it back. it depends on the bank really too. I use KEB (korean exchange bank) and i set it up to where i simply go online and transfer money every month to my american bank account. But some banks dont do this, make sure to check first.

4. clothing realy depends. the thing about korea is that, its hard NOT to lose weight here, ive seen only 2 guys who actually got bigger (because they were fatties who couldnt say no to buffets and drinking, and all nighters) you will lose some most likely. if you are different shaped etc. there is plenty of places to find clothes, more and more they are using inches as the size (however lots of places still use cm) in seoul, there is itaewon and hongdae which there is plenty of foreign population, im sure you will find clothes and its not bad. reasonable actually.

5. Dryers are a LUXARY in korea. my gf's family has one and they use it once a week if that, becaus e she says its expensive (not really lol) koreans are just used to hanging their clothes out to dry. it looks like a workhorse with 2 arms lifted. u can set it up in your apartment. lol

6. bring your gadgets if you want, just be careful with them, i had an ipod nano snatched at my school, and still dont know who took it. as far as the other stuff just get it here, 1 exception and something id like to mention to you. you wont find advil here most likely, they always recommend tylenol. also you wont find Nyquil, or dayquil here, and i guarantee you will get sick the first month, everyone does, so that will help you through the day.

hope this helps

[northway]

1. I drink the water without issue, but doing so right after getting off the plane will likely get you a bit sick.

2. It seems like most people are. It's really easy to transfer money if you get an account at KEB; after the first transfer you can do everything online.

3. Backpacks.

4. I'm a smaller guy (5'7, 140) and I can find nice, affordable clothes for similar prices to what I would pay back home. If you're bigger (particularly broader), you're likely to have some problems.

5. The vast majority of Koreans line dry their clothes, as they believe driers will ruin them.

6. Pancake mix, mac and cheese, maple syrup, etc., can all be had without issue at a Costco, foreign markets in Seoul, or possibly your local supermarket. I have a heavy down comforter, as they're a bit hard to find in Korea, and the sheets here generally suck, so I'd bring a couple sets. Deodorant is hard to come by, however, particularly if you're used to selection. There are about twenty Apple retailers in Seoul, and they sell all that stuff at EMart, so I wouldn't worry about gadgets. There's a bit of a markup here, but not a horrendous one.

Honestly, if I was packing again I'd bring a crapton of frozen cheese, but that's just me.

[Captain Corea]

1. Drink bottled water.
2. Transfer the money back home and pay them online 9be sure to set up your online banking before you come over)
3. I use a messenger bag when working. When not working, I don't really carry around that much stuff.
4. Jeans are a bit pricey here. Shirts are usually fine.
5. Most Koreans hang-dry their clothes.
6. I'd suggest bringing..
-Any toiletries you really prefer.
-Spices you really like
-Vitamins or OTC medications you usually use

[yeti08]

1. I lived in Incheon last year, drank the water all the time, never anything wrong. Living in Anyang now, also drinking my water from the spigot and no symptoms.

2. Some people ask for forbearance for a year then pay a lump sum when they return, but I pay monthly the same way others have described.

3. Used a backpack last year, it was annoying because if you ride buses and subways you have to either sit on it or take it off. Messenger bags are less awkward looking and in general.

4. I am really big 6'6" 230-40, so I typically can't find any clothes minus some sports wear in Seoul (Itaewon). Bringing a lot of clothes is key if you are at all above average.

5. Both my washing machines have been fine and like others have said the cleaners are cheap and effective too.

6. Bedding is expensive here, but definitely don't bring bulky stuff. You'll have difficulty finding the foods you crave from back home, but it's here, just more expensive. Boardgames are again a lot more expensive, so bring 1 or 2 if they're small. Medicine if you take anything aside from tylenol and aspirin. For example I like alka seltzer cold plus, so I bring a bunch of it. And deoderant, bring it.
Also if you enjoy reading, invest in a Kindle or another eReader. Books are yet again, expensive and hard to find.