Korean Job Discussion Forums

summer33ny · Joined: 10 Aug 2006

My husband and I had taught in Korea 2009-2010 through EPIK in a rural area. We rescued a starved Jindo dog, that we brought back with us when we returned to the US.

Since we've been back in the US, we moved cross country away from our families for work and have been struggling with finding good, stable emloyment. Despite a high income, we haven't been able to save nearly as much as when we were living in Korea.

Now, with a job loss--we are seriously considering going back. We didn't love Korea, but life seemed much easier there and we liked the ability to travel.

We still have our Jindo and now a smaller dog. We aren't really considering giving them up... so I'm wondering how difficult would it be to bring them into the country? I know there are people who bring animals back and forth, so I would be very curious to hear how easy/difficult this is.

We would like to live in a city this time (as oppossed to where we had been before). Will we have a very difficult time finding housing? I have a masters and my husband is a certified teacher--so I believe we are well-qualified candidates.

Just would like to hear others thoughts on this... we have friends who have stayed in Korea and sometimes with the quality of life we see them living compared to ours, we are really kicking ourselves!

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

2 issues:

1) bringing dogs
2) job availability

As to #1. Not difficult provided the shots are up to date, have a vet certificate and you contact your airline for shipping. It is about the same as going home from Korea.

In regards to #2. It is NOT the same as it was.
Since last Sept and continuing through next August the public school sector is shedding some 2000 jobs (GEPIK and EPIK/SMOE); 10% of the E2s issued last year.

Add the fact that there has been a substantial increase in the number of economic refugees/applicants from the states needing to pay down student loans.

Even with your qualifications you will be competing for entry level jobs with much cheaper new grads.

UNLESS you are trying for an international school position (and this really isn't the place to be looking for those) the odds will be stacked against you for the next 8 months or so.

The same can be said for university positions and ADD the fact that you are not in Korea making it very difficult to compete with those who are.

Seriously, consider the international school route.
places like http://www.ibo.org or http://www.tes.co.uk/jobs/ (pick a region or continent) are among the places to begin your search.

The remuneration package is much better and in addition to better pay also includes annual air, family relocation assistance, 12-16 weeks annual vacation, housing, full medical, pension/severance packages, etc.

.

summer33ny · Joined: 10 Aug 2006

Still considering this.... a friend of ours (who we had met in Korea) has a public school job and is headed back, and our friends currently living there still have their jobs and are still happy there. It doesn't seem like we would have a hard time getting jobs..it's just a matter of the dogs and their quality of life there.

sho · Joined: 22 Jan 2012

Hey, I didn't bring a dog here, but this family brought three and discussed in detail how they got them here and the costs (and their quality of life...): http://gwangjublog.com/1712

Also, I believe ARK has information about traveling with pets on their site, if not go to their FB page and ask one of the animal lovers on there...

http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/

grant gerstners · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: USA

This link goes to the same article content, but includes comments at the bottom from others in a similar situation:

http://jeollanamdosalad.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/the-realities-of-bringing-3-pets-to-korea/

JeffersonDarcy2010 · Joined: 05 Aug 2010

"Bringing dogs to Korea"

That's like bringing a cake to fat camp!

lemak · Joined: 02 Jan 2011

Be aware (unless it gets changed before then) that Korean quarantine will require blood titer tests for rabies for dogs being brought into the country after December 2012.
Depending on where you're coming from it's not always cheap and can take up to 3 months to get results. Make sure if you're coming at the end of the year that you plan ahead.