Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nickojan]

Apologies if this question was already answered.

I would like to hear from anyone who came to Korea with small children.

Me and my wife both taught in Korea before but without children.We miss it a lot but we are wondering about the practicalities when you come over with children.

Anybody with advice especially if you have small children and you are already working in Korea. It would be highly appreciated. And please be very honest. Here are the main questions I have.

Do you both work?
How much does childcare cost?
Was the visa process difficult for the children?

Regards

[Lucas]

I'd say - assuming neither of you speaks Korean to mid-advanced level that coming to Korea with a small child would be a problem.

Sure one of you could work mornings whilst the other works evenings (maybe) but then you'll never see each other!

Or you can stick your kid in childcare (if that's even possible) with you both being foreign....But what happens if there is a problem?

How will they communicate with you?

[IPayInCash]

Youre doing child a huge disservice by sticking him/her in that situation and hindering their chances at a better life in their home countries. All for your personal benefit. Pretty selfish move to be honest.

[tob55]

[Weigookin74]

I do know there are some here with kids. Most of them seem to be South Africans, but have met some Americans and others who are here with kids. I do know one family where the woman works for public school and the husband stays home with the kids. She put her kids in pre school in a public school and got them in for free or a big discount. In return she volunteered at the pre school once or twice a week. If the kids are really young, put them in day care and in a few months to a year, they will pick up Korean quickly and be able to have a life here. A rural area public school may be the place to go as they may be less discriminating. If you both can work for public school, even better, but you'd have to arrange care pretty quickly. Temporarily pay for child care until you can work out a deal with a local elementary school or two.

If the kids are too old they may not pick up Korean and have a hard time here. I'd only suggest it if the kids are 2 to 4 years old. Contact a recruiter who works with different provincial offices directly. Good luck.

[Weigookin74]

If your kids can get a couple of years Korean langauge practice as a toddler or very young child, you can prob stay and send them to early elementary school for a couple of years too before going home.

[ttompatz]

How many kids might make a difference.

I worked at a PS job when our daughter was younger (landed a consulting job with the government a couple years ago and moved out of the classroom).

Our daughter went to the KG that was attached to the elementary school.
My wife (not Korean) didn't need to work.

Visas were a non issue. For someone on an E2 it is a simple matter to get an F3 for your dependents (just show proof of family relationship (marriage and birth certificates), fill in the application and pay the fee).

You can ignore a large number of the posters on here. Most of them are not married and don't have kids.

Of those who are and do have kids the majority are married to Koreans so the situation is a bit different than a foreign kid with both foreign parents.

.

[Threequalseven]

[PatrickGHBusan]

I agree with what ttom said OP...you should really ignore a lot of what was posted here as many of the posters have no kids.

Tob55's post was also great.

My experience living in Korea with small children would only be partially useful to you as my wife is Korean but still, I will try to help you if I can.

The visa process for your kids should be pretty easy as they will be issued dependent visas unless that has changed.

If you both work then daycare is the option or if one of you works at a Hakwon that offers kindergarten that might be an option too.

I know of one couple (both westerners) in Daegu who both work and have one 5 year old daughter (she is 5 now). The mother works at a Hakwon and takes her with her in the morning to attend kindergarten (free).

That is one potential option.

Daycares are another but the language barrier may be an issue.

[yodanole]

I don't have any experience with having my own kids in Korea. I do, however, well remember my colleague with his 5 year old daughter. It wasn't pretty to start and went nowhere but downhill from there. The little girl was eventually shipped back to Grandmother in Canada. The last time I saw my co-worker he had a Korean wife and a couple of school age kids, neither of which were the original child in question. That was when there were still Wlamarts in Korea, so it's been a while. She would be about 23 by now.

I want to stress that this was a single father situation, so probably has no bearing on the OP's situation. I only relate this cautionary tale to illustrate that that particular situation appeared to me to be nearly insurmountable.

[Lucas]

[radcon]

Just curious. As a married western couple with Korea experience pre-child, what exactly do you "miss' about Korea?

[nickojan]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Did not expect so many. We will take all the advice and comments into consideration.

This is not something we have to do. It is something we want to do. We will however not do it if we don't feel really comfortable that it will work out well for the whole family.

Thanks again.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[byrddogs]

I agree with ttompatz. His advice/experience is relevant to the question.