Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ash2es1987]

I'd always planned on teaching overseas, south Korea to be exact, but after college I got engaged, had a baby, you know, life got ahold of me. My baby is now 6 months and I work part-time in a field that has nothing to do with my English degree, and I still desperately want to go over there and teach English. So, my question is, is it too late? Will it be difficult obtaining a job because I now have a small family? Have any of you gone out there with a family? What are your experiences? What steps did you take?
All information is welcomed. Thanks everyone!

[edwardcatflap]

When you say family, do you mean just you and a kid or is there a partner involved? if so can you both work etc...You need to give more details. If you apply for a job with accommodation thrown in the chances are it will be too small for 2 parent family. That's the main drawback. If you come over as a single mum, you'll obviously need to get childcare arranged. There are probably Filippinas that'll do it for less than you can make in a hagwan. People over here doing Ok with families are usually in better paying jobs than your average hagwan and can afford to rent their own place.

[Fox]

I have known a number of teachers here who had families, and overall they all seemed to do fine. The real question is what you're planning on doing with your infant while you're at work. If your spouse will stay at home full time to watch them, then it should not be a problem. If you both plan to work, on the other hand, Korea has some great child care options, but you may have difficulty getting one set up in the relatively small window between acquiring a job and your first day of work, especially if you don't speak Korean. You would probably want to seek a rural position rather than one in one of the big cities: the lower housing costs make it more likely you'll end up with an apartment of decent size, and the quieter, slower pace of life is probably a bit more suitable to a family.

[Ash2es1987]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, it would be me and baby and fiancé as well. My spouse would stay and take care of baby full time, and thanks for the tip about sticking to rural areas.

[candy bar]

[outbound_22]

[CentralCali]

[Kwangjuchicken]

Never put all your chickens in the same basket before you count them, or else when you lead your horse to water he will not drink it and you will never be able to cross that bridge when you get to it.

[DaeguNL]

[isitts]

[Fox]

[radcon]

In Korea you can bring your baby to bars with you. So there's that.

[SeoulNate]

[wooden nickels]

[Paddycakes]

Go for it... you only live once.

Just make sure you have an exit plan if things go South.