Korean Job Discussion Forums

[retour]

Hi,

My major questions are about working in Korea. I have been offered a Sales & Marketing assignment in Seoul, Korea. The package offered to me is approx. USD 3000 per month + housing + one month bonus salary, so it comes to roughly around USD 40k per year + housing. Is this package resonable? 2ndly, What type of accomodation is provided in Korea? What facilities are generally included? I have been told that I would be provided a bachelor's accomodation. Lastly, what's the tax structure in Korea?

Thanks

[J.B. Clamence]

40k is a lot more than a typical English teacher gets (unless you've got tons of illegal private students). Is it respectable for your profession? I don't work in sales, so I don't know. What do you usually get back in your home country? And what exactly is your position?

As for accomodation, that varies widely. Considering you have a higher-paying job, I would assume that you would expect better housing than the average English teacher. However, there's really no way to know. You have to ask your employer about the place.

As for taxes, you should expect to lose about a few hunderd dollars on your $3000. However, some of that is for your health insurance, and some of it goes into a pension fund that you get refunded when you leave Korea (depending on what country you are from).

Whether it's a good deal or not depends a lot on where you are at in your career right now. All I can tell you is that you'll be living larger than any English teacher I know.

[retour]

Thanks Guys,

I am based in India and earn a decent amount here. I have around 7 years of international business experience and am 30 years old. I have the Master of Commerce degree and am proficient in Sales, Brand & Operations Management. The position offered to me is that of the Sales Supervisor in a textile manufacturing company. I have to manage a sales management team, formulate strategies, etc and may be travel internationally for business development.

The consultant in India told me that I would be provided a furnished bachelor's accommodation + a vehicle. I hope that the place is a good one.

How is the corporate culture in Korea? What are the prospects for career advancement for foreigners like me in Korea?

What advise would you give to someone moving to Seoul / Korea?

[Thunndarr]

Well, just figure this into your calculations. An english teacher earning 2 million won a month can save roughly $1,000 dollars a month without too many problems. A little more conservatively, he'll save about $10,000 a year. You will be making more money than the average english teacher by far.

What kind of income back home would you need in order to save that amount of money? The answer to that question will tell you how sweet your deal is or is not.

Edit: The above was aimed at your OP.

Advice for Seoul? Make a conscious effort to adjust to the illogic here and do NOT try to make sense of it all. Try to deal with things as they are rather than as they should be and you'll be fine.

[ajuma]

Ask HOW BIG the "bachelor's apartment" is!!! If it's 12-14 pyong or more, it's not bad. 16 is better!! If it's 10 pyong...YOU DON'T WANT IT!! (That's about the size of a bedroom!!!)

[retour]

"Edit: The above was aimed at your OP."

OP = ?


"Advice for Seoul? Make a conscious effort to adjust to the illogic here and do NOT try to make sense of it all. Try to deal with things as they are rather than as they should be and you'll be fine."

That's a good one.

[prosodic]

[Seoul Skye]

Unless it's part of your career path to add some Northeast Asia experience to your CV, with your background you can do so much better elsewhere and earn more money. Speaking from three years corporate experience in Seoul, Koreans are very challenging to manage. They lack in basic business skill sets, don't work well together (refuse to share job knowledge with colleagues that westerners take for granted), and they are very defensive. It's nearly impossible to give critical feedback without employees launching into an endless round of the blame game.

I'm leaving in a few months and the end of my contract can't arrive soon enough. If you decide to come ahead, all the best!

[retour]

Hi Seoul Skye,

Your post is spot on. I hope that a year or two in Korea will be a good learning experience for me. I am actually looking forward to this challenge. I am also keen to learn about the Northeast.

Thanks for your advice. If you don't mind then may I ask you how, as a manager, were you able to handle people who don't work well together, are defensive, etc? What strategy did you use? How successful was your strategy?

[mindmetoo]