Korean Job Discussion Forums

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

Yeah, I'm right now dealing with one of my co-workers who is finishing up his year in Korea. He now is trashing everything about the place and saying that he is going to go back home and get a real job, a real apartment, a real life...ad nauseum. Granted, esl teaching isn't the most professional thing going but it is still a lot preferable to some of the things that you have to deal with at home. This guy keeps bragging about how he's going to be making 80k a year and buying a nice house...I hear it every single day. I've had some of those "real" jobs back home and I can't figure the attraction. Longer hours, more stress involved, having to have a car to get around, dealing with higher taxes, etc. Korea does have major flaws but I find that there are plenty of flaws back home as well. He doesn't take into account that he is now working less than 30 hours a week doing a job that requires hardly any brain activity and doesn't produce any stress. He lives close by...doesn't need a car. Rent is paid...back home, he'll get killed by the cost of housing. He'll probably end up going back home and realize how good he had it in Korea.....

spidey112233 · Joined: 21 Jul 2005

not everyone loves korea! even if it does mean working more back home. there are many things back home that you cant find here. thats why its called "HOME".

he isnt the first OR last to have said this. thousands of people come here for the quick 1-yr contract and split. sick of the place or just not for them.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

So now you can sit back and smile! he'll be doing his best to make himself feel better about going back home. If he was so sure and excited about his decision, he wouldnt need to keep justifying it. Wait for the reverse culture shock to set in...

I told people how much I earn after tax back home and they were like "oh ok, not bad considering you have a free apartment"... then I worked out how much I would need to be earning back home with the high tax rate to get the same amount after tax.... they were very impressed considering all the benefits!

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

80k a year, what was he doing here??

I smell BS.

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

Do you consider working at a kiddie hagwon to be a "real job"? The benefits are great but thats about it. It requires about as much skill as telemarketing. (no disrespect to telemarketers).

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

You sound envious. And annoyed. Probably more annoyed because he's trashing the place and you're sticking around. Notice that he's spewing negativity. Do you wonder if he'll get his wheels stuck in Canada, start spitting about it and glowing on about Korea?

What has changed for him? He came over to Korea to get out of debt and now he's going back? Is there some opportunity for him back in Canada now? That wasn't there when he left? Have his parents lured him back with the promise of money? For a business, more school?

It's not very considerate of him to be blabbering on dissing the place around you. He must know you're staying on. He sounds unfinished. Are his parents going to send him to charm school?

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

I say that he is only trying to make you jealous and reassure himself. You is he trying to convince - you or himself?

I say that he'll be back in a year!! Smile

Homer · Guest

Thats a common one!

"Yeah man, I can get a big time job just like that back home (snap of the fingers here)".

Ask what job and you get mumbles.

It is also called the grass is greener syndrome or the I always live in the then disorder.

I agree with one of the posters here: if this guy was so happy about going home and so sure about his future he would not need to brag about it. He is simply blowing smoke to make himself feel bigger.

This is not to say here (Korea) is better then there (your home country). That conclusion depends on the person. For some who do not want to be teachers career-wise then home might be better as far as employment is concerner. For those who wish to be teachers it would also depend but Korea and other ESL markets offer a fulfilling career option.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 7:12 am Post subject:

With just a year here and the right qualifications, he might be able to do something, but if he's here in the first place, he was either dissatisfied with work there before or didn't have a real job/wasn't on the track to one.