Korean Job Discussion Forums

[keithinkorea]

Well folks it looks like I might be getting married soon!

I've been madly in love with my girlfriend for a few years now. She's a Korean but speaks pretty near native level English. As she has spent 5 years in the UK studying we have no more communication problems than any same race couple would have. Women of all races can be confusing to us guys!

Anyway I've read all the threads about marrying in Korea and all that stuff. Toby's thread was really useful as I'm a Brit, cheers Toby I owe you a pint or ten mate. We've discussed what we want to do as a couple and the most practical way of going about pleasing everyone in both of our families and ourselves regarding ceremony and stuff like that.

The biggest step for my fiancé was introducing me to her dad. Her mum has known about our relationship for years and is a really lovely lady. I must admit though meeting her dad in the past I was never introduced as his daughters 'inferior half' Anyway we met 'officially' the other day, my future father in law now knows all and is really cool about it. I must admit I was really nervous about meeting him in my 'official' capacity but he was great. He seems really excited and pleased that his beautiful daughter is going to marry me. Ohh what a lucky 'bar steward' I am!

My better half��s dad is a great guy and has been really warm, enthusiastic and sincere since he found out what��s going on. Her mum is great too. We had a really nice meal earlier tonight at her parents house and it was great, really good vibes all round. Great food too.

I know there are quite a few regulars on here who are married to Koreans I'd like a little advice on a few issues.

I understand that my visa status will change when I get hitched and talk to the immigration monkeys. My sponsor will change to my spouse rather than my employer once I get the f2 thing sorted out. I pretty much have all the info to do the legal bit and we just have to sort out the ceremony thing. The legal bit seems almost too straightforward.

Marriage

1)Does that mean no more leaving the country to change jobs? I'm pretty sure it does, just lining up the ducks with that one.

2) What��s the deal with tutoring from our home? I do not mind paying tax and registering it all with the government and the local education authorities. After all someone has to pay for the army to keep us safe from those nutcases up north, I only want to work within the law.

3) What other type of job positions may open up for me. For example I'm a musician and if I could pay a few paying gigs to increase my income and get involved in the music scene here it would be great. Same goes for other job opportunities that may come my way.

4) I��m also a pretty good cook and have always fancied opening a restaurant. I know it is very hard work but I love cooking. Is it easier to open the business in my wife's name or can I do it on my own?

5) Regarding housing, what's the deal with mortgages and loans to married weygookin here? Is it easier just to do it all in her name? She is a freelancer and earns reasonable money but if I'm on a contract and she is working from contract to contract who can get the loan?

I trust my fiancé totally and I don��t care really whose name everything is in regarding ownership issues. I��m not naive about these things but as we��ve been going out for years and my family accepts her and her family accepts me I��m just looking for the most practical advice.

I��d appreciate any answers to my questions or tips about how to make everything go as smoothly as possible. My parents are pretty stoked and so are hers, it��s all looking good but I��d really appreciate any hints any of you guys or gals can help me out with.

Any advice will be most appreciated.

[Mr. Pink]

Mortgages:

Korean banks will NOT loan YOU money. Unless your wife is working and making good money, you will not get a mortgage. I tried that route and they wouldn't include my income in our "family income" and my wife of course didn't make near what I make...so we got denied.

If your in-laws are cool they might be able to score you a mortgage (well if they got good credit anyways).

If your wife has a really good job, like nurse, teacher, dentist, doctor, etc. You can most likely get a mortgage through here.

[Wangja]

Congratulations ol' bean: how about a beer in 3A?

(And yes, you can get a mortgage in Korea - there are several threads on this).

[eamo]

Congratulations Keith.

I should leave this one up to the more experienced married folk here. I'm just a newly-wed myself!!

[SuperHero]

[denverdeath]

[tzechuk]

Congratulations!!

[keithinkorea]

Thanks a million for the advice and well wishes people. I'll have a look at those threads, I didn't do a thorough enough search by the looks of it

I'll also make a point of looking at the info on EFL law.

Wangja yep I'll be up for a beer, I'll pm you if I can't find the business card you gave me in 3A.

[sistersarah]

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Rock on man!


Good luck on the big day!

[Homer]

Benn married since 1998 so here goes (congrats by the way!)

1)Does that mean no more leaving the country to change jobs? I'm pretty sure it does, just lining up the ducks with that one.

Why would it?

If she is willing to relocate within Korea or travel to other nations then why would you be forced to stay here?

You can choose to stay here (many of us have).

2) What��s the deal with tutoring from our home? I do not mind paying tax and registering it all with the government and the local education authorities. After all someone has to pay for the army to keep us safe from those nutcases up north, I only want to work within the law.

Not to sure about this one but depending on the visa you get (I think the F series will allow you to do this) you could possibly do this.

3) What other type of job positions may open up for me. For example I'm a musician and if I could pay a few paying gigs to increase my income and get involved in the music scene here it would be great. Same goes for other job opportunities that may come my way.

I know of 4 musicians here in Busan who do gigs on the side to earn extra income.

As for me, I work as a consultant, by contract, as well as teach. There are opportunities out there.

4) I��m also a pretty good cook and have always fancied opening a restaurant. I know it is very hard work but I love cooking. Is it easier to open the business in my wife's name or can I do it on my own?

Restaurant is tough work...anywhere! But it is possible. I would think it would be easier to open the place in your wife's name unless you have significant capital and would be able to back up a business loan yourself.

5) Regarding housing, what's the deal with mortgages and loans to married weygookin here? Is it easier just to do it all in her name? She is a freelancer and earns reasonable money but if I'm on a contract and she is working from contract to contract who can get the loan?

Contrary to what has been said...you can get a morgage here...but you haver to really look for it. Most banks won't lend you money as a foreigner because you are viewed as a temporary worker and (justly so when you consider bank logic) are seen as a flight risk.
However, with some searching and if you can show continuous income over a period of more than a year or two here in Korea, you can get a morgage (we got one as our bank used both my salary and my wifes).

All the best on your wedding mate!

[Horangi Munshin]

Congratulations!

[dandoeskorea]

Congratulations keithinkorea! You know, when I read your post it was as if I was reading something I'd written myself. I'm also a Brit whose engaged to a long-time Korean girlfriend who spent 5 years studying in the UK, and we're also considering settling down here, a decision helped by the fact I get on so well with her family. Many of the questions you ask apply to me also, so I'm very interested in the responses. Would you mind if I PM'd you in the future about how you get on?

[Homer]

To the OP..sorry if you meant visa runs..my miss-understanding!

Still, congrats and best of luck!

[Mr. Pink]

After reading Homer's post all I gotta say is the Kookmin Bank is the worst freaking bank in this country.

I make quite a bit of money and have had the same bank account with them for 8 years or more. It has shown a consistant amount of money is always put in there every month. They refused my wife and I a mortgage based on the fact that I am not a citizen and they can't count on my income.

KEB bank said the same thing to us.

However, in Kookmin's case they have made quite a few dollars off me in banking fees, I have used them consistantly and they don't seem bothered that I am not entitled to the full rights of other long term customers.

If any other ppl got mortgages based on YOUR salary and not your wife's I would be interested to hear about it. My wife was making less than 10mil a year working part time and they wouldn't even consider her, even though our family income was much much higher.