Korean Job Discussion Forums

[London10]

If you actually like Korea can you write what you like about it as most poeple who live there as foreigners don;t really like it that much overall. I'd be interested to hear from those of you who overall like the place and hear what you like about it. I don't mean this to be a silly post. I have been there twice in a non teaching capacity and just have a feeling that it is somewhere I don;t want to go back to so I would be interested to know why those of you who overall like it there, like it there.

[Cohiba]

OK, lets answer this question for the nth time in the last
few years.

Why I like Korea:

1/ I am a freelance teacher 25hrs./wk. 4.0 mil./mon.
2/ Great looking women
3/ Great internet
4/ I like Cuban cigars. I get them tax free via the internet
5/ Close to exotic countries
6/ 0% INCOME TAX!!!

OK

[RachaelRoo]

I earn way more money than I spend.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Public transportation here is excellent and cheap, if at times a bit crowded.

Some food I don't care for but most of it is great.

It's an incredibly convenient place. You can almost always find what you want at a very low cost - internet, taxis, food, bars, etc.

Apart from a few xenophobes most of the people are very friendly. Korean high school and university students are the nicest of all. Some Koreans will go many extra miles to help you.

You can smoke almost anywhere you want. You can spend every night at the bar drinking and puffing away and still save money.

Political correctness is royally screwed.

The women are as beautiful as they are weird.

The cost of living is on the whole very low. Taxes are incredibly low.

You almost never get ripped off, unless it's your employer.

There are lots of things to do, especially if you have lots of Korean friends.

It's a good base for travelling during your holidays or between contracts.

[Swiss James]

[kangnam mafioso]

-seoul
-explosion of life/ nonstop movement
-low work hours/ expendable income
-meeting interesting people
-easy to get to cool places
-saunas, pc bangs, norae bangs, jim jil bangs, video bangs, etc
-women
-decent night life
-exotic atmosphere
-great food
-cheap drink
-cheap taxis
-cheap public transportation
-long vacations
-being an expat
-vacation from living in my own country
-neon
-restaurants/bars/shops on every corner 24/7
-doing something different
-close to moutains/ski resorts/hot springs/ oceans
-living in a culture but being apart from it (which can also be a source of great frustration)

[merlot]

[brento1138]

The scene here in Dave's ESL is a bit different from the reality out there. Here, people do tend to complain more, but this is just a normal thing in the internet / messageboard world. The people I know in reality, who I can physically see and touch, are pretty much all really loving their experience here as well as this highly underrated country. I'd say 90 percent or 80 percent of the people I know really like it, and lots are coming back, extending contracts, etc. etc. I think lots of it depends on the people you meet, situations you encounter, etc... it all affects your daily life, and your outlook on life, and thus the world you exist in, which happens to be Korea. I think if I spent all my social life in this here little ESLcafe, I'd be one depressed person... and I would also come to the conclusion that most people don't like their time here.

So, I think people who negatively view Korea either have problems of their own, or they're just not meeting the right people, experiencing the right things... it may all boil down to being lucky or unlucky, and what you make of what you're given... which is quite a bit!

Anyhow, I'm coming back to Korea, if not for the kind people, good foreigner scene, exciting travel, enjoyable jobs, and money making, for the GALBI!

[Newbie]

[Lemonade]

I don't think it's really fair to ask if you like Korea. There are things that I like about it and things that I don't. The things I like are:

1. I like that I work for a good employer and my boss is nice and fair with everyone - that's saying a WHOLE LOT!!! Hey, I've had MUCH worse bosses/employers back in the USA. FYI for all the pessimistic people here, we have many teachers and thousands of students so it is big and no one really complains about the employer, the pay or the staff. So we have good job security. There's no such thing as job security back in the states no matter where you work or what field you are in.

2. I like that the ESL jobs are plentiful so there are MANY choices and the contracts are only for a year.

3. Overall, I really like teaching ESL in Korea because it's fun and that's the main reason why I am here.

4. I LOVE the fact that I can go out at ANY time of the night and walk around without fear of crime. I never could say that back in the states.

5. The weather is fairly decent here. The sun is out almost everyday where I live.

6. It's a perfect country for having a pet dog and I really enjoy that aspect VERY much.

7. I love the banking system where you can update your bank book at the touch of a button..... GREAT.

8. I like not having to worry about paying rent, car payments, insurance and unexpected costly car repairs.

9. Health insurance is so cheap it's funny and amazing.... USA is terribly expensive for that. Korean doctors and the staff treat you so well too (like VIP) delivering drinks and all while waiting if even for five minutes in the waiting room. Next time you are in a doctor's office back in the usa, try thinking about that while waiting for four hours only to be treated like a waiste of time by a doctor who bearly speaks English and doesn't give a rip about you. The Korean doctors here can speak better English .

10. Last but not least, I especially like my Korean friends who are always there for me . I know I can count on them! They are loyal and do what they say they will do without strings attached or stupid games. That's more than I can say for most of the American friends I've had over my lifetime. Sorry to say that but it's true.

[periwinkle]

Free apartment.

[laogaiguk]

Went to Jeju-do and was driving by an orchard. Stopped to pick up some oranges (bad, I know). I was with 4 Korean friends. Anyways, the owner caught us and then told us that that would do no good as the oranges are sour (and boy are they) for a few days after picking them. He then goes and gets a big bad of oranges and gives them to us.
In Canada or America, if you weren't immediately shot on site for stealing oranges you would atleast have been chased off by dogs
There were also the two highschool girls on the bus coming back from Seoul who heard my stomach rumble and gave me some candy. They couldn't speak English and weren't really interested in talking (prob due to the English) so they weren't just trying to practice English.
My Korean coworkers have done numerous things for me, I couldn't even begin to start on them.
I haven't come across any racism yet, and only a few rude people (just as many as back home).

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[SPINOZA]

Seoul is a great, underrated city. My mother visited me recently and we just had THE BEST time with the Koreans in this vibrant metropolis. Seoul has a great atmosphere and considerable geographical diversity.

Free apartment, low taxes and good pay - an excellent combination.

Many pretty, fun ladeez.

Cool as fook language. It's not the prettiest language in the world at times (depends on who's saying it) but there's just something about it that rocks. Easy, phonemic alphabet - an excellent Asian country to learn a new language in.

Awesome, wonderful kids with great sense of humor. Obviously there are exceptions but generally K-kids delight me with their attitudes.

Koreans are very kind, friendly and hospitable. I'm convinced that people who whine about 'the Koreans' are just folks with total jerk-off attitudes. I've met some foreigners like that - who never smile, never speak a word of Korean, walk around with that look on their faces - and guess what! No, they're not having a good time and have many-a-tale to tell about xenophobia. At first I hated such individuals with great passion and vexation, but now I'm grateful for them, because the quicker they bugger off home, the more in-demand we happy, well-paid, well-fed teachers are.

Seoul is very efficient, plus all the basics of a happy, convenient existence - plentiful taxis on any random part of any street, cheap transport, good entertainment and nightlife, cheap quality food, nice apartment - are all here on a GOD DAMN plate!

[visitor q]