Korean Job Discussion Forums

StAxX SOuL · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: London

Well, after turning down a couple of job offers I'm entertaining the idea of just getting up, booking my flight to Seoul and locating a job out there... the benefits of actually visiting the schools and your accomodation are very appealing too...

I'm just weighing up where I'd be able to stay whilst I go through all this... traditionally I'd opt for a hostel but given my longer term intentions I'd be bringing quite a few valuables out with me, such as laptop, iPod etc etc... I've read a little about Yeogwans but how are they for things such as safety? Are there any other places I could stay... maybe short term let an apartment? Financially I'm in quite a good position, £1500 / $2800 to go out on, which I believe to be ample, but I'd ideally like to minimise costs where possible for obvious reasons!

As a side, if I'm buying a 1-way plane ticket to Seoul how would I go about the immigration thing? I understand that they don't let you in unless you have a ticket out, which given my intention of finding work and staying in Seoul I wouldn't have on my arrival?

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

A good place called "Seoul backpackers". Check on Yahoo in the search and it will come up. It is good and cheap.

kangnam mafioso · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: Teheranno

GOSHIWAN GOSHIWAN GOSHIWAN!

dharma bum · Joined: 15 Jun 2004

what's a goshiwan?

dharma bum · Joined: 15 Jun 2004

*bump* for my question

also, to answer the OP's side question, i've heard that it usually isn't a problem to come in on a one-way ticket as the immigration guys don't check it often. however, if you're worried about it, you can buy a ferry ticket out of Korea online. you might be able to tell them that you're going to buy a ticket to japan or something after you get into Seoul. i wouldn't tell them that you're coming here to find work though. i've never come in without a working visa before so i could be wrong, but that is what i've heard.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

Be careful coming in with only a one way ticket. A few years ago an airline would not let me go back to Korea with only a one-way ticket. I had to purchase another ticket from Korea to Vancouver~ then I could fly (next day). There are many stories saying yes and no~ I would just check it out beforehand.

BTW, Seoul Tower Hostel in Habangchang seems alright.

mithridates · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 9:23 am Post subject:

http://wiki.galbijim.com/goshiwon

Mills · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Location: Incheon

dharma bum · Joined: 15 Jun 2004

Homer · Guest

StAxX SOuL,

A few observations...

1- You are coming over here with no experience in country to look for a job. This can be a daunting challenge but it can also be rewarding as you will be able to visit schools and accomodations.

This being said, it will also require time and effort and knowing where to look. You seem to have more than enough money to come over and search from here. However, if you find a job here, that one-way plane ticket (more on this later in my response) you purchased to come over will not be reimbursed by your employer so that will come out of your pocket. You will also have to do a visa run (i.e. 1-2 day turnaround trip to Japan) to validate your work visa when you do find employment. This will be covered by your school.

Considering pay and expenses, you have to factor in that we get paid on a monthly basis. Hence, you will not get paid until a month after you arrive plus the time it took you to land a job. For example, if you arrive on February 6th, land a job on march 1st you will get paid for the first time in early April....that is something to factor in to your costs.

2- Accomodations in Seoul (since this is your chosen terra nostra).

Yeogwans are quite diversified when it comes to quality. With the stuff you are bringing along, you might want to check into a better one. This also comes out of your pocket of course, plus eating out unless you get a room with a kitchen.

3- One way ticket

This might mean the airline refuses you boarding unless you buy a two-way ticket. Then, there is the possibility that Korean immigration will refuse you entrance to the country as you will be arriving without a work visa and without an outbound ticket. This does not happen all the time but it does occur and it is something to seriously think about.

Now, you can come over, quickly secure a decent job and move on but you must consider that it might take a little longer than expected as you will have to adapt to a new country while looking for a new job with self imposed location restrictions (Hongdae or Gangnam) that might slow down the process further.

Best of luck.