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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Big Wally
Joined: 02 Feb 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
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 Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:35 pm Post subject: Planning on moving in Sept |
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Hey All,
This is my 1st post so bear with me, I've been lurking and reading for the past 4-5 months or so, and I've finally got up the nerve to become a poster.
Anyways, heres the deal. My longtime gf & I are planning on moving to South Korea for a year to teach ESL. She will be finished he B.Ed in April, and I have a BA (planning on B.Ed. once i return from Korea). Basically, I'm looking for tips or advice on travelling/working as a couple.
Are there places that hire couples? Is it a good idea? How much benefit is there to applying thru recruitment agencies? Will places that offer free accomodations to teachers, still offer shared accomodations to a non-married couple?
Those are just a few to start, but please give any, and all tips as it would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers. |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe if you tell people you are married they won't be as likely to look down on you. They'll never know the difference. Korea is still very conservative-minded. Think 1950s.
As far as I know there are lots of couple jobs out there. |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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Hi ~ take a look at Dave's Korean job board. You will see a lot of 'couple positions' advertised [still makes me snigger].
My school looks for couples because it cuts housing costs; you and the gf will have no problems finding work together. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Planning on moving in Sept |
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| Big Wally wrote: |
Hey All,
This is my 1st post so bear with me, I've been lurking and reading for the past 4-5 months or so, and I've finally got up the nerve to become a poster.
Anyways, heres the deal. My longtime gf & I are planning on moving to South Korea for a year to teach ESL. She will be finished he B.Ed in April, and I have a BA (planning on B.Ed. once i return from Korea). Basically, I'm looking for tips or advice on travelling/working as a couple.
Are there places that hire couples? Is it a good idea? How much benefit is there to applying thru recruitment agencies? Will places that offer free accomodations to teachers, still offer shared accomodations to a non-married couple?
Those are just a few to start, but please give any, and all tips as it would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers. |
There are lots of Hakwons that hire couples. Good idea or not depends on the hakwan. Do your homework checking it out with the current/former teachers. Recruitment agencies give you an introduction to the school. They are headhunters, nothing more.
Most places that hire teachers give a one room studio. If you have hired as a couple then you should get a 2 room. Just tell them that you are a couple. Theywon't ask for your marriage certificate.
IF you are coming over in Sept and are looking for a couple position I can recomend a hakwon that I have worked for, is OK to work for, prefers couples and gives a 2 room apartment. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Big Mac wrote: |
| Maybe if you tell people you are married they won't be as likely to look down on you. They'll never know the difference. Korea is still very conservative-minded. Think 1950s. |
The FIRST or SECOND question MOST Koreans ask when they meet someone is: "Are you married?" (Koreans think it's much more polite than asking one's name)
You will be asked it a thousand times.
And if you say "yes", it'll be met with big smiles and an approving attitude, and if not, you will often get an almost sad "oh".
Koreans are pretty culturally homogenous in terms of basic values, and are definitely pro-marriage (which doesn't mean Korean men are loyal, since prostitution is rampant, nay, a standard part of everyday culture here). |
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Big Wally
Joined: 02 Feb 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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ttompatz, thanks for the offer, i'd love to get some information about that school (forgive the terminology, i'm just starting to get a handle of it) you worked in...
if you have a website link that would be awesome, as well if you want to PM me or just post on here or something for more detailed information it would we great as well...my only concern being that you consider it "OK", what does that mean?!?
from most of the replys it seems as though we should be fine going as a couple, (as long as we fudge that part about being married with the general public)
is there any thing that we should be looking for as far as a subisdy from a school that might hire us both in regards to sharing an accomodation? will they pay one of us more if we're sharing?
also, if we choose to find our own apt (decline the school offering), would there be any snags with landlords because we're not officially married?
we're also quite interested in possibly going to Busan, as we've heard good things about it, is there any area in the country that might be better to go to? i'm really looking for any and all opinions so please feel free to chime in? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Big Wally wrote: |
ttompatz, thanks for the offer, i'd love to get some information about that school (forgive the terminology, i'm just starting to get a handle of it) you worked in...
if you have a website link that would be awesome, as well if you want to PM me or just post on here or something for more detailed information it would we great as well...my only concern being that you consider it "OK", what does that mean?!?
from most of the replys it seems as though we should be fine going as a couple, (as long as we fudge that part about being married with the general public)
is there any thing that we should be looking for as far as a subisdy from a school that might hire us both in regards to sharing an accomodation? will they pay one of us more if we're sharing?
also, if we choose to find our own apt (decline the school offering), would there be any snags with landlords because we're not officially married?
we're also quite interested in possibly going to Busan, as we've heard good things about it, is there any area in the country that might be better to go to? i'm really looking for any and all opinions so please feel free to chime in? |
They won't let me tell you about a potential job here on the forum. It conflicts with their selling advertising. PM me if you want the school details.
IN regards to "sharing"... you are and you aren't. You have the choice of 2 one-room officetel/villa suites (one each) OR they will give you a 2 room suite. You choose. The cost is about the same for them so there is no thought of subsidy unless the 2 of you want to squeeze into a tiny 1 room studio suite.
IF you have between 10 and 20 THOUSAND US DOLLARS for key money you might consider getting your own place (2 room). Apartments will run you upwards of $200+ K. Be prepared to wait until your place is re-rented after you leave before you get your deposit back. Unless you are here for the LONG-term... this is probably not a viable option.
In regards to your being married... unless you tell them, there is no way they will know. They will just assume that you are. In most of Asia, the bride does NOT change her name when she marries so having different names is not unusual. |
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jangsalgida
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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There are benefits(recruiters like you) to going to work as a couple but neither of you should have a problem finding a job if you're both legit.
They like you because the Hagwon owners can save money, are you really interested in saving them money before you have been paid?
If you work at a place with 5 or less employees(not counting the driver or part-time workers) you should beware. In this case the Labor Ministry cannot help you(financially) if they illegally fire late in the contract.
Financially means the remaining money/salary due to you through the end of the contract plus severance, airfare, etc.. The only thing the Labor Ministry can do for you is try to get any salary owed to you for actual hours worked. I think "pension" only applies to those places with more than 5 employees. Pension is seperate from severance/bonus and is contributed by law by the owner and yourself 50/50. You get that back only after you apply in Korea before you leave. You can receive the pension after exiting Korea and returning to your home country or possibly another country.
There are also benefits of working at different places but in the same area and having 2 different residences. You will each have your own experience/place to work and live.
If anything goes wrong at one place the other can help if possible. You won't get sick and tired of each other. Many people think the Koreans think half A** backwards. There is one thing they get right... When the korean male meets Korean female on the job, either the Korean male/female quits and finds a job elsewhere.
Do you love your girlfriend so much as to want to be with her so much? I haven't worked with many people here but those I've worked with included 1 couple. They quit their jobs after 6 months due to whatever problems. Knowing they had problems they decided to go to Thailand together with the plan to seperate afterwards. She went home to New Zealand and I think he went home to Canada. They met before they arrived in Korea but I don't know how? |
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k_shearman
Joined: 07 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 4:21 am Post subject: |
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| Big Wally wrote: |
IF you have between 10 and 20 THOUSAND US DOLLARS for key money you might consider getting your own place (2 room). Apartments will run you upwards of $200+ K. Be prepared to wait until your place is re-rented after you leave before you get your deposit back. Unless you are here for the LONG-term... this is probably not a viable option.
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There are lots of people that rent their own place for a lot less than that. If you live in a predominantly foreign neighborhood (Itaewon, Haebangchon, or Kyungridan) you can get a place with 2000-5000 USD in key money. I got a place for 1000 in key money and a housing allowance from my employer that covers the rent entirely. If you have the cash, it is always better to sort out your own housing. That way, when the fit hits the shan, you're not out of a job and out on the street. Since you're coming as a couple, they will almost definitely try to stick you in an apartment that's meant to be for one person. And I'm not talking about a swanky one bedroom that has a separate living area, kitchen, and bathroom. Think ONE room, with a separate bathroom. It's what we call an efficiency apartment. I don't care how much you love your girlfriend, that kind of living situation can put a damper on the most healthy of relationships.
With that said, as others have said, there are a lot of couple positions out there. Just be careful and do your research. |
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