Korean Job Discussion Forums

[travel zen]

I met a few guys teaching english in Seoul, so I'm thinking about it for 2007.

I'm from Canada and I'm finishing a B.comm degree. So teaching is just for fun in Asia for a year.

Any comments or ideas about this? How racist is the teaching profession there?

[Hater Depot]

I knew a black guy and girl who were teaching at the same school. They never reported any problems. Not to say you won't but that was their experience. It was a Wonderland btw.

[SuperFly]

I never had too many problems. You need to have thick skin, but you can do it.

[periwinkle]

At the first hakwon I worked at, there was a mixed guy. No problems that I know of. He did a runner to China with a girl he met here, but I don't know why. I don't think you'll have any more or less problems than any other foreign teacher here. You've been here before, so you know how it is. Congrats on finishing your degree!

[JAWINSEOUL]

There is a definite hierarchy of race perception in Korea. You will see ads that say:

White only
Female only
British only
No U.S. Army

From my experience, the perception of Black people in Korea comes from a dislike for the US military and lack of interaction with Black people in general. I have found that once Korean people have a chance to experience different people, it expands their perception.

I think Korea could use as many Black people to visit as possible, to give the country a realistic view them.

******* PLEASE BE ADVICED THIS MESSAGE WAS POSTED BY A WHITE MAN WITH BLONDE HAIR AND BLUE EYES.

[mindmetoo]

I think the Korean public school system might be a bit more color blind. Apparently the user BigBlackEquis is not only black but a homosexual and he's teaching. Right?

[Tiger Beer]

I teach at a university, there is a black guy teaching there..

I had an interview at another desireable government teaching job in Korea.. I was interviewed by an African-American guy who'd been in the job 5 years.. he was in charge of the other teachers..

Met other guys who of African origin teaching here as well.. they are around. definetely. not common.. but around.

[eamo]

I worked with a black New Yorker who was very well liked at his hagwon by kids and staff. He seemed to have no problems in his teaching life. I don't know about his non-work life.

On the other hand, 3 years ago, I saw two korean mothers on the sidewalk pick-up their small children in a protective way when they saw a black man and women coming down the street.

[itaewonguy]

I wouold guess a black man like a chinese american or indian american would be put at the back of the application list.. and the school would look for a white person, if they cant get a white person then they may go for someone else.
once you do get a job then you wil have to be thick skinned as kids will have a field day with calling you names.. As a FAT white woman will have to deal with name calling too.. most of us with hair on our arms have to deal with some name calling .. biut not as much as a fat person or black person im sure..

most likely the hakwon owner will not want to hire a black person or a large FAT person for marketing reason.. WELLBEING as the koreans say.
old men, fat woman, black people, ethnic foreigners, deformed, handicap etc..
first choice is.. under 30 handsome and looks anglo saxon!

I have worked with a few black people over the years.. they didnt have problems more than others at those schools.. but I think all schools are different and so are the owners.. IGNORANT mothers also play a role!
they think studying with a black man who graduated from a ivy league college still isnt a native ! as is a korean/american!!
must be WHITE!!
still different schools, different demographics
you'll find a job!

[peppermint]

I got dragged to a teaching seminar a while back, and the guy giving the seminar was mixed African- American and Korean. If a guy with that sort of family background can get to a teacher training type position, then the country surely is changing for the better.

[kermo]

I'm from Canada, and I grew up near a university. I met tons of international students and visiting professors, and I was always excited to meet someone from another culture, like Iranians, Malay, Kenyans, etc. Of course, some kids I went to school with came from black Canadian families too, and I was pretty much colour-blind.

I think I've actually become more racist since I came to Korea. No, I don't switch seats on the subway if a black guy wants to sit next to me. He's a fellow foreigner, and I actually feel more comeraderie with him than with Korean strangers. If I meet a black person at church or in school, of course everything's cool. However, I have met so many sketchy people here who turned out to be Nigerian that I notice alarm bells going off when I see a black guy walking down the street in Itaewon. He could be a pastor or professor for all I know, but I'm ashamed to admit that skin-colour has become a cue for discomfort.

I suck.

[keithinkorea]

Some Koreans do have a raciist attitude toward blacks, I have heard ignorant remarks by a few Koreans regarding blacks being dirty and other such nonsense Saying that in my time here I've met quite a few black guys and a couple of girls teaching here and they've generally had an OK time, also met two British Indian guys teaching here and those guys had positive experiences too.

I think the people who get the most prejudice directed at them are some of the 3D workers and the black GIs dressing up in their gangster style garments and strutting around the place in that style. Koreans really look down on those types as trouble makers and if most Koreans general experience is with some of the dodgy types hanging around in Itaewon and Hongdae then it is understandable: even if a little unfair. A lot of the black GI wannabe gangster types have a lot to answer for when it comes to their behaviour being antisocial and even frequently criminal.

Give it a go, why not? If you approach this place with the right attittude then you'll have a blast, learn a lot and experience a unique culture and atmosphere.

Most people I know have a real love-hate relationship with this place. It is certainly far from perfect but it does get under your skin and is generally great. Korea = interesting times and beats working in some dull office job by a million miles.

Koreans aren't really used to having non Koreans about the place and it can make them feel uncomfortable, the more of us lot who come here the cooler they're getting with us lot

Good luck, any school that does discrimate against you probably isn't worth working for anyway. I'm discriminated against here for being British! I've actually had a stupid Korean guy ask me if I spoke English before I rapidly hung up on him.

[Qinella]

I live in a small city. There used to be a guy here whose parents are Trinidadian, so he has a dark complexion, but certainly isn't black. But everyone called him black. The called him "����", which means black guy. He said everyone called him "black guy", but aside from that, he was treated roughly the same as I (cuacasian) am.

As others said, you need thick skin. Kids will probably make jokes about Africa or gangsters or something to you, and will undoubtedly call you monkey, like the rest of us. My students were curious about my body hair today, so I lifted my pant leg some to show them how much hair is on my leg. It is kind of a lot, though, but man.. they were literally crying laughing so hard. I just laughed at them, because it was funny.

So, thick skin? Come to Korea!

[Gorgias]

Being the @ss that I am, for most of last year (not at work), when ever I was asked about my origin (I'm White), I had this sort of conversation:

Korean: "Where are you from?"

Me: "Africa."

Korean: "Africa! Where in Africa?"

Me: "Zimbabwe. Harare. Heard of it?"

Korean: "Oh! Black people!"

Me: "What? You like black people?"

Korean: "No! Ha, ha!"

Me: "Why not 6itch, real men down in Zimbabwe."

Korean: "Oh, um, goodbye."

Knowing what sort of meek little mice Koreans are, OP, don't worry, no locals here will ever dare to say anything to your face. But in general I got a lot more details than what I wrote just above. Anyway... if they hire you and you do a good job, you won't have any more problems at work than any other foreigner. If you ever have a problem on the street, just go "Hey!" real loud and they'll go scurrying off. Good luck.

[travel zen]

Thanks for the positive and very professional input to all.

I was in Korea and met some of you last year. I had a great time and enjoyed the poeple, food and culture (also my gf whom I met here). There was more racism than in Canada, but a thick skin and some brass knuckles would solve more than most problems.

I'll give Korea it a try

Thanks again.

TZ