Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adventureman]

Compared to other many countries Teaching Koreans English is dead BORING, Koreans spend practically their entire high school lives memorizing data for exams and a result excel in math and science. However, in terms of lively discussions and free flowing exchange of ideas, wanting to take chances, fuckin forget it.. (Japan I��ve heard is worse in terms of this but the other aspects of living there far away this see below)..

Koreans whole lives revolve STUDY STUDY STUDY then WORK WORK WORK until you die (occasionally taking a break to get drunk or climb a mountain)..there is also the Confucianism crap to deal with, which basically the old fucker on the subway can do or say whatever he wants and nobody can step on his toes..this can come into play sometimes in the classroom sometimes..

The food is wretched at first, than it will probably start to grow on you a little, than it will start to get monotonous (this is despite the fact even though Koreans seem to think its God's gift to human nutrition, and will remind you of this constantly...hope you either weed soups or taste of spicy red pepper cause that's what they threw in 75% of the crap here.. Also anything resembling western food is a joke��

The language is difficult and practically useless once you leave. Also, culturally speaking are, on the whole, kind to a fault, but on the moon in terms of being able to establish comfortness and easy-going close relations with westerners without going over the top (especially Korean men)��if you come here chances are almost all of your friendships will be with westerners or you will be living like a hermit

As far as East Asian teaching destinations Korea lacks the coolness and maturity of Japan, as well as the diversity and tangible sense of history of China (Instead you get whining and "why would you ever want to come to poor little Koreeeaaaa??" victim complex constantly, highly annoying)��I think a bog part of Koreans insecurity is that they really have almost nothing to call their own, everything has been borrowed from somewhere else��

Lack of any real sense of individualism, creativity, a thriving art scene, living-in the now" etc, archaic visa system where employer has total control, xenophobic populace (inclusing some outright racism), the list goes on��.

In the grandscheme of things the only real reason, and there has only ever been one reason to stay in korea, and that reason is (surprise, surprise): MONEY ��(Although it is worth noting You can also make the same amount in Japan it just takes a longer to see a return and you need to invest more time into establishing privates, part-time work, etc)

Just thought anyone consider these things before coming over...Unless you primary interest in money, or you are a drunk, you could do just as well to go to anyother country in the region, or the world for that matter...I��m absolutely sure that vast majority of expats would agree with most everything I��ve written here this is me saying these things after almost THREE years living here...If you want your raw Asian experience then go to China, of you want a sanitized one, go to Japan..I never met a single expat who has told me that they would teach in Korea if it wasn��t for the money/benefits attached�� if your number one priority is quality of life, DON��T COME TO KOREA

[Satori]

You sound quite bitter the way you put it, though I agree somewhat with most of your points. I was 5 years in Korea, and now in Japan one year, and yes, Japan is infinitely more civilised and sophisticated in so many ways.

I will dissagree with your point that Korea has nothing to call its own and has borrowed most of its culture. A huge amount of Japanese culture came over from Korea. Of course the Japanese refined it and made it a lot cooler, cause they be clever like that...

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Well that provided a mildly amusing five-minute break on a lesson-free examination day. A few observations:

- You raise some valid points that any prospective teacher should consider.
- I wouldn't leave Korea any time soon if the Won dropped up to 30 or even 40%, though after a while I might consider more lucrative options, so yes, there are some ex-pats who are not just here for the money.
- If you're so tired of teaching English perhaps you should consider moving to the other side of the desk and take a writing course.

[eamo]

I get a feeling if you were to do 3 years in Japan or China you would go on a message board and say the same stuff about those countries.

Some good points though. I don't think the quality of life here is, overall, anywhere near that of most parts of the west.

Insert, "so why don't you go home?", here...........

[cruisemonkey]

Adventureman hits a home run. Right on A-dude!

[adventureman]

Oh wise and divine daves els grammar master yu bum suk, I bow before thee and beg thy forgiveness for not proofreading my scholarly essay of ingenious aptitude before submitting it for thy up-most scrutiny

[jinju]

Adventureman is just a bitter loser stuck on 1.7m a month in a roach infested 1 room, drinking cheap soju and eating ramyeon for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Having been here several years he is going crazy at the thought that his life is one big failure.

[sadsac]

There is some truth to what was said, but he still be here. If it's that bad, there's always Incheon.

[adventureman]

[chest rockwell]

fast forward a week and its the same old arguments in the same old thread with the same old people.

You should have saved time and just done the search and bump.

[billybrobby]

same old van halen avatar, same old bitter adventureman. even this reply is cliched.

[Sofa_King]

Adventureman really summed up what a lot of people are feeling in Korea. Many foreigners are unhappy and miserable. I agree with a lot of what he wote, and if I was wrote on this subject I'd probably be a lot more harsh. But I am one of those that are unhappy and miserable and cannot wait to get out of here, and there are many of us who feel the same way. If you can live here and be happy, then good on you. But to me it seems that only a select few enjoy it here.

[billybrobby]

[Sofa_King]

[mindmetoo]

It's not so bad.