Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Omkara]

Hey, y'all. I lived in Korea for a year, working in a hagwan, and left as soon as my contract was up. I was more than ready to get back home to get my life and career rolling. Now that I'm here and 'getting things rolling,' I find myself on Dave's ESL everytime a long and eventless weekend rolls around. Though I enjoy my work day more here than I did in a hogwan (I'm teaching college and university students in a community college and in an IEP), I find myself strangely isolated in my own culture. The problem is, once the univeristy years are over, it is much harder to identigy your peer group and to make friends. This was easy to do in Korea. In addition, it's so easy to afford a weekend adventure there...

Anyway, here's my question. I want to work in a college or university. I'm qualified with an MA in Literature and nearly three years of teaching experience (Peace Corps, Russia; Korea and now America). I'm trying to decide between Japan and Korea. I've got survival Korean. Japan would be new and adventurous, but how hard would it be to get a job in a college or uni? Would you prefer the economic and linguistic advantages of living in Korea, or do you think that the life style in Japan would out-weigh those two? Let me add that I'm looking for a lifestyle in which drinking is not obligatory. (I know it's simple as sying 'yes' or 'no', but I want to have more options on the weekend.)

[pegpig]

Had I not met my wife near the end of my 1st year in Korea, I was destined for Taiwan or Japan or elsewhere. I would definitely have liked to have gone out and explored what the world has to offer - even outside of Asia. Money wasn't really an issue either. Obviously. If you go to South America you can't make a lot. But, who cares? I would have been in it for the experience. Now that I'm married to a Korean though, the only places to visit are North America and Europe. The rest of the world is too dangerous.

If money's not that important, why not go out and experience something different?

[Son Deureo!]

IMHO, the second year in Korea is better for most than the first.

Plus with an MA in English lit, it shouldn't be too hard for you to find a uni job here, especially if you're willing to cast your net beyond Seoul.

I can't compare with Japan, though, because I haven't been there beyond a visa run.

[VanIslander]

[Omkara]

Well, I hear that Taiwan tends to be less than interesting.

It'd be cool to add Japan to the list; but having some language skills makes for a better experience. I've heard about the publication issue, and I'm not interested in publishing in the field. I do want time and freedom to write...

I'm not leaving America until December, at the earliest. I've a contract to teach some writing classes here.

The best thing about the initial move to Korea is the paid-for apartment and ticket, let alone that it is easier to get a uni gig. Is it true that one most generally must begin at the bottom in Japan before getting better gigs, irrespective of experience?

[pastis]

Personally, I think Japan's quite a bit better than Korea in a lot of ways. In fact, I'm probably gonna go back to Tokyo in like a year, and can hardly wait... Korea's decent and all, but compared to Japan... I literally can't think of a single thing so far that's better in Korea. If you prefer Korean food or whatever, you can still find it in abundance in Tokyo (often better quality too). Even money/salary wise, you won't save much more living in Seoul than Tokyo (except you'll probably lose money having to pay rent, which sucks)...
But overall Japan is a nicer country IMO, the lifestyle is easier and the people are generally less of a hassle (even if some of them don't 'like you' per se, they'll at least leave you the hell alone). I also find Japanese culture much more interesting (I find Korea just copies a lot of Japanese stuff)... Not everyone will agree with my appraisal, but that's my take on it.

[sadsac]

Year six and my wife and I are going to take a nice long break at the end of this contract. Return to the Land of the Morning Chaos, unlikely. Certainly looking at new horizons.

[drumpounder]

I am 2 weeks away from the completion of my first contract. It's been good but I'm moving on. I have a great job offer teaching in Laos. I'm all about hot weather. I don't like Korean food and my woman Laotian.

From alot of the stuff I've read here, I hit the jackpot with my job here in Korea. First time...bullseye.

Like Rod Stewart said, "You know what luck is? Luck is believing you're lucky, and having just a little bit of faith."

[SirFink]

[bucheon bum]

go to japan and try it out. if you don't like it, korea will still be open to you.

[JZer]