Korean Job Discussion Forums

tammiyk · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

I have a question for you guys (especially those of you who are Korean-American): What is the general reaction like when you are ethnically Korean but raised in an English speaking country and you're not fluent in Korean?

I'm hoping to look into getting a job as an ESL teacher in Korea once I graduate from university next year, but although I am ethnically Korean, I was born in the USA and I actually really consider myself to be mainly American (much to the chagrin of my traditional parents). I grew up rebelling against Korean language school and as a result I am not fluent in the language and I never even really had Korean friends (I've always had a strong distaste for the Korean-American youth where I grew up).

Part of me really wants to teach for a year (and possibly go to graduate school in Seoul). I think the experience would be amazing and in a way "going back to my roots." But I'm wondering how much I'll be looked down upon and if anyone has any first-hand experience as a KA in Korea.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

You will basically be alienated from everyone.

Foreigners will think you're just another Korean and will talk openly about you in your presence. Especially if you're a girl.

Koreans will not know you're any different and will talk to you normally. When you can't reply, they'll make the natural assumption that you're mentally handicapped.

doggyji · Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:29 pm Post subject:

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

tammiyk · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

If you come here to work will you be doing it as an American or as a Kyopo?

What I mean is,it could affect your paycheque.

On the westerners talking about Koreans and vice versa,I think there's a basic difference.

A westerner will either simply not care,or prove themselves to be a redneck nutjob.

Koreans on the other hand simply cannot seem to resist the opportunity to say something,anything."Oh!!An outside country person!What can I do???"

Does get a bit sad.Surely Koreans in Korea can't be THAT surprised to see western people anymore?Or to hear Koreans conversing in English for that matter??And this is in the affluent city areas.

Css · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Location: South of the river

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Marley_Doug · Joined: 12 Jun 2006

I don't know if I really count, for this one. I'm a Korean American, but only half. Foreigner definitely see it a lot easier than the Koreans, but the Koreans can sorta tell. They often assume that I'm Japanese or Hawaiian. The kids really get a kick out of finding that I'm Korean.

It also great that I have family here, too.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:27 am Post subject:

While I doubt it'll be as bad as racetraitor makes it out to be, you should probably enroll in a Korean language crash course prior to looking for work so that you can at least handle the basics in conversation. My coworker (who does the same job as myself) is Korean-American and her resume in Korea prior to starting work at my company wasn't too shabby, either.

Even if you can't speak Korean, if you brush up on the SAT or TOEFL tests and look for work doing that, you can do well financially here. I only know a few gyopos, but they seem to get on fine here, at least as well as me.

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

I know who guy who speaks pretty decent Korean but reports several times being insulted as a 'shame to the nation' for speaking English to his friends. Guess the age and gender of the people doing the insulting and you win a cookie.

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Oh, I didn't mean that foreigners will give you any problem. Just that they won't know to talk to you because they won't see you.

Seriously, if you're in a subway filled with people, can you really find who's a Korean, who's a half-Korean, and who's a Korean raised in another country?

gochubandit · Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:27 am Post subject:

nah screw it man. i'm in the same shoes as you and i'm havin a blast. the only difference is that i'm a guy.

just keep an open mind and don't freak out. smile a lot and be happy. vibes are contagious and if you act like you hate the country, people'll hate you.

and there's PLENTY of gyopos for you to hang out with. trust me. PLENTY.

so whatever you do, get an F-4 visa before you come. you've got gyopo privilege, which pretty much allows you to do whatever natives can do (teach privates without hiding, switch jobs at the drop of a hat, multiple entry visa without notification, etc.). the only things you CAN'T do is vote and get conscripted into the military. a pretty good trade off in my opinion.

pm me if you got any questions.

Alyssa · Joined: 15 Jan 2006

from what I have seen, Korea Americans seem to really talk LOUD at immigration offices, trying to show that they are not Korean, and they seem to want to prove something like they are super cool, and they seem to have some kind of resentment of White Americans, I don't know why, but that is what I have noticed.