Korean Job Discussion Forums

[supernaut]

Hi, I'm Korea bound within 3 weeks and I am curious how facial hair is viewed by most directors, I have pretty massive sideburns and a small goatee going. Is facial hair like that viewed as unprofessional in South Korea or will it be something that directors do not care about.

Should I shave the chops or not?

[demaratus]

I was wondering the same thing. I personally bic my head twice a week, but I like to keep a goatee, in fact I enjoy a little Jim "the anvil" type of beard from time to time. In Taiwan I never heard a word about this except my students being genuinly upset when I shaved it off. Would this be a problem?

[Pak Yu Man]

Dirty foreigners..shave your face.

It's frowned upon now, but in the old days everyone had a huge beard.

[Missile Command Kid]

Hmm, let's see: full sideburns? Check. Moustache? Check. 3" goatee? Check. Director that looked at me more than once when I showed up? Nope, because he saw my employment photo. Did you guys send pictures of Brad Pitt to your hagwons or what?

[mindmetoo]

A friend had a theory beards are associated with older people and scholars. They command respect.

[Crowzone]

No one says anything about my Goatee, I've had it since I got here.

I'm lazy too, I have gone a week without shaving in the winter for a bit of a warmer face and thats not been a problem either.

[demaratus]

I haven't sent anything yet, heck I haven't even applied for a job yet.

[supernaut]

I was clean shaven in the photo I sent, but i've since let the burns grow wild, and even have a small goatee, enough to make people comment on the look.

[R-Seoul]

Moustache means Respect!

[twg]

[thebomb]

[mrsquirrel]

I time my year by haircuts.

I know that 12 months have passed when it's haircut number four.

[Lostone7]

I had a goatee when i arrived..........I am in a small town so i guess it depends on where your at lol
They didn't say outright to shave it but I got told daily that it made me look old umm ugly and that NO KOREAN would ever do such a thing as have hair.............maybe its cuz they can't grow any lol ....just joking
Anyway I shaved it .........they loved it! said how much better i looked ya da ya da lol but..........been here six months now and as I now understand things better IE. I am not or never will be Korean..........it's back... and not a word spoken lol I like it and thats all that matters lol

[Slep]

I have a full beard. The little kids love it and always try to play with it. It's wierdly become a great way to keep them in line.
Some of the older kids think it's dirty, some like it.

[Fresh Prince]

My suggestion is to show up looking like the photo you sent. Teaching is a professional job and you should look professional. If a hogwan wants to hire someone that doesn't look professional then that tells you a lot about how you will be treated.