Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sandinista445]

Before any uptight forumfolk jump down my throat; yes I know there is a similar thread, but since that one seems to have been hijacked by people who insist on missing the point--------

This is my first post in this forum, but I have dropped in from time to time out of curiosity. I once considered teaching in Korea but eventually chose China. After a couple of years in China I had the opportunity to visit Korea last month. I stayed in 2 cities: Seoul and Busan. Before landing in Korea I didn't know what to expect. I had heard so many horror stories about how rude, violent and racist the locals were. Still, I had met Koreans in China, and they always seemed pretty friendly and open-minded.

Korea was a pleasant surprise after living in China. The people seemed polite and friendly. I wasn't met with any rudeness in any of the restaurants or places I went. No one tried to cheat me. I did have people go out of their way to offer help, for example: I asked an old man in the busan subway which exit my hotel was near and he insisted on walking down the street with me to show me where it was. I found people were very easy to talk with if they knew English...

I'm sure there are assholes in Korea, like every country, but you guys could do much worse. I have a feeling that a lot of the complainers wouldn't last a minute in Beijing.

Maybe more of you should travel outside of Korea and you'll see that making the highest English teacher's salary in a developed Asian country isn't so terrible...mind you I don't have a clue about what it's like to teach in Korea (this is only aimed at those who make Korea seem like the worst place in the world in which to live).

[Sody]

I respect your opinion and your sentiment for posting, but your post doesn't have any credibility unless you have lived in Korea for an extended period of time. Perhaps I misunderstood your post however? It sounds like you only visited for a short time.

I found China to be extremely nice and friendly, although way too crowded.

I think the majority of the complainers on this forum vent about the ESL industry in Korea. Less than half complain about the living conditions.

ALL of the posters on this site only represent a small percentage of the teachers who work in Korea.

Sody

[sandinista445]

I like China, or else I wouldn't have come back for another year. However, from my impression, Korea would be a much easier and more pleasant place to live (unless you're talking about Shanghai, or better yet HongKong).

You're right, I haven't lived in Korea, I only visited for about a month. I think my post is valid in that it offers one person's impression of Korea's 2 biggest cities compared with conditions in another Asian country with a big esl market. It is only my opinion, not fact.

But this board does give a very negative impression of life in Korea. I don't understand why the feeling is so much more negative here than on the China forum or other forums. Is life so much worse in Korea? It didn't seem so bad in Seoul or Busan. But again, maybe that is more a reflection of working conditions than living conditions, as you say.

[doggyji]

Any other Asian countries are more genuine and authentic. Truly Asia. They are all supposed to be better than Korea, at least. Come on.

For one thing, I think if they went to a really underdeveloped country, they won't spend days and nights complaining and making fun of the country. Maybe Korea's appearance make some expect high. Or... most people who go to other Asian countries despite the generally lower pay/saving potential than what average Korean hagwons can offer tend to be more open-minded and culturally adaptive/adventurous types?

[blaseblasphemener]

Reminds me of something I heard once;

The fact that you have cancer doesn't make my broken leg hurt any less.

Ruminate on that-

[Smee]

[SPINOZA]

[contrarian]

The bottom line is that ESL in Korea pays better than the aletrnatives, when living expenses are included.

[shaunew]

Korea has been berry berry good to me.

I like Korea, I have great jobs. I have a huge apartment and beautiful wife and a son that will be born in a week. There are high points and low points just like in Canada. In Canada I can make 4000 plus a month but pay almost half in tax and living cost are very high. So I would save maybe a few hundred dollars a month.
But in Korea the taxes are very very low. I make 6 million won plus a month pay about 210,000 in taxes and have little experiences. I own an apartment in Mok-dong so no rent and I put away 1 million won in mutual funds for my retirement and can put away 200,000 a month in mutual funds for my sons education. Which I think I will increase after my son is born.

In Canada I was middle class just nice and average, but who wants to be just average. My wife could not get a job in Canada. She has a Master's degree from Korea Univeristy. So we came back here and have a much better life. There are ups and downs somethings I do not like, but in Canada there were things as well but they were not cultural things so they were easy to deal with.

I guess Korea can be good for people or bad. Like what other posters have said it depends on how you look at things and if you keep positive or not.

[MissSeoul]