Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CdnTeacher]

MOD EDIT:

THIS IS AN 5 YEAR OLD POST THAT WAS DRAGGED OUT OF THE ARCHIVES. THE INFORMATION IS OLD AND OUT OF DATE. PLEASE START A NEW THREAD RATHER THAN CONTINUE WITH THIS ONE.

Hi, any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

I have my B'ED from Canada and looking to travel to Asia and do a year or two in Korea (any info about Japan is also appreciated)

I have some questions:

I've read the horror stories, but also heard alot of positive experiences. How do I avoid falling into a horror story? Any advice?

Also, Canadians, are you paying taxes? It doesn't really interest me to goto another country for a few years if I have to send 30% of my earnings to the government back home.

I don't own a home, I do own a car, but do I have to give up all my Canadian identity in order to prevent paying taxes back home? (Any Canadian knows our taxes are outrageous) ex. Teaching in a high school here, min of $500-$600 comes off for taxes each pay period. Plus the high cost of union dues and other little things they take away from you.

What is the best area to live in? I want to be somewhere compfortable, not too noisy and close to most amenities. But would like to be close to the city as well for nightlife now and then. (I don't party every day) but sometimes it's nice to get out. SO I don't want to be living in a rural area. Easy access to other foreigners and computers a must. I'm addicted to the internet.

Is it easier to try and bring a pc with you? or buy one there? or is it just easier to goto a pc bang?

For Canadians that have returned back home, did you have to pay tax? How easy is it to send money home for loans or to pay down you visa?

I'm pretty easy going when it comes to food, and like almost anything as long as it's edible. I don't eat red meat so the high prices of that won't bother me.

Any other advice would be greatly aprreciated.

Am I on the right track here, or should I just try for Japan or Taiwan? Thailand was also on my list, but even an International school that was going to hire me, couldn't pay over $1500 Cdn a month.

Gotta love being a Gen Xer, you come out of school with so much debt it's like a mortgage but without the house!

[jsmac]

Declare non-residency and you won't have to pay taxes. The subject is addressed elsewhere on this forum. Alternatively, don't declare your income.

I chose Korea because I was able to get a university gig. They can be just as bad as hagwons, I've heard, but see the poll on this forum. If nothing else, better hours and ling vacation. If I wasn't able to get the perks of the uni job, I would probably have chosen Taiwan (which apparently is more liklely to reward hard work) or Japan, which is much more expensive but also seems to carry much less risk of "unpleasantness."

[NickRandom]

I think you can find most of the answers you're looking for at my website (not to toot my own horn or anything... )

www.angelfire.com/bc3/talik

[The Den]

If I were you I would seriously consider paying my own way over there rather than signing a contract here. The first time I went over to Korea in '96 I went blind in a similar situation. I signed a contract from Canada and I spent 8 months working at a shitty job. I never paid any taxes and I sent money home every month. When I came back I simply did not declare it. If you offer revenue Canada the money they will take it. You can bet your bottom dollar. I lived in Pusan. I thought it was nice. It is a big city but it feels smaller than it actually is. My wife and I are going back this summer and we will likely bring our computer with us. When I was there I found they were a bit expensive. However from what I understand there are tons of PC bangs nowadays but I hear they are quite smoky. I would have to describe my Korean experience as more positive than negative. I regret not learning more of the language though. Going back this summer will be really tough because I will have to study a lot more than before. I can relate to the whole teacher thing. I have been back home for five years and teaching grade 5 since that time so I am ready for a break from income tax, union dues, car payments, mortgage and all that crap. I could go on and on forever. Whatever you do talk to teachers that are already working at your prospective hagwon. Your B.Ed will make you more attractive so hold out.

[CdnTeacher]

Thanks for the reply, I really liked reading nickrandom's site. If anyone else has journals, or websites they made to share their experience I'd be more then happy to read them. (I promise I won't correct the spelling either).

Thanks again for the replies, any other insights?

[wanamin]

bump

[icicle]

I have brought my computer with me on both my trips here and have been very glad I did. If I didnt' bring it I would have brought one here because it is great having the computer access at home. Korea has the widest coverage of Broadband in the world - ie most homes are cabled for it - And in my experience has been both faster and very much cheaper than in my home country. I also had and have computer access at school so have never had to use the PC Bangs. I was very happy when I recently came back for another contract in a different place to find that when I connected up my computer to the waiting cable (after realising that the television (supplied) was working and knowing that the cable tv and internet are often linked) that it was connected and worked just like it had at school last time I was here. So my school had already organised that side of things for me. It took a couple of weeks last time for me to get it at home (which I did with help from my school as it needed someone who spoke Korean to do it)