Korean Job Discussion Forums

[johninmaine]

...i'm planning on starting in Korea in Dec/Jan ....how many of you in Korea came wife girlfriend / wife, etc and what about if you had a baby?? (he'll be 15 months in Dec)

i mean, it seems like it wouldn't be any extra work on my part...she won't be working because she's Spanish and without a bachelor's degree...so, basically she'll be just cooking, cleaning, shopping, and taking care of the baby...

does everyone on this board think this is feasible??

and what about schools, should you just say you're single and have her come along at the last minute??

p.s. i'm not worried about the extra expense, food etc...living in the US with a new baby and a stay at home mom is a lot more expensive than Korea...

[timhorton]

[VirginIslander]

Check your mailbox. I sent a PM.

[johnpeterson2008]

[Tiger Beer]

Definetely be open about having a wife and child. There are SO many jobs, and most can't afford to be picky.

Being deceptive about it means they might not be able to accomodate your needs later if you spring it on them after arriving.

[Teufelswacht]

If you haven't already, you, and especially your wife - as the primary care-giver, should start studying Korean. The focus on the study should include medical vocabulary. You should be prepared to be able to communicate or at least have cards prepared to explain to nurses/doctors etc. symptoms, medicines currently taking, etc. Your little one is coming into an environment where he may (will) be exposed to particularly nasty virus' that can knock a young child on its butt. If your little one is allergic to any drugs, make damn sure you and your wife can communicate this to the medical staff.

Of course, your Korean study should also include the basics for living here for you and your wife. But you should pay particular attention to the "What if's" like junior becoming violently ill at 3:00am in the morning.

Also, keep in mind that it is a good idea to get your loved one's into the national medical insurance program. My current job pays the standard 50% of my insurance premium, and they also pay 50% of the cost of coverage for my wife and daughter. Something you may want to keep in mind as you do a job search.

Take it for what it's worth. Good luck to you and your family.

T

[jeffkim1972]

My guess is that it will be very tight financially.

Most importantly is health insurance for your child. Normally in the work place you can extend to the family, but whether a Hagwon will extend it to your wife and child i don't know.

That is why you should be open about it.

There are many jobs here, so finding a job that will accept your situation should be simple.

[MarionG]

It seems to me that most schools outside of Seoul, Busan and maybe Daegu provide far better accomodations than a single apartment. I live in a 2 bedroom, and so does every other western teacher that I know in Andong (I don't know them all) except for one who works for a large school and shares with two other teachers at that school in a 3 bedroom.

Be up front that you're married and have a baby but not until you're interested in the job and have asked about the housing. (Some would say oh, with a wife and baby you'll have to get your own apartment..so don't tell them until AFTER they've told you about the housing.) Ask for pictures of the housing, inside and out, with a COMPLETE description of furniture and furnishings.

Telling someone at the last minute that there are three of you will simply tick them off, as it should.

I doubt that it will be tight financially if you're not in the above mentioned cities. My electric bill is usually about 7000 won a month (higher in summer with air conditioning) and at least on here I read that people in Seoul are paying 10 times that, although I have no first hand experience with living in Seoul.

I'm 63 and have made regular trips to the doctor here, been pleased, and have never found a doctor who doesn't speak English, some better, of course, than others.

Good luck!

[ttompatz]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Does your baby smoke? Babies smoke big fat cigars here. Be prepared. And ajossi might light one up for your kid.

But seriously, I think it's very doable. You'll want to make sure you get a decent-size apartment.

[johninmaine]

...so from what i read: (if you have a wife and 1 year old)

1) get a public school job
2) look outside of Seoul for a small city
3) be up front, and ask for a bigger apartment
4) get basic medical terminology in Korean
5) ** most important ** make sure school will cover 50% medical for wife and baby.....

anyone else out there in this position? you can PM me or post here

btw -- i don't know if we would stay past his 5th birthday, i think there's nothing better than the U.S. elementary schools (high schools are a different story)

[johninmaine]

50% of the cost of coverage for my wife and daughter

Teufelswacht, was your daughter born in Korea?

if so, how did the pregnancy and post partum doctor care go?

[johninmaine]

...

tttompatz, did you come here with your newborn recently??

what type of things did you bring for the baby?

has she been sick at all?

salary, im not worried about very much....ive got 7 years ESL experience in South America, so i should find something decent....

we've been here in the US 4 years, and haven't saved a dime -- go figure

[ttompatz]

[yingwenlaoshi]

If you have dependents, isn't your income tax less?