Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chasmmi]

To what level of first time job you can get.

I ask because my major is Korean language and I am seriously considering giving the teaching a go for a few years at least after my graduation.


Now we are talking two years down the road here and I know things may change in that time but I just wander if anybody can tell me if having a document that shows I am very proficcient in Korean and would have studied Korean culture mean that I could price myself a bit higher for that first job.


Thanks in advance for any advice.

[sojourner1]

You may not be able to price yourself higher in your 1st job, but speaking Korean fluently might open a lot of doors into business English teaching once you have established your contacts during your 1st year here. I am a newbie 1st year teacher, but I am very sure that speaking Korean can allow you to go places most others only fantasize about. I don't speak Korean and in fact, most of us don't. If you do, have fun here, because this is key as you will be able to order food, ask questions about it all, and learn allot from locals. Yea, there are lots of great restaurants that will deliver good hot food to you on motor scooters in ceramic dishes and then pick the dishes up later, but you have to speak Korean to place your order.

I would like to work in a high paying company job too, but I lack the communication skills and social contacts to do so. Good luck, I know it's out there if you are in the right places networking and can speak Korean. In fact, a lot of older guys I chatted with in bars didn't speak Korean, but they teach business English in companies, because they have a few years experience and social connections. You know for every deal to happen in Asia there has to be a 3rd party to introduce the 2 parties to each other as they rarely make a connection alone. Often a recruiter is the 3rd party or it could be a friend here that you met in your 1st year here.

Business English and private consulting is where big money or professional level of income is to be had.


You might apply with Korean companies such as Samsung, LG, STX, and others to see if you can do business English or consulting, but usually this is only for experienced older guys like I have met in my journeys to the foreigner bars of Korea. Probably best to do it on the ground rather than by internet from abroad unless you're looking for a hagwon or publich school job teaching children. You can get a teaching job for about 2 million won a month with apartment and airfare provided over the internet, but probably not a company or university position.

[Ya-ta Boy]

The above post is on the money. If you are bilingual, you will have many more options than most people.

If teaching is what you really want to do, then I have bad news for you. Knowing how to speak Korean is not valued here in the market place of education for most jobs.

You could consider a limited number of jobs teaching TOEIC etc, with the emphasis on grammar.

Good luck.

[insam]

ditto, ibid. and whatnot

[chasmmi]

Thank you.

I still have a lot of time to think about this as I am only half way through my degree.

I want to live and work in Korea and thought teaching might be a good way to start as it means I can stay in the country whilst making money and contacts which will allow me to move onto other things if they become available.

I have been study at Korea UNiversity for the last year so do understand a little about what living in Korea entails so I am not kidding myself too much on that side of things. I do however think it will be easier to find a good job in Korea if I am in Korea as opposed to responding to ads from London.

Thanks again for your advice.