Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mysterious700]

These are some tips that I can give to those planning to go. Of course everyone is different and will have different needs. Some things are vitally necessary and others are optional or extra luxuries that you may want to have to ease your transistion. Firts you want to have at least $ 500 (Canadian) cash to live off your first month until you get paid. The first 200 can be in Korean won exchanged at a local bank and the remaining 300 can either be on a credit card or in US currency as it would be easier to exchange. It will cost about $70.00 to courier documents to korea (your original degree, transcript of marks, and 4 passport photos). Then after this you will need to courier documents to your nearest korean consulate and include a return prepaid envelope. You will need to include a $65.00 money order along with your visa application form, maybe two more passport size photos and another copy of your transcripts. The cost of shipping and having items returned to you will probably be approximately another $70.00. If you want to have 6 passport size photos taken at a local Wal-Mart, it will probably total around $35.00 and they have to be dated within six months of applying. Your two copies of sealed transcipt of marks will probably be 10 each for a total of $20.00. This basic grand total of applying and having money ready to live on until getting paid will be approximately $760.00.

[mysterious700]

Now if you want to stock up on extra items which are recommended but not vitally necessary, the cost will be more. I forgot to mention that a passport and passport photo together will cost $100.00 on top of the above listed fees. (I recommend shipping with Fedex or DHL.) Extras can included Canadian or American brands of cough syrups and medicines. (I am told Korean ones aren't as good.) Stock up on extra socks and underwear. Stock up on underarm deodorant. (It is available in Korea in larger centres more than what it use to be but might still be expensive.) You may want to have a couple of dress shirts and ties, depending on the dress code of your school and one pair of dress or casual pants. Bringing your own brands will help because it will take a while to learn about Korean brands and which are good and not so good. Korea is a modern country, so don't worry about other things like q-tips, toilet paper, soap, etc. I have not put a price tag on these itmes because it depends on brands or preferences. You can do your own tallies in your head. I am also bringing sensitive teeth toothpaste. (I have 8 boxes of sensitive brand toothpaste and 10 sticks of underarm deodorant.) You may want to bring your own shaving razor and re-fills, but can easily find these in Korea. Also, clothes are easier to find in western sizes than they use to be, but mostly in larger centres. If you are really overweight and hefty, you may want to load up on your own clothes more than others who are an average size or weight. The same may go for shoes.

[Bibbitybop]

And $50 US for each night you want to go out for dinner and drinks, especially if you are buying for a chica.

[mysterious700]

One girl who taught in Seoul for two years recommended that I go to a local dollar store (in Canada) and spend $30.00 on stickers and colorful pencils for the kids as prizes or a perk for good work or behaviour. As for the extra socks and underwear, I have heard washing machine and dryer spin cycles can be harder on clothes. I am also told to buy bottled water when I arrive in Korea. Now it depends on how much stocking up you do. The flight to Korea is paid for. It is an economy class ticket. That allows for two carry ons and two checked peices of luggage that go in the bottom of the plane. (Check Air Canada's website.) You allowed 50 pounds for each of the checked bages. You can bring a 3rd peice of checked luggage and excced the weight restrictions and go up to 70 pounds, but no more. Worst case scenario of having all 3 bags at 70 lbs will cost you $250.00 out of your own pocket (at the airport). Again, it depends on the teacher and how stocked up and prepared they want to be when they go. There are other things you may want such as a money belt to keep your passport in along with your $200 worth of Korean Won. You can buy the luggage and money belt at a travel or luggage store. I recommend also buying a rain ponch or cover as Korea can get rainy in July. (You can buy this at a luggage or travel store too.) You may want to buy some ID tags to attach to the bags at the same type of store. (I reccomend something easy to identify your bags. I am using ones that have a Canadian flag on them.) I recommend going to an electronics store and buying a good voltage/plug convertor. Maybe at circuit city. Don't buy a cheap one, but a good one that can handle more voltage and be plugged in longer. (Do not buy the cheap ones at the luggage store.) A decent one will probably cost you $50.00. The money belt, poncho, and tags will probably cost you about $25.00. The luggage, if you buy 3 checked peices and two carry ons for a good quality brand (not cheap, but not expensive) will probably cost you around $250.00 to $300.00 depending on sales (which happen frequently through the year). Total expenses here for exceeding weight restrictions, the extra luggage, and these other accessories will be approximately $600.00.

[mysterious700]

There are other expenses which many see as optional while others see them as a necessity. Getting your vaccinations. You probabaly won't die if you don't get them and go to Korea. But, it is better to be safe than sorry. Some you can get at a travel clinic in Korea, especially if you want to travel. You can check the CDC website for specifics of travelling through Asia. Ones to consider at Korean travel clinics might be for Japanese Ecipilitis, Polio, Rabies, and Malaria. But you shouldn't need those ones right away for leaving Canada. First go to your doctor and let them know you are leaving. They will send you to your local hospital for a TB skin test to make sure you don't have it already. It should be free. Your Doctor will give you a shot for Tetnus and Diptheria. It may cost you $10.00 dependig on which province you live in. Your doctor can write a presciption for Twinrix which is for Hep A and B. You will pay $65.00 for each one and another $15.00 to have a nurse of doctor inject it. This will be $80.00 each time. You will need 3 seperate injections at 80 each. One right away, another a month later, and the next one in 6 months to one year. This will cover you for 20 years. So far the total of these is $250.00. Next you will want to go seperately to a local travel clinic. There is a $50.00 consultation fee and some additional shots the nurse will give you (Typhiod, Measles, Mumps, Ruebela). Total fees here will be $190.00. Total vaccinations will be $440.00.

[oskinny1]

Wow, Korea is expensive!

I brought one large duffel bag (bout the size of an ice hockey equipment bag) and my carry-on. You have to ask yourself if you are really going to wear some of the things you bring. You will probably be living in a studio apartment so think about where you will put all this stuff. 3 pieces of luggage take up a hell of a lot of room.

Oh, and if you think you are of average size that probably means you're fat (for Korean sizes). All things can be had here, it just takes a couple months to learn where or 5 minutes of searching Dave's.

Just adding my $0.02 to the OPs.

[Hater Depot]

And you should definitely go here.

http://wiki.galbijim.com/ESL_in_Korea

[xingyiman]

[mysterious700]

I recommend buying some books on Korea. Loney Planet publishes books on different places around the world. You can buy their book "Korea" and "Seoul". They contain info on attractions, places to shop, site to see, the cost of travlling and different methods of travlling, info about Korean culture, etc. You can also buy a couple of booklets on Korean phrases and an English- Korean Dictionary. This along with the previously mentioned stocked up itmes on underarm deodorant, cough syrups and medicines (check expiration dates), dress clothes, regular clothes, etc could total around $400.00.

[mysterious700]

All of my previous posts on this topic bring the grand total of buying what you need, application fees, money you need saved, stocking up on items to around $2200.00. (Canadian) And add another $100.00 for the passport. So, the total is actually $2300.00. This depends on how prepared you want to be and to ease some of your transisition to Korea. Many teachers may only spend half this amount in going over. But, if you really want to be prepared and to not have to spend a lot right away once going over, this can help. Once you are there, you won't have to spend much money and you will save a lot on living expenses. As one post said, there are no car/insurance payments and no rent payments. Plus working in a cubicle, on a sales floor, or in a call centre here sucks. I'd rather have more purchasing power, pay off my student loans faster, work less hours per week, and travel. But it has taken longer than I have anticipated to get ready to go to Korea. By the time I get over there, it will have taken me a 1.5 years to get ready for it. But some of it is just me. I am a cautious risk taker.

[mysterious700]

How long it takes to go over can depend on a variety of factors. As stated how prepared one wants to be. If you live on your own, work a mediocre job, and have bills to keep up with, you will have to spend a little at a time. That means spending and saving instead of blowing money and partying. Sometimes, it requires a sacrifice to get from here to there. If you can ditch your living expenses or minimize them helps too. It helps to drive an older car with less or no payments. Who cares what it looks like? If you can get roomates, rent a room, move back in with family, it will free up some cash to put towards going to Korea. I drove an older car and saved some cash. But had insurance, gas, and occasional upkeep repairs. I lived on my own with rent, utilites, internet, etc. So, I only had minimal left over to save but I have over a 14 month period. I am moving in with friend and renting a room so it will be easier to save and spend the rest of what I need. I am almost 95% of the way there. I hope in two to three months to finally be in Korea. The best option if it is available to you is to move back in with the folks and borrow the money from them and go right away. lol If that option is not available, then you can try what I am recommending. When I first looked into going to Korea, I was somewhat naive and never thoguht it would take this much or this long. I only feel sorry for those going to Japan where they have to pay for the flight or for rent. I hope that my experiences and insight can help people looking into going over in the future. I invite others who are in Korea or have already gone to put in their input. It will give applicants some better insight into prepartion, planning, and finally getting over there. (Also, read some of the blogs here about culturally related issues and what to expect. Everything helps.)

[mysterious700]

My final recommendations that does not cost money is to plan to stay in Korea for more than one year. (Maybe a few.) Hopefully you can avoid being taxed by the Canadian government upon return. Also, if you have a bank account or credit card in Canada, switch them to on-line access. This way you can wire money from your Korean account to your Canadian one and pay any bills via the internet such as student loan or any bills that may have been behind when you left. Call your credit card company and bank to let them know you are going to live in Korea. This way they won't suspend or freeze your accounts because they think it is fraud. Also, switch your mailing address to a family member or friend you can trust for these accounts. Finally minimize other ties with Canada or the taxman will be more likely to greet you upon return (and not in a good way). Sell your car or give it away and do not pay rent for anything in Canada. In other words do not keep an apartment or house if you have those.

[europe2seoul]

Caviar and champagne from airport's duty free. And Walker blue label - its cheaper.

[MANDRL]

The OP gives excellent advice on being prepared to come to Korea. However, I think that flying by the seat of your pants and letting life just take its course should do it. I was nowhere close to being that prepared and things have been fine since my fiancee and I arrived in January. All circumstance are unique, so there is no set way to come over here. Just make sure you got all your immediate stuff in order and the rest will work itself out.

[Mea]

Wow! Nice of you to type that up and all, but don't you think it's a bit weird to be giving advice before you're even in Korea? I'm planner as well, read like every post on this board before I came, and brought what I thought were the bare essentials but once I got here I realized I brought way too much sh!t (and left behind the stuff I shouldn't have...)