Is there anybody here from South Korea?

[damocles]

I am considering jobs in Seoul, teaching english. I wouldn't mind getting some feedback from people in Korea.

Do you think it would be a good thing to do for a couple of years?, i have lived and worked in Thailand and Cambodia ( and loved it), but of course, Korea is very different.


Pros and cons?

 

[SuperGroove]

I am Korean, but I was born in the States. I did, however, go to Korea a few years ago. If you're Korean, you'll love it. If you want a hot asian woman, you'll like it. Other than that, the place smells, the economy is horrible and pizza hut is way to frickin expensive. Also...THEY DON"T FRICKIN HAVE MEXICAN FOOD THERE! ACK!!! Don't get me wrong though...I love being Korean. AzN PRIDE!!!!


Paul

 

[Passions]

There was a great website on an american teaching in korea. Basically to sum it up, she said don't work there if you easily broken. Koreans do not like foreigners as much as the japanese or chinese. When you are on a bus or at a restaurant, you will see people eyeing you all the time constantly. The pay is not too great, and your boss will not even pay you sometimes. You wont have any luck getting a job unless you are attractive or have very "white" features. The parents believe if you are very "white", then you can teach their kids effectively. The people are upfront, brash, and rude to you often. But if you truly have a passion for teaching, your kids, and such...there is no other asian country to goto than korea. Some of the people you meet will be the nicest you'll ever meet. They will invite you into their homes for tea, or take you out to dinner and beer. Basically she said, go to teach only if you have the desire for the kids. Because you will get so much crap, that only the kids make it worth it. my 2 cents.

 

[Spoooon]

I was born in Seoul but grew up here. Yeah, Seoul kind of smelled depending on where you go. I went back to visit a few years ago. I didn't think anyone eyeballed me more than anyone else (I look more hispanic than I do asian). Some of those stores were pretty awesome and a lot of the people I dealt with were friendly and courteous. Of course, I didn't stop the average passerby to ask them questions either.

edit: A lot of the people I met spoke English as well. I wouldn't have been too afraid of wandering around by myself. Of course, I did feel much safer being shown around by my cousins. Who had some hot Korean friends.

 

[damocles]

I have hiked all over Cambodia alone (where hardly anyone speaks english), so i am not too daunted from perspective.

The jobs i have been offered include good pay, free airfares and accomodation and a good contract.

 

[Javelin]

I was in Seoul this past summer and things are pretty good. Korea may not be a first world country yet but Seoul is more or less a 1st world city. It will certainly be a lot different from Thailand or Cambodia, life is very hectic in Seoul but you can find most of the stuff that you would find in North America. I would say 99% of the big american stores/restaurants etc. are in Seoul... so yes you can find Mexican food. The place has really changed a lot... previously I had been there in 1993 and the progress is just amazing. Right now there is a huge internet craze there, you'll find tons of PC rooms(real cheap) that are full of people surfing the web and playing starcraft(regular tournaments which are broadcast live).

 

[dcdomain]

My buddy who was born there and lived there for 14 years, says not to do it. He had this to say about a family friend who taught English there, "He liked it, enjoyed living there, but the way I look at it is that he was a poor bastard. His lifestyle there was ghetto."

"I wouldn't encourage it. I'm being honest here. Koreans are the most corrupt people on this planet, even I wouldn't want to live there. Visiting there might be cool, but living there for two years? No way."

LOL... cracking me up... must be horrid there for him to say that about his birthplace.

 

[Edgy]

I agree about Koreans (politically & business-wise) tend to be the most corrupt people I know & I AM a 1.5 generation Korean.

About teaching & living there, it would all depend on what kind of job environment you would end up being in. If you get involved with good people & I know there are some out there, then you would have a blast. But if you're unlucky, then it would truly be miserable.

As for living environments in Korea, it has alot going for it. But then again if you meet good people, you will enjoy it, but if you don't you can experience hell there.

I've know few friends who have gone there for exact same thing and the people they associated with (business acquaintance and friends) have profoundly affected their experience.

But then again I guess that would hold true for most places.

gluck

 

[damocles]

I think i will probably do it, otherwise i will spend the next 10 years wondering what it woul have been like.

The hardest part is leaving the security of my current job

 

[dcdomain]

Alright! Goodluck and stay in contact hehehe. If you wanna get outta there, send for help in the off topic forum and we'll airlift you outta there. Heheheh...

 

[yakko]

I am.