Living and Working in Korea

**semi c** · 10-06-2004, 20:01

Wazzzah!!!

I currently have only 2 semesters left of uni and just for fun I have elected to learn Korean (even though I'm studying IT). I should have basic language skills, though I'm sure I could supplement them somehow in my spare time.

When uni finishes (around July 2005) I would love to go to Korea and to train and see the sites.

Is their much of a demand in Korea for English teachers?
Is it hard for a foreigner to get work in Korea?
What experiences have any of you had, living, training, visiting Korea?

I have done very little research at the moment and was just interested in some ideas/experiences that some fellow MAs may have had.

Even if I couldn't get work or live there... I'm still going anyway !!!

c'yas

**dadams** · 10-06-2004, 20:32

There is a large demand for English conversational teachers in Korea in schools called Hagwans.
There are numerous businesses that can set-up everything for you including visas etc.
It is strongly urged that you do a fair bit of web surfing on the net about this as it may not be what you think or hope for. There is a lot of info on the net on teaching english in Korea.
As with anything like this do your research first before signing anything.
The main important thing to consider is the difference in customs which many people have difficulties in overcoming.
All the same, I wish I had down this after I finished uni. Now with a wife and child it is a little too difficult.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Damian Adams.

**semi c** · 10-07-2004, 20:14

Thanks Damian,

I will definitely keep those things in mind.

One of those business schools sounds like the go!

c'ya

**josh jennings** · 11-16-2004, 14:57

I lived in Seoul, Korea for a year. As stated earlier, there are a lot of English conversation schools, but some of them are basically babysitting operations. I suggest you find out as much as you can about the hagwan you will be teaching at before going there.

I had problems getting paid at times as well. My boss ended up selling the hagwan without even telling us. This kind of behavior by hagwan owners is not atypical, sorry to say.

As far a training goes, it was great. I paid 100,000 won (about 80 USD) a month for 5 classes a week.

Hope this helps.

**ushankido** · 11-17-2004, 10:46

I've got a friend who's been living there for the past year and he loves it. Just do a little research first. Good luck!

**planemechanic** · 12-25-2004, 14:05

I was just offered a job within my company for a two-year stint in Pusan, South Korea. I'm going. My wife and two kids, ages 7 and 9 (10 in January) are going with me. They will follow me after about 60 days.

I will be making a 1 week trip to Pusan/Busan in January and then moving within a month or two.

I'm excited. The company picks up the cost of housing and a car just for a start and then there is more in the expat package from work that they are still putting together.

We homeschool the kids so that shouldn't change much except we are now all going to learn korean.

**D Dempsey** · 01-05-2005, 15:49

Busan is a real nice city, plus its where I met my wife. Do you plan on training while you're there?

**jwinch2** · 01-15-2005, 10:42

I lived in ROK for 15 months while I was in the Army. My girlfriend at the time was a Canadian whom was teaching english in Seoul.

It appears that many of the teachers teach at the schools or on Yonsan post in order to get on-post passes but most of the money they make comes through networking and teaching private or small group lessons at businesses and in homes.

This is technically illegal and if you are caught you could be deported or lose your work visa. However, all of the language instructors I knew did it.

Most of the foreingers in Seoul lived in the Itawon area. This is fairly close to the Yongson army post and also has some of the better shopping and night life where foreigners are more welcome.

My advice, learn the subway system ASAP! It will save your life and is much easier than the bus system for in-city travel.

Good luck!

Jason

**planemechanic** · 01-15-2005, 11:52

I'm not sure if I will be training while I'm over there or not. I was into Jujitsu before and I really don't want to change to a new art. I will be looking into it though. I never feel better than when I come home tired and sore from a good workout.

Living in Pusan should be a treat, 3 1/2 million people and lots to do. I will probably live near Haeundae Beach where many expats live. From there I should be able to take the subway to work at the airport. I would rather not drive it everyday.

I will be looking for a three bedroom apartment and some good schools for the kids. My wife is ahead of me already in learning the hangual alphabet. I downloaded most of the Pimsleur Korean and that's should be a good start.

**jwinch2** · 01-15-2005, 12:07

Pusan is a fun place...

As far as finding JJ over there that might be hard. Following the Japanese occupation and subsequent supression of Korean martial arts there is a pretty heavy antipathy toward anything Japanese that still exists today. Remember that was only about 60 years ago.

You should be able to find several legit hapkido schools, kuk sool, or hwarang, and maybe even a few daitoryu schools if you look hard enough. That way you could train in something would at least be in the same family, with the use of throws and joint locks etc.

Now, before all of the Korean martial arts traditionalists jump all over me for compairing Korean arts to JJ. I KNOW that they are not the same!

**D Dempsey** · 01-15-2005, 15:23

Actually finding a Jiujitsu school in korea probably won't be all that difficult. The koreans are real big fans of grappling. If you want you could look into taking judo, or yudo as they call it. Yudo is increadibly popular in korea, that what I studdied while I was living there, they're just crazy about it. As for jiujitsu it will probably have a different name. The koreans teach almost all of the japanese arts but they give them korean names, so if anything it will be a translation issue. If anything hapkido isn't all that different then jiujitsu. Oh and the Busan subway is real easy, it only has 2 lines. Well good luck.

**gmtkd** · 02-19-2005, 21:56

My grandmaster is starting a program to help americans have an opportunity to work and train in Korea. I don't understand all of the details and I think he expected it to be poeple from our own organization. But, if any individuals are interested I can try to put them in touch with someone who knows more than I do about this program.
email me a gmtkd@zianet.com

By the way "Wagi," from what I know, is Korean term that is used for grappeling.

Marcy Shoberg

**mateo** · 12-02-2005, 21:51

I was hired from abroad by ELS International (which also runs ECC - the Children's school). They are probably the biggest school chain in Korea. I never had problems getting paid by them but other teachers had lots of problems at smaller private institutes. I think it was a good place to start before you move in teaching privately or business classes.

Of course that was just my experience in Seoul at Songpa ECC.

It is nice to get set up with an apartment and get your airfare paid as well.

That was the deal back in 1995.

**rupertmja** · 12-03-2005, 06:54

If at all possible, do not find a job through a recruiter - too many bad stories. Find one by yourself and you have a 50/50 chance of getting a half-decent job.

Check this job site out:http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/index.php

Avoid recruiters - anyone advertising jobs in different places etc.