Has anyone worked/studied in South Korea?
Discussion
I'm seriously considering Teaching overseas next year and the further I get through my certificates, the more I keep reading good things about South Korea. Low tax, reasonable wages and plenty of places to travel to both in country and in the region while I'm there. Living costs also sound quite reasonable so it appears you could quite reasonably save money for further travelling or to bring home. Can UK passport holders claim back the compulsory pension contributions after leaving the country?
My question is has anyone worked or studied in South Korea before and is there anything I should prepare for in terms of culture shock / unexpected problems? I've heard from customers who've worked there that the culture shock takes a bit of getting over but generally it is a good place to live. I've lived overseas before both working and studying and spent a decent amount of time travelling in China and South East Asia last year so it wouldn't be my first experience of being away for long periods.
Finally would there be any real need to run a car in Seoul or Busan for example and as a PHer even if there is no practical need whatsoever I'd probably still try so what are insurance, car purchase, fuel etc costs like?
My question is has anyone worked or studied in South Korea before and is there anything I should prepare for in terms of culture shock / unexpected problems? I've heard from customers who've worked there that the culture shock takes a bit of getting over but generally it is a good place to live. I've lived overseas before both working and studying and spent a decent amount of time travelling in China and South East Asia last year so it wouldn't be my first experience of being away for long periods.
Finally would there be any real need to run a car in Seoul or Busan for example and as a PHer even if there is no practical need whatsoever I'd probably still try so what are insurance, car purchase, fuel etc costs like?
Edited by v15ben on Wednesday 21st October 13:40
I've a good friend who went to teach English there. He isn't a teacher in the UK, he just went on a scheme for 2 years, I think. By all accounts, he loved it - for the reasons you mentioned. The only gripe I seem to remember him saying he had was not the fault of SK; I think accommodation was provided by the program he was on, and it was awful.
I've heard plenty of good things, I would consider it, myself. Like many countries in Asia/Far East, expat standard of living is very high...
I've heard plenty of good things, I would consider it, myself. Like many countries in Asia/Far East, expat standard of living is very high...
My mate did it as well, i'm tempted to do somthing similiar in Thailand, just doing my research at mo.
My mate said:
Good pay (where he was) he worked for private schools and parents were keen to get their kids speaking english, so they would pay over the odds for private 1-1 lessons, many people earnt a fair whack of cash to continue their travelling
His school was keen for him to speak English ALL the time, which was great and he only knew the very basics of Korean
Good base for travelling, loads of places and opportunities nearby!
He like it and made some good friends and met his gf there!
My mate said:
Good pay (where he was) he worked for private schools and parents were keen to get their kids speaking english, so they would pay over the odds for private 1-1 lessons, many people earnt a fair whack of cash to continue their travelling
His school was keen for him to speak English ALL the time, which was great and he only knew the very basics of Korean
Good base for travelling, loads of places and opportunities nearby!
He like it and made some good friends and met his gf there!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
You forgot to mention the breath-takingly overt racism. I've worked all over the world and, in a lot of places that the pub bore will tell you are hell-holes, I've had brilliant times and found more than enough to like. S Korea is the one place to which all the money on God's earth couldn't drag me backI'm in Seoul till the end of the year, cool place (literally right now... 5C max!). Language is tricky, as is the metro as there isn't much in the way of English signage. The little bit of local food I've had so far, I've loved & the people by and large seem very friendly & helpful with only the occasional 'starer' 
I would not want to be driving in Seoul - the standards are terrible and it surprises me there aren't more accidents! Besides, the metro is dirt cheap and quick.
This seems to be a good board populated by lots of English teachers, mainly in Seoul: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewforum.php?f=1&...
I've got lots more to see and do but I really do like what I've seen of the place so far...... And of course with Tokyo, Shanghai & Hong Kong only a short(ish) flight away its a good opportunity to see other places which would be a long haul from the UK.
N. Korea does sound like a possibility, what I read on the ESL board seemed to suggest you can do a boat trip from China then a bus tour down to Pyongyang....
I would not want to be driving in Seoul - the standards are terrible and it surprises me there aren't more accidents! Besides, the metro is dirt cheap and quick.This seems to be a good board populated by lots of English teachers, mainly in Seoul: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewforum.php?f=1&...
I've got lots more to see and do but I really do like what I've seen of the place so far...... And of course with Tokyo, Shanghai & Hong Kong only a short(ish) flight away its a good opportunity to see other places which would be a long haul from the UK.
N. Korea does sound like a possibility, what I read on the ESL board seemed to suggest you can do a boat trip from China then a bus tour down to Pyongyang....
Probably a good place for teaching overseas - on the positive side;
- German-style beer halls
- Great food - great kim-chi
- Relatively high standrd of living and fairly cheap for SE Asia
- Proximity of Japan and the rest of SE Asia, great transport links
- Lots to see and do in-country - the border with N.Korea is surreal
- People very friendly at a personal level
On a more negative note;
- Not the easiest languages to learn - and reading very difficult
- Very dodgy people to work with professionally - trustworthy behaviour not in abundance
- Climate is OK - but winter can be very unpleasant
If I were you, I'd go for it - living in a foreign culture for extended periods very much broadens the mind..JFDI
PS If Korea is not to your liking - it's a relatively easy short hop to Japan where the economy is finally picking up and there is a gently growing demand for English teachers
- German-style beer halls
- Great food - great kim-chi
- Relatively high standrd of living and fairly cheap for SE Asia
- Proximity of Japan and the rest of SE Asia, great transport links
- Lots to see and do in-country - the border with N.Korea is surreal
- People very friendly at a personal level
On a more negative note;
- Not the easiest languages to learn - and reading very difficult
- Very dodgy people to work with professionally - trustworthy behaviour not in abundance
- Climate is OK - but winter can be very unpleasant
If I were you, I'd go for it - living in a foreign culture for extended periods very much broadens the mind..JFDI
PS If Korea is not to your liking - it's a relatively easy short hop to Japan where the economy is finally picking up and there is a gently growing demand for English teachers
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