What is it like living in Korea? - "This is the question you will be asked, repeatedly by friends and family.

 

This question will drive you crazy because you will not know how to answer it." great advice from a Canada-ESL.com teacher. The reason that this question is so hard to answer is that living in Korea is so many things and is different for every person who goes there. You will hear some good stories, some bad stories, but you will have the chance to make your own story and make of it what you want. If one things holds true about Korea, it is a land of opportunity for native English speaking university grads. You will have the opportunity to make lots of money, become a celebrity, lose yourself, re-invent yourself, pay off student loans, learn to play ice hockey, get a blackbelt in tae-kwon do, learn a new language, meet the love of your life, discover who you are, discover who they are - The sky is the limit and choose any path you wish in Korea. As long as you have a degree, an open mind and a mild sense of adventure, it is yours for the taking and with OUR help, right at your fingertips.

Living in Korea is very different than living in Canada. It is easier in many ways because you will have freedom, more money and more time. But there are also some things you must keep in mind.

With this freedom you may be able to do lots of different things, some productive and some not. We recommend using your time and money for useful things like getting ahead by saving, clearing up debt, traveling and enjoying some good times, but it is your money, time and freedom, do with it as you please. Many people also waste it on the night life which is plentiful. There are lots of restaurants, bars and night clubs everywhere in Korea, if you are one who likes to party you surely wont be alone in Korea.

You will notice right away that Korea is very busy and there is a good mix of people. Foreigners from most countries of the world will be found all through the bigger cities such as Seoul and Pusan. There are even some parts of each city that is more like a foreign country than Korea. You will also notice the tradition mixed amongst the new and ultra modern. Old houses and architecture behind skyscrapers, traditional clothed people walking aside business suits, luxury cars to old scooters and bicycles.

Are people friendly? Most people are friendly in Korea. You will be happy to know that in most cases people will be helpful, especially if you are lost or in some sort of distress. There will be times you will meet people who are not friendly, rude and will even make you angry. This happens everywhere. The worst attitude you can take is, "This wouldn't happen in my country." First of all, you are not in your country, you are in a new country and also in each country different things happen and culture shock makes us think the worst of where we are and the best of where we came from. Take everything with a grain of salt and get on with the things that are positive and we guarantee you that you will find much more good than bad in Korea, what you focus on is up to you.

Other Foreigners - You will meet all kinds. Korea is a gathering place for all types interesting and not. Each person has a different story and you will find many you click with and many you wont. Not to fear, everyone quickly finds someone that they enjoy spending time with and share things in common with, you will too. Are you in to sports such as soccer or ice hockey? How about rugby, yoga, martial arts? Perhaps you are looking for a church to go to, a wine tasting club or a language class. Does pottery turn your wheel? Writing, art, volunteering? Whatever it is you like you will find it in Korea, you will also discover many new things and discover new things about yourself as well. Some of us spent all of our twenties in Korea, some of us spent most of our lives in Korea teaching English, some of us just a year. Which will you be?

Cell Phones - It can be a bit tough to get a cell phone when you first arrive in Korea. You may be required to pay a small deposit, or you can buy a "Pay as you Go" phone, also known as a "Card Phone."

Overseas Calling: Very easy from any phone and quite reasonable rates. You will need an access number for overseas - you will usually dial 001, 002, 007, or some other number then yuor country code, area code and phone number.

Internet - You will never be without internet access in Korea. There are internet cafe's everywhere known as PC Bangs (Bang means room - or cafe in this case). In most of them you can smoke, drink, eat, even sleep, but you are paying by the hour and the cost is very reasonable (a dollar to 2 dollars per hour). They always have very good fast internet connections as well.

Food and Groceries - Korean food is good and bad. Each person will find something they like whether a vegetarian or a strict carnivore. If you like spice or bland. Korean food includes all of the above and more. In general it has a reputation for being spicy, but there are many dishes that are not spicy at all. You will also find every western fast food chain, coffee shop and bakery in every city. There are some stores that sell import food, or bootleg food and groceries obtained from the US military bases. Some advice - take some of your favorite things with you that are small and light. Many people take the cheese powder from Kraft dinner (I can not imagine why someone would miss this stuff after university, but some do), as you can buy the pasta in Korea everywhere. YOu may want some other small snacks too. After being there for a while you will be able to easily find most things you want and miss a few things.

Korean restaurants - Galbi (ribs) barbecued on a grill at your table is a common and popular restaurant set up that you will see everywhere and really develop a taste for. The price is also very reasonable.

Smoking - Korea has many different types of cigarettes and cheap. You will be paying about $2 / pack, we don't recommend smoking for the record.

Drinking - Drinking in a bar is about the same price as Canada, maybe a bit cheaper. Buying beer at a supermarket is much cheaper. Koreans love to drink their famous alcohol called "Soju". Soju is one of a few different types of Korean alcohol which has a taste similar to Vodka, but to most, a killer hangover.

Shopping - You may want to take a supply of clothes of you are bigger. Women often report that they have to take bras bought in Canada because most of the ones in Korea have wires and padding. Korean girls are generally quite petite and small boned.

There are markets, shopping malls, department stores and many places to buy food, clothes, sporting equipment , furniture and whatever you may need. In most places the prices can be negotiated a bit for a discount. They also have something called "Service" which means that they will throw in something extra, for example buy 10 oranges and get one "service" for a total of 11, etc.

Hospitals - Medical care - Medical care is readily available in Korea. There are medical clinics everywhere and the quality is quite good in most cases and the price is always reasonable. A doctor visit will cost anywhere from a couple of dollars at a private clinic to 20 or 30 dollars after hours at the emergency room of a hospital on holidays. This obviously depends on the level of care and treatment needed. Medicine is also very reasonable in Korea. Be sure to let them know about any allergies you may have, as there is not usually much dialogue between patient and caregiver, nor explanations of what you are taking. Medicine comes in little white packages from the pharmacy with no labels, it almost always works well though.

 

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine - Obviously in the orient, oriental care is wide spread and at very reasonable cost. Many westerners are still quite foreign to oriental medicine, but these people know what they are doing.

Traveling - Korea offers many great places to travel. Traveling in Korea is cheap and easy. The busses are plentiful, as are the trains. Flying domestically is also very reasonable. You can travel from end to end of the country doing a different city each weekend and have a great time. Whether you like to visit temples, hike mountains, go to beaches, venture to new cities or out in the country there is always a new and interesting place to visit easily in Korea.

Travel in Asia - Working in Korea provides a great opportunity to travel in Asia. Surprisingly airplane tickets to other Asian countries is very reasonable. Many foreigners take the opportunity to visit the beaches of Thailand, take in the Great Wall of China, see Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam, just to name a few. You will be pleased at how far your savings from working in Korea goes in other countries. Luckily, Korea is one of the wealthy Asian countries with a valuable currency.

Remember, do NOT break the law. For most this is common sense, but for some common sense seems to be absent. You are not in your home country, you are in a country with different laws and punishments. Some ways you can use common sense include NOT using illegal drugs, fighting, illegal working, etc. The punishments in Korea are generally not as severe as some of the other countries you have heard about on the news, but there are stories of foreigners who got caught using drugs who had to go to prison for a few weeks to a few months before being deported back to Canada. There are also stories of foreigners who got caught fighting and had to pay big fines. In Korea it doesn't matter who started the fight, whoever gets hurt will receive money from the other party and lots of money. There may also be other punishments involved. So remember to use some common sense.

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Teach English in Korea

South Korea can easily be described as a “homogenous” society, which means that there are very few people of non-Korean ethnicity that live there. Other than a large contingent of American soldiers, a considerable group of hard-labourers from surrounding poorer Asian countries, and English teachers, there really isn’t anybody there who does not look, walk or talk like a Korean. This automatically implies that there are few people who speak English fluently, and even less people who can teach it. This is a very serious deficiency for a country of 48 million people that has just become a member of the OECD.

So what we are talking about here is a relatively rich country with no native English speakers. The result of the equation is this:

-A high demand by schools, institutes, universities, companies, and private interest groups for native English speakers.

-An opportunity for a native English-speaker with a bachelor’s degree (or higher) to earn some good money while experiencing a life in a society that’s completely different from Canada.

Basically, teachers who go to South Korea can expect to get a good combination of work and leisure time, maintain a great spending/earning/savings ratio and learn much about a fascinating culture. Top

The the ESL Business in Korea
Most ESL teachers in Korea are involved in one or several of these components of the business:

• Private language institutes (a.k.a. “hagwons”)
• Universities and colleges
• Private companies
• Entertainment industry
• Self-employed classes (a.k.a. “privates”)

Private language institutes, or “hagwons”, are simply companies that offer classes with a native English-speaking teacher. There are more companies than anyone can count. Some are huge franchises, others are struggling just to keep one teacher. Many are very successful, while others go bankrupt after one or two months. The biggest market is for children, but there is also a considerable market for adults.

Children’s hagwon: These schools basically run extracurricular programs for students. Classes typically run from 3 p.m. to 9 or 10 p.m., although many schools also run a kindergarten program in the morning and early afternoon.

Advantages:
-Good compensation, usually 2.0 - 2.3 million won per month + airfare + apartment
-Good schedule, typically 6-7 hours a day, from 3 to 9 or earlier if teacher likes teaching kindergarten

Disadvantage:
- some pepole dislike working with children

Adult hagwon: These schools cater to just about anyone past school age who wants to learn a foreign language. These schools usually operate outside of regular work hours to accommodate people with day jobs. Classes typically run from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then from 6 p.m. to 10 pm. Top

Advantages:
-Working with adults instead of children is often appealing
-Descent compensation, 1.7 to 2.0 million won per month + airfare + apartment

Disadvantage:
-Typically “split shifts”, for example 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Universities:
Most universities hire foreign staff to help their students with foreign language conversation skills. Hours are great, the pay is descent and you get lots of vacation. Of course, there is a lot of competition for these jobs, and universities usually have no trouble finding staff. Most positions are filled by expats that have been living in South Korea. A master’s degree, along with considerable work experience in the field is often required.

 

Advantages:
-Quite good compensation, a steady 2.0 - 2.5 million won (or more depending on qualifications) + overtime options + much more vacation

Disadvantages:
-Typically no airfare / sometimes no apartment. TOP

Other opportunities:
There are quite a few other kinds of opportunities for English teachers in Korea. Some people work for private companies or corporations and do very well for themselves. The TV industry also produces English education shows. Foreigners who can speak Korean often find great jobs in this field. Finally, many teachers eventually get into the editing and publishing businesses. People in these kinds of jobs are usually quite happy and have no trouble paying their bills. These kinds of opportunities are usually reserved for people who have been in South Korea for at least a few years and thus are much better established.

Korea certainly has a lot to offer, especially to someone who is only planning to stay one or two years. Top

Traveling in Korea
From a traveler’s point of view, South Korea is a pleasant and fascinating place to travel. The land area is quite small, and the transportation is very well develop. There is usually a bus or train going to anywhere you want to go, at anytime. And it’s cheap (compared to Canada). The traffic can get very heavy, but it’s usually easy enough to plan a trip around rush hour and peak travel season. Many people teaching in Korea have lots of free time to travel.

The history of Korea is commonly believed to be about 5000 years old. The country is rich in traditions and folklore, temples and palaces, and remnants of peacetime and war. From Buddhism to Confucianism, monarchy to democracy, golden age to foreign invasion, the evolution of this country has been no doubt remarkable. All towns, big or small, have at least something to offer to a curious traveler.

Even if Korea doesn’t interest you much, it is still a great location for a home base. Lots of teachers will live and work in Korea, but then take advantage of its geographic position to go visit other countries in East Asia like Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, or the Philippines.

Living Expenses / Savings
The cost of living is no doubt cheaper than Canada. This is due in part to the lower average labour cost in the services industry. The minimum wage for people working in restaurants, hair shops, taxis or retail is two to three times lower than Canada. Some areas in Seoul that cater to the high class and to foreigners will cost you a pretty penny. But after a little shopping and exploring, one can usually find everything they need at a much lower price than back home. English teachers in Korea typically save large portions of their yearly income. Saving all you need tp pay off student loans is not a problem. Those who are determined save very large amounts in very short periods of time.

English teachers in Korea make enough money to live in comfort, are well entertained and save money.

Korea ESL Jobs - How to spend your Holidays Travel!
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Teaching in Korea provides you with a great opportunity to travel. You will get at least 15 days per year national holidays, long weekends and vacation on top. Luckily, the Korean Won (money) is worth a lot in and out of Korea. Your salary of 2 million won will be about 2400 / monthly and you will be able to save a lot because of your veryu low expenses. Remember that your housing is paid for.

Traveling in Korea is very easy and cheap. You can take busses to any city you want and you can get accomodations very cheap which are available everywhere. You can get a hostel type of room for about 20 dollars or less. You can also get a nice Motel room in a new building for 40 to 60 dollars / night. Prices on these accomodations gets even cheaper outside of the bigger cities and if you shop around. In many cases you will make friends in other cities and you can stay with them when you visit them too.

Traveling outside of Korea: Many teachers take advantage of the close proximity to China, Japan, South East Asia, Australia and the cheaper airfares out of Korea to see more of the world. Just about every teacher in Korea heads to Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam for some relaxation, sun and a great holiday. China is also very close. You can get tours advertised in Korean (English) newspapers like the Korea Herald which is available everywhere or visit a travel agency in Korea. The other countries are very cheap and beautiful offering you a very nice look at history, culture, sun & fun, beaches, just about anything you are interested in seeing. You are on the othe side of the world, take advantage. If you return to Canada I am sure you wont have time or opportunity or the advantage of going as cheaply as you can from Korea to these places.

Disclaimer: This information is a broad and general overview of what to expect in Korea. This information was accurate at the time of writing, we in no way accept responsibility for inaccurate information used which causes inconvenience or damage. Each person must personally verify all information before taking action. You should always use common sense and discretion in any situation in any country. Verify everything before you act and seek proper, up to date and accurate advice before you make decisions.

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