EPTSince I'm trying to get more of my feelings about Korea on paper anyways, I figured I could share whatever information I possess (or am able to possess) about Korea with all those interested.
The most common or interesting questions I get will be edited into the OP, but I'll try to answer all questions put to me in this thread. If I don't know the answer, I will use what resources I have (Korean friends) to try and determine the answer in a timely fashion.
ABOUT ME:
I'm a 23 year old Canada who currently lives in the Seoul area of Korea, working as an English Teacher. I've been in Korea for only 8 months, but in that time I have gone out of my way to try and fully experience Korean culture. I speak the language at a much higher level than most foreigners here (I can hold a pretty causal conversation, but nothing too serious), and interact with a healthy dose of both Korean friends and fellow ex-pat friends. On the whole, I love it here.
I'm a pretty big fan of Starcraft II (played SC1 only on money maps and LT, never took too serious an interesting in the SC1 pro scene, but I can appreciate it for what it is), and follow the Korean Pro Scene to a decent degree.
First question: From a PM I received after my "Korean Christmas Tale" blog.
I am quite curious how you ended up in Korea, as I want to go there myself in 1,5 year as graduation period :D
Name withheld (feel free to identify yourself in the comments, I just don't want to betray any privacy issues related to PMs)
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I ended up in Korea largely due to Korean friends in University encouraging me to give it a try. I first planned on being here only a year, but I like it so much, it may turn into a career. To become an English Teacher in Korea, you need:
1) To be a native English Speaker from an English-speaking country
2) A four year degree (any subject) from an English University
3) A clean criminal record
That's it. It's also preferred if you have any teaching experiance or a TEFL or TESL certificate, but by no means necessary.
The job typically pays around 2.1 million won per month, with a free, furnished apartment, and severance pay equal to 1 month's pay at the end of your contract (almost always 1 year long). By Korean standards, you are getting paid very well.
To apply, simply go to any Korea Jobs board (I suggest Dave's ESL cafe: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/ ) and get in contact with either a school or a recruiter who can guide you through the paperwork required to get a working visa.
1) To be a native English Speaker from an English-speaking country
2) A four year degree (any subject) from an English University
3) A clean criminal record
That's it. It's also preferred if you have any teaching experiance or a TEFL or TESL certificate, but by no means necessary.
The job typically pays around 2.1 million won per month, with a free, furnished apartment, and severance pay equal to 1 month's pay at the end of your contract (almost always 1 year long). By Korean standards, you are getting paid very well.
To apply, simply go to any Korea Jobs board (I suggest Dave's ESL cafe: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/ ) and get in contact with either a school or a recruiter who can guide you through the paperwork required to get a working visa.
How big deal eSports is in South Korea? Like same scale as soccer in europe?
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No. Soccer is bigger in Korea than eSports is.
That said, eSports is largely accepted by all young males in Korea. Almost every male has played SC1 in PC bangs and there are 2 channels on Korean cable that show almost nothing but SC1 games with the odd programming of Tekken or Sudden Attack (basically Korean CounterStrike). I commonly have conversations about Starcraft with my elementary students.
However, this is the same cable that has a channel dedicated to the board game "GO".
I'd say it's popularity is similar to maybe Poker in America: Widely appreciated, but with only a few really dedicated enough to follow in-depth.
That said, eSports is largely accepted by all young males in Korea. Almost every male has played SC1 in PC bangs and there are 2 channels on Korean cable that show almost nothing but SC1 games with the odd programming of Tekken or Sudden Attack (basically Korean CounterStrike). I commonly have conversations about Starcraft with my elementary students.
However, this is the same cable that has a channel dedicated to the board game "GO".
I'd say it's popularity is similar to maybe Poker in America: Widely appreciated, but with only a few really dedicated enough to follow in-depth.
I can't promise to be able to answer everything, and there's probably a few better informed posters on TL who should feel free to contribute to this thread as well.
Ask away:
