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Active: 1645 users

Moving to Korea?

Blogs > Zambrah
Post a Reply
Zambrah
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States7341 Posts
August 24 2016 18:46 GMT
#1
I've been thinking of moving to Korea.

Having finally graduated from college I've been wondering what I should do with my life, and from what I've gathered from all of my professors is that I'm going to wind up spending a few years doing normal non-art jobs. I've heard Korea isnt super expensive to living, I've heard the public transit is outstanding, and also StarCraft is there.

I need some advice though, how do I make this work?

I live in Virginia, US. I am poor. I speak no Korean. I know some people there. I am dating a Korean Diplomats daughter.

How much do you think it takes to get started in Korea?

What kind of jobs would I be eligible for?

How easy would it be to get a job there?


Any other useful information would be great, but I really wanna gtfo of Virginia and see the world a little bit, make a bit of money while living somewhere new, and practice some art on the side and what not.

I already know you sobs out there have done this or are doing this, so I won't take silence for an answer.

Thank you. <3

We're supposed to shoutout Lichter right?

Shoutout to Seeker.

Incremental change is the Democrat version of Trickle Down economics.
RouaF
Profile Joined October 2010
France4120 Posts
August 24 2016 19:59 GMT
#2
Well you're dating a korean diplomats daughter, just mary her and move to korea. Can't believe you couldn't think of this yourself
Zambrah
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States7341 Posts
August 24 2016 20:09 GMT
#3
On August 25 2016 04:59 RouaF wrote:
Well you're dating a korean diplomats daughter, just mary her and move to korea. Can't believe you couldn't think of this yourself


What kinda man doesn't pay his own travel fare?!

Plus shes going to Korea in a month and my itinerary is closer to a year in the future.
Incremental change is the Democrat version of Trickle Down economics.
nbaker
Profile Joined July 2009
United States1341 Posts
August 24 2016 20:12 GMT
#4
I know people who have done English teaching programs in Korea. I think knowledge of Korean language is not a requirement, but I have heard that there are fairly high academic standards you have to meet. Maybe someone who's looked into this knows more.
Zambrah
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States7341 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-08-24 22:26:30
August 24 2016 20:30 GMT
#5
On August 25 2016 05:12 nbaker wrote:
I know people who have done English teaching programs in Korea. I think knowledge of Korean language is not a requirement, but I have heard that there are fairly high academic standards you have to meet. Maybe someone who's looked into this knows more.


My girlfriend's old english teacher did this, I'm planning to ask him for some advice on this, but I'm trying to make sure my horizons are just slightly broader than english teacher as my sole option.

EDIT: Oh, and I assume cars are downright cumbersome in Korea?

Can anyone give rough cost of living estimates in USD?
Incremental change is the Democrat version of Trickle Down economics.
Psyonic_Reaver
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States4337 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-08-24 23:24:55
August 24 2016 23:23 GMT
#6
These blogs of mine may help.

http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/77666-decision-time-going-to-korea
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/83241-cost-of-living-in-korea

Edit: I never went because Korea would never approve my work visa. Basically if you aren't there to teach English, GTFO is the impression I got. Unless you have some high education already for some specialized area but it would still devolve into teach English at some point.
So wait? I'm bad? =(
Zambrah
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States7341 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-08-25 00:20:54
August 25 2016 00:12 GMT
#7
On August 25 2016 08:23 Psyonic_Reaver wrote:
These blogs of mine may help.

http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/77666-decision-time-going-to-korea
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/83241-cost-of-living-in-korea

Edit: I never went because Korea would never approve my work visa. Basically if you aren't there to teach English, GTFO is the impression I got. Unless you have some high education already for some specialized area but it would still devolve into teach English at some point.


Thats not only helpful, its actually hilarious, thank you sooo much.

I do have a college degree (in Illustration though, so, yeah, its a fancy piece of toilet paper)

Sorry it didnt work out for you though. :/

EDIT: Also, do you know if the guys you were talking to are still active around here? I'd love to get as much info as possible.

And I hope living in KR is as cheap as 2008 makes it sound, lol.
Incremental change is the Democrat version of Trickle Down economics.
B-royal
Profile Joined May 2015
Belgium1330 Posts
August 25 2016 01:39 GMT
#8
15 k (dollars??) a month sounds pretty expensive if you live that rekrul lifestyle Lol.
new BW-player (~E rank fish) twitch.tv/crispydrone || What plays 500 games a season but can't get better? => http://imgur.com/a/pLzf9 <= ||
Scarecrow
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Korea (South)9172 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-08-25 01:50:18
August 25 2016 01:41 GMT
#9
How much do you think it takes to get started in Korea? Almost nothing, your employer will usually pay your flight and provide you with an apartment.

What kind of jobs would I be eligible for? English teaching... that's about it.

How easy would it be to get a job there? Very easy, but you'd want to have your E visa before arriving, otherwise it's a short visa run to Japan. The quality of workplaces varies dramatically, so be careful. Public school jobs tend to be better, though the application process is tougher and longer. Hagwon jobs are plentiful but pay has barely increased in the last 5 years.

Can anyone give rough cost of living estimates in USD? It depends on the lifestyle, if you do an Artosis on an egg/tofu diet it's virtually nothing. $1,000-$1,500 would easily cover meals, transport and alcohol unless you're a club fiend/foodie.
Yhamm is the god of predictions
Zambrah
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States7341 Posts
August 25 2016 02:00 GMT
#10
An E Visa? Whats that? I tried googling it but I get the feeling its not necessary an electronic visa, lol.

Do you think its still sustainable with a Hagwon job? (which I will google later!) Do you think a public school would even be interested in someone with an art's degree? Does it help that its one of the most prestigious ones in the world and the sister school to an Ivy league school or would they mostly not care because its not Ivy?

When you say 1 - 1.5K, d'you mean like, monthly? Would that also cover apartments and what not?

Luckily I have no social life and intend to mostly take a lot of that mentally with me, so I'd be okay with pared down expenses and stuff, maybe a little more on diet because I'm trying to live that healthy meat+vegetable+other things life, but mostly simple stuff.

Also ultra-thank-you. <3
Incremental change is the Democrat version of Trickle Down economics.
Scarecrow
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Korea (South)9172 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-08-25 02:18:00
August 25 2016 02:13 GMT
#11
E2 is an Education visa, your employer would sponsor it. Hagwon jobs usually pay around $1.9k (monthly) + you get a free apartment. The 1-1.5k (900-1.35k USD) is also monthly, but it sounds like you could spend less than that, especially if you cook yourself. Doing some sort of TEFL/TESOL course would help with the public application to make up for your lack of experience/relevant degree, though tbh how you look in your photo's just as important as any qualification. I doubt they'll care where you got your degree.

edit: had to fix the numbers a little, I'm used to converting to AUD
Yhamm is the god of predictions
Zambrah
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States7341 Posts
August 25 2016 02:14 GMT
#12
On August 25 2016 11:13 Scarecrow wrote:
E2 is an Education visa, your employer would sponsor it. Hagwon jobs usually pay around $2.1k (monthly) + you get a free apartment. The 1-1.5 is also monthly, but it sounds like you could spend less than that, especially if you cook yourself. Doing some sort of TEFL/TESOL course would help with the public application to make up for your lack of experience/relevant degree, though tbh how you look in your photo's just as important as any qualification. I doubt they'll care where you got your degree.


So it'll help that I'm an attractive white american man?
Incremental change is the Democrat version of Trickle Down economics.
Scarecrow
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Korea (South)9172 Posts
August 25 2016 02:17 GMT
#13
haha that's what they're looking for, yes
Yhamm is the god of predictions
Zambrah
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States7341 Posts
August 25 2016 02:23 GMT
#14
Excellent, excellent, I must let the privilege flooow through meee.
Incremental change is the Democrat version of Trickle Down economics.
Silvana
Profile Blog Joined September 2013
3713 Posts
August 25 2016 02:24 GMT
#15
Hi! I'm no expert and I'm not very well informed but the American girl in my hostel always advices to join Facebook groups for English teachers in Korea, because they're always offering jobs there. Maybe if you look into that you'll get an idea of how much they pay. (I never looked myself because I'm not a native speaker thus it's very improbable they'll hire me, so I don't even try)
Good news: the English teaching jobs are always in high demand
It seems it's not necessary to know Korean. The few teachers I met here certainly cannot speak it. Moreover, there are some schools that demand the teachers to never ever speak in Korean to the students because they want like a full English experience gor them. I wouldn't worry about learning Korean beforehand, but try to get someone to help you once you're here with the paperwork required (apartment contract, going to the bank, etc)
If I were you I'd be looking into reddit for more info, I know there's a sub for english teachers in Korea.
Good luck!
Zambrah
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United States7341 Posts
August 25 2016 02:33 GMT
#16
Awesome, I hadn't thought of that, I really appreciate all the help everyone! I was kinda musing on it but you're all making me feel like its really, really doable! :D
Incremental change is the Democrat version of Trickle Down economics.
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