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Cost of Living in Korea - Page 3

Blogs > Psyonic_Reaver
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Psyonic_Reaver
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States4342 Posts
December 02 2008 14:44 GMT
#41
Alright. Thanks for the advice everybody! And for that thread Rekrul. ^^

So in light of all this... I need to get rich, get an education, or become fluent in Korean before moving. *I'm crap at SC so joining a pro team is not an option. ^^*
So wait? I'm bad? =(
Boonbag
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
France3318 Posts
December 02 2008 14:52 GMT
#42
smuggle some stuff
CaucasianAsian
Profile Blog Joined September 2005
Korea (South)11598 Posts
December 02 2008 18:03 GMT
#43
go to college, and do study abroad, that way you really can tell if you want to spend al that money to move there
Calendar@ Fish Server: `iOps]..Stark
masami.sc
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States445 Posts
December 02 2008 19:13 GMT
#44
You can try to find like... what are those things called? Where foreigners house with Korean residents? Homestay? There are programs that can find you homestay prospects in Korea, if that helps. Costs should be much cheaper, and meals are usually included. Good luck!
mmmmm...
Rekrul
Profile Blog Joined November 2002
Korea (South)17174 Posts
December 02 2008 19:57 GMT
#45
On December 02 2008 23:16 RaGe wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 02 2008 21:45 Boonbag wrote:
Don't go Korea unless you :

Are going to a pro team

Play poker and have friends there

Are already rich

Have money to invest in a joint venture

Have a degree and an organisation welcoming you there and offering you salary and housing opportunities

Have relatives living there

Are a whatever watersports pro - star - teacher - and got an opportunity teaching it in Busan

Tourist visiting for a few weeks




or unless you have a:

pretty face and can live off that

LOL?


LOOOOOOOL
why so 진지해?
jjun212
Profile Joined December 2004
Canada2208 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-12-02 20:39:18
December 02 2008 20:38 GMT
#46
On December 02 2008 23:44 Psyonic_Reaver wrote:
Alright. Thanks for the advice everybody! And for that thread Rekrul. ^^

So in light of all this... I need to get rich, get an education, or become fluent in Korean before moving. *I'm crap at SC so joining a pro team is not an option. ^^*


Yea bro, seriously.

Getting an undergrad isn't even a big deal. You can do it in something like the arts even.
You like acting??? =D DRAMA DEGREEEEEEE (Even in production, ya know, the peeps who work the labour stuff to get everything going right, awesome people)




Archaic
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States4024 Posts
December 02 2008 20:51 GMT
#47
On December 02 2008 17:46 Rekrul wrote:
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=64142


All right! Stamp your name on it, and throw a few dozen copies into libraries around the world!
lilsusie
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
3861 Posts
December 03 2008 01:16 GMT
#48
On December 02 2008 23:26 nevergg wrote:
Show nested quote +
On December 02 2008 23:00 MayorITC wrote:
If you're American find a way to see if you can work at the American bases in Korea without having to enlist in the Army.

Otherwise, get an English-teaching job. I've had extensive tutoring jobs in Korea as a high school and college student so a degree isn't necessary.


Honestly, you should get a college degree than apply for a position at Seoul Foreign School. The school provides a nice 2 Bedroom lodging for all faculty members. Plus, you get paid in dollars, which used to be awesome before the US economy started sucking. On top of that, you'll be surrounded by an English-speaking community.


If you want a really cheap place to rent, you could also check out Incheon. It's right next to Seoul and rental prices there will be at least half of what they cost in Seoul. The downside is that it takes an hour to commute by subway.


The (University) degree is definitely necessary for all foreigners wanting to teach in hagwons, public or University institutions - you won't even get an interview without it because it's a basic requirement of a teaching visa here. I'm not sure about the specific institute you mentioned, but a degree is the first thing they ask for along with 2 copies of your sealed university transcripts.



I was gonna say the same thing. Within the last year the new president started crackin' down on the whities who are trying to teach without a degree. =/

Good luck, dude.
Follow me on Twitter for pictures of cute gamers and food! https://twitter.com/lilsusie
ShloobeR
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Korea (South)3828 Posts
December 03 2008 01:27 GMT
#49
Itaewon is a horrible place. its like it's trying to mimic the crappy aspects of western cities

I work in Myeongdong and live in Idae, it's pretty awesome here, (theres an outback opposite my building you could work at : D)
: o )
Quesadilla
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States1814 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-12-03 01:50:37
December 03 2008 01:44 GMT
#50
I survived for 3 weeks on $140 w/ free housing.

Food is gnar cheap if you don't care about what you eat
Always go places with friends and split the bill, so cheap that way.
If you aren't insane about clubbing and whatever, there goes all expensive junk
Soju flows like water = cheap
PC Bangs are like $1/hr
Clothes are insane expensive, so don't buy them... at least brand stuff. Go to subway stations and buy cheap crap from the 1,000,000 little stores they have. All rip-off stuff.
Transportation is like $.80 for the subway, so whatever. $.50 for bus. You can find that on the street.
Walk places
Do private tutoring for SKY (Seoul National, Korea Uni, Yonsei Uni) university students, make like $40/hr+ doing conversational English. The less Korean you know, the better. Parents want their kids forced to rely on English. Use the premise of "business language" or some BS.
Make a lot of friends. Wear good clothes. Drink good beer. Love a nice girl.
Psyonic_Reaver
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States4342 Posts
December 03 2008 06:45 GMT
#51
Heh. Well, I'll try to figure something out. The last thing I want to do is fly over there and go broke with no way home. I really don't want to rely on my *cough* good looks and prostitute myself.

Thanks for all the feedback. Very informative.
So wait? I'm bad? =(
Rekrul
Profile Blog Joined November 2002
Korea (South)17174 Posts
December 03 2008 06:51 GMT
#52
yeah whats with all these kids with no degrees just wanting to 'go to korea'

i mean wtf do u wanna get outa it...work a shitty job all day and pray u score an ugly gf?
why so 진지해?
Psyonic_Reaver
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States4342 Posts
December 03 2008 07:10 GMT
#53
I'm pretty tired of working the same shitty jobs here in the States.

To give some background. I lived in Guatemala for 2 years and it was a great experience to learn a new language/culture. Ever since I got home in '06 I've just been working and working and working the same shitty jobs in the same shitty hometown where I grew up.

I am just feeling the desire to just GO somewhere else and meet new people/culture. Like I did with Guatemala. I figured I'm really into StarCraft so why not live in Korea for a year or so and take in all that? I'm not afraid of trying to learn another language or living in a completely different culture. Hell, Korea can't be nearly as third world as Guatemala.

The only problem I see is getting a job in Korea. I'm sure I could get a job SOMEWHERE but I want to make sure I can really afford to make ends meet and pay bills on time. I don't party or club a lot. I mainly like to do my drinking at a friend's house or another neutral place. Clubs and bars are usually disgusting, with dirty, ugly women hitting on you or random jackasses wanting to fight you because you looked at them funny. *Then backing down because they are pussies.*

I would be more then content walking, taking a bus or the subway to wherever I needed to go. In Guatemala I walked almost everywhere. But I really shouldn't compare an Central American culture to an Asian one. VERY DIFFERENT.

Hmm. It's late and I've got to work both jobs for the next few days. Need sleep....
So wait? I'm bad? =(
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
December 03 2008 08:36 GMT
#54
well Brent, if you move to Korea, you'd be doing the exact same boring / menial / dumb jobs in Korea that you would be doing in the states, but probably getting treated worse / paid worse because you are a foreigner.

I think the best advice (like people said) is to go to school and go to Korea on a study-abroad program. I don't know how community colleges are where you're at (or university or state colleges, or w/e you choose to do) work, but at least in CA the community colleges even have study abroad programs. If you go to Korea that way you'll actually have a premise for being there (school related) so you won't have to worry about cleaning dishes or toilets at a restaurant or w/e (some menial job) - you will have less expenses, be with a group of people who speak English, to act as a support/initial group of friends, and probably have a nice taste of Korea and see if it's something you really want to commit to in terms of living there.

If I'm not mistaken, when you went to Guatemala it was for some Church-related program right? Which is good because you actually had a purpose for being there, which probably made the whole trip better - it's not like you packed you bags up and was like "Hey, I'm going to go to Guatemala!" , IMO it's much easier when you are going to a foreign country, especially if you don't speak the language or w/e , to actually have some sort of purpose.
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
Rekrul
Profile Blog Joined November 2002
Korea (South)17174 Posts
December 03 2008 08:42 GMT
#55
Clubs and bars are usually disgusting, with dirty, ugly women hitting on you or random jackasses wanting to fight you because you looked at them funny. *Then backing down because they are pussies.


LOLOLOL HAHAHAHAH

that is never the case in korea

unless u go to one of those shitty army bars in itaewon bring some hot girls and order a bunch of bottles.....then they get ANNNNGRRRY
why so 진지해?
Boonbag
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
France3318 Posts
December 03 2008 09:18 GMT
#56
Best Seoul gay club is in itaewon tho >.>
gg_hertzz
Profile Blog Joined January 2004
2152 Posts
December 03 2008 09:52 GMT
#57
On December 02 2008 18:55 nevergg wrote:


I'm also in total agreement with Rekrul - Itaewon is scummy. I don't know why people like it so much. My friends said it's because of the bookstore and foreign food shop, but you can go elsewhere for 90% of the items you can find there. It's just one boring street which looks really dirty in the day time.

I much prefer to go to shopping districts like Myeongdong, Namdaemun (for the market) and Gangnam (good food ^^.)


Isn't Itaewon where foreigners go to pick up Korean girls? I know there's a place where Korean girls flock to to meet europeans and americans, can't remember the district. Maybe lilsusie know/s
NeverGG *
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United Kingdom5399 Posts
December 03 2008 10:38 GMT
#58
On December 03 2008 15:51 Rekrul wrote:
yeah whats with all these kids with no degrees just wanting to 'go to korea'

i mean wtf do u wanna get outa it...work a shitty job all day and pray u score an ugly gf?


I know a lot of people (especially from Canada.) who come out here to save money (by living cheaply) usually to repay student loans or other debt back home. It seems to be the main motivation of most of the teachers (in my experience anyway.)
우리 행운의 모양은 여러개지만 행복의 모양은 하나
kefkalives
Profile Blog Joined January 2007
Australia1272 Posts
December 03 2008 11:50 GMT
#59
Reaver, instead of going to korea, how about another spanish speaking country? Peru or chile, or maybe just to spain.
prOxi.bOn ; \\ What makes most people feel happy/Leads us headlong into harm.
Cambium
Profile Blog Joined June 2004
United States16368 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-12-03 12:42:52
December 03 2008 12:36 GMT
#60
I only briefly skimmed this thread and I don't remember reading something that answers this question:

Why Korea?

Some of my experiences in Korea:

I lived in Myongdong (?) for four-five days this summer.

- Cost of living in Seoul is fairly cheap. I like to judge the cost of living by the cost of a bottle of water in a convenient store. Seoul was around 60-70 cents, so it's about half of what we are used to. I consider this a pretty decent estimate in terms of hotel, transportation, restaurants, drinks, and admission tickets to various places.

- If you like touring, there really isn't that much in Seoul/Korea, just a couple of gates and temples; but of course, SC...

- The city is pretty crowded and fairly dirty. Public bathrooms are generally disgusting (still much better than China ).

- The subway system is pretty decent, probably more lines than you would expect.

- Almost nobody speaks English...
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
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