Why Are Foreigners Leaving South Korea?

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[KExplorer]

Are you planning On Coming to or Leaving Korea, if yes let me know in the comments.

[rockinchik]

I've lived here over 7 years and finally plan to leave in June. The number 1 reason why is the lack of holidays/vacation days. Korean culture is all about "living to work." But I want to "work to live."

[downundabrotha]

My Aunty moved to Korea just to teach English and now she owns a few businesses there with her husband. So it really depends on what you make out of it.

[casanovafrankenstein]

I had lived in Korea for 15 years and moved back to the US a little over 6 years ago with my family. Korea was a great place, and I agree with a lot of what these people are saying. It can be tough once you hit the ceiling of working as an English teacher. Even though I had a permanent resident visa, which allowed me to work anywhere, I was still limited. I also didn't want my children to have to experience the pressure of Korean schools. It can be crushingly difficult. Even though I love Korea, and Seoul is my second home, I am glad to be back in the US. I am really looking forward to next week though, as we are going back to visit my wife's family for two weeks in Seoul. I can't wait!

[leahschannel]

I agree with a lot of what was mentioned in this video! I lived in Korea for 3.5 years, actually took the time to learn the language through kiip, and explored other options outside of teaching English. Unfortunately there’s just no opportunity for foreigners to establish a life long term there because of the lack of job opportunities outside of teaching English. Tbh even being an English teacher in Korea is not ideal because it’s extremely draining and not really the career field a lot of us see ourselves in. With teaching the hours are super long, the workload is A LOT and there’s no opportunity to advance/move up the ladder. Not to mention you get very little vacation/personal time… it’s sad because Korea is an amazing place to live but for a lot of people it’s just not realistic 😔

[skswldms]

8:16 Spent half her life in Korea, but is only now considering to start learning the language. Incredible.

[darrenlamb]

I lived in Korea for four and a half years. Let me start with the positives. Korea is a very convenient, safe, and modernized country. Everything from Coupang to Baemin to public transit makes life easy. All of the transportation signs are in English. There are lots of resources and entertainment options in English too (movies, bookstores, events, etc). While I did meet some nice Koreans, more often than not, they were dating a foreigner or had studied abroad (to be frank, they had become less "Koreanized"). Lastly, Korea, especially Seoul, has a lot of great festivals, events, bars, and cafes to check out. In my opinion, Korea is a great place to test the waters for life abroad.

Despite all these positives, I found Korean society and culture to be cold, unforgiving, and suffocating. The work culture is nonsensical. EVERYTHING is a bottom-line decision or to save face. Decisions are constantly made last second or in a reactive manner. Nothing is ever carefully thought out or planned. The administration plans for nothing. Not only that, Korean bosses use absurd reasoning to ostracize, berate, and eventually oust employees. The relative social status and hierarchy of the Korean workplace, culture, and society are stupid to me. Skill or expertise does not have an age requirement.

The educational culture is the same way. It's all about the bottom line. Kids who really need help or special education, don't get it because Korean parents believe it makes them look bad (loss of face). Moreover, it's a textbook-driven, test-oriented, and teacher-centered pedagogy that results in a mass loss of interest and motivation. Additionally, students are constantly stressed and worried about an exam. It could be a middle school, high school, or college entrance exam, or simply an exam at their hagwon. These poor kids are tested to oblivion.

Moreover, Korea always gave me the feeling of "you're not Korean, you'll never be Korean, you're just a foreigner. You're here out of necessity, not because we want you here." I recall the few bars that posted signs "no foreigners." I also remember that time that the government tried to force EVERY foreigner in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do to get a covid-19 test. Basically, foreigners and locals live in two separate bubbles despite living in close proximity. On top of everything else, my friends and have experienced that classic phrase "foreign friends" that Koreans use; further creating that separation and feeling of otherness. On top of that, old Koreans are some of the rudest people I've ever met. They push or elbow you on the train, cut you line, talk over you in conversation, etc.

Koreans also never stop complaining about Japan or explaining their "han" to people (a type of suffering unique to Koreans only). You hear little kids say awful things about Japan, obviously learning it from their relatives. In my opinion, it's nothing more than a political act to gain votes. Because quite frankly, Koreans weren't too nice to Vietnamese women during the Vietnam War which is the same thing Korea ostracizes Japan about. Plus, they seem to disregard the fact Japan invaded Vietnam, Malaya, Taiwan, and China too. But, Koreans conveniently ignore that historical fact because it doesn't fit their narrative.

I'll try to end on a positive note again. I do not regret my time in Korea. I met a lot of wonderful friends (albeit not a lot of Korean friends). I learned so much about Confucianism, Buddhism, the Korean War, globalization, Asian work and educational culture, and Korean/East Asian etiquette and manners. There is absolutely no doubt that I am a better, more well-rounded person for having lived there. Nonetheless, you could not pay me enough money to move back for the aforementioned reasons.

[alewis]

Hi, Thanks to the interviewer, the people that agreed to be interviewed and all the people in the comments that have shared your experiences about living, working, visiting or leaving Korea. For me that knew nothing about this it's been wonderful to learn so much stuff I had no idea about. I like learner about new things especially from people that have first hand experience. Thanks so much.❤

[abeck]

Again, you keep striking goldmines with your vlogs. Love the openness and frank responses. K, you are the best.

[coldspring]

Korea is a tough country to live in. Just ask Koreans - struggle begins at elementary school and never stops. Most Koreans would love to live somewhere else like USA where life is not so stressful.

[FlavorofMind]

As usual, great to hear perspectives from the interviewees! Could be a good thing for Korean citizens to hear and consider as well. I have heard many people complain about work culture in Korea.. And inflation/exchange rates have made the equation of earning money a bit more difficult on folks that ultimately want to convert their income to a foreign currency. Interesting food for thought.

[terrayi]

2:23 Unfortunately about visa thing, that is pretty much same situation for "foreigners" with limited visa in anywhere in the world. Not specific to Korea.

[whctjsdlfqhrlfprl]

If you think about it, you can get a okay job in overseas just because you speak your mother language.. lol. That's freaking privilege.

[ezRicky]

One thing that will always be consistent like you dropping video, is the drip you always wearing each video! You really put it on bro!

[smartbusinessltd]

Am glad you bring out these various opinions to us …thanks bro

[robert-antoinedenault]

I lived there many years ago but contrary to the people interviewed here, i didn't go there as a teacher but as a carpenter specialised in historical construction jointed without nails (high school diploma😂😂😂) with an E9 work visa that is valid for less than 5 yrs. I had such a busy and fully booked schedule (so many OT hours=banked hours) with many weeks off as vacation; as the demand declined slightly during the winter and during "jangma". We were not limited to the peninsula as we were in demand also in Japan and in China. The wage was never a problem; even now the salary varies from 45k to 56k/yr (for employees) as food, insurance and living expenses are covered by the employeur with free korean classes or 85k-97k (independent contractor).

[jamiehotchner]

한국사람이 외국 나가도 똑같이 세탁소나 마켓 캐셔 정도 밖에 못하는 것처럼 외국 사람도 여기 와서 잘 해봐야 영어선생님이나 그 외 통역사 이 정도 뿐이니까 그렇지.. 어느 나라사람이나 결국 남의 나라에서 일하는 건 다 힘들다.

[breakawayx]

Been here since 2010. Taught english for 10 years in the public school system...good and bad experiences but mostly good. Spent a lot of time fooling around on youtube and realizing there are unlimited things you can try but eventually you need to start making some money or find a career lol. I'm still in Korea, but don't know how much longer I can last. Teaching and kids is great, but as you get older, it's different, you ain't that young guy anymore and ppl treat you differently once you get "older" and they just look for the next young fresh faced innocent wide eyed naive foreigner to take advantage of :)

[cherrylove]

In canada, people staying here is also the same. Not paid well compared to the cost of living. Without help of family, not easy to survive. It is not just about in Korea.

[hjhgg]

Korea culture expects you sacrifice for work. But also, I noticed that most of the non-Koreans living in Korea are not that competitive in their own countries. Most of them work as an English teacher or 'model' because they do not have other specific skills or expertise. I have met many non-Koreans in Korea who are nice but didn't go to good school in their countries and their majors are not considered to get a good jobs.