Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and ideas, it's a big deal for them, especially in a culture where that's often discour-
aged.
The flip side of the coin is that a lot of “teachers” show up in South Korea thinking a
stint in a
hagwon
will be a no-stress way to fund a vacation. Teaching is a job, and a pretty
tough one at that, so count on instructing driven and demanding older learners or boisterous
kids with demanding parents, and plan accordingly.
Striking out on your own is a risky venture anywhere and seems even more so in South
Korea, where signing up with the largest possible conglomerate and sticking with it for life
remain the goal of a large part of the working population. But the country is beginning to
foster an entrepreneurial culture in some areas, particularly in industries such as hospitality
and the arts. The government is also steadily easing the rules governing foreign start-ups.
Still, make no mistake—you'll almost inevitably need a lot of local help, or exceptional
Korean language skills, and a lot of luck.
