On working in Korea

By Adam Borowski

As an outsider who is considering living and working in Korea, I pay close attention to articles and opinions about the country. The recent news of Korea ranking low on expats' favored nations list has certainly given me food for thought.

What do outsiders like me want to know before moving to Korea? I've come up with a list of questions and concerns about living and working in Korea. Imagine the following scenario. I arrive in Korea. My work visa is in perfect order. It's time to sign a contract with my employer. And here my doubts begin. The most important question arises: does the Korean version of the contract take precedence over the English version? I'm assuming that the answer is a resounding yes.

Clearly, a lawyer specializing in Korean employment law would need to confirm that both versions of the contract (English and Korean) are identical. I hope my cautious behavior won't be mistaken for rudeness. Polish culture relies on direct communication and I'm acutely aware this isn't the norm in Korea. I will need to soften my communication style to avoid coming off as pushy.

Foreigners have trouble settling in if they are ignored. Case in point, my first day in Chengdu (China) was chaotic and unnerving. I was stuck in a hotel room with no way to contact my employer. All sorts of unpleasant scenarios were flashing through my mind. Luckily, I was contacted by the employer several hours later.

Then, there's the issue of taxes. I know Poland and Korea have signed a treaty of double taxation avoidance, which is great news for me. Still, I need to read up on the Korean tax system. I'm sure it's easy to set up a bank account in Korea.

What are Korean landlords like? What happens if there's a (likely) language barrier present? Do I sign a contract with a landlord? How do I pay for electricity, water and gas? Besides, I can't imagine signing a contract without consulting a Korean colleague first. I'm particularly concerned about the fine dust pollution in Korea. I have no way of knowing if the pollution isn't going to cause serious breathing problems for me. When traveling across the world for work, worst case scenarios must be considered.

The drinking culture concerns me as well. While my Korean friends assure me that the drinking culture in Korea is a remnant of the past, current media articles gives me a different impression. There's a dramatic difference between drinking in honor of a superior (employer) and drinking myself into oblivion.

Working in Korea offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the country by car. My understanding is that most cars in Korea are automatic. I'm assuming the Korean Police are strict, and that going over the speed limit isn't tolerated even on highways.

I like trying out riding the subway systems in major cities across the world (London, Moscow and New York City to date). Seoul clearly has a fantastic subway system, comparable in size to the London subway (or the “Tube,'' as it's called by Londoners).

I look forward to living and working in a country with an incredible cultural influence on the world, as YouTube views of the catchy BTS song, “Butter'' demonstrate.

Adam Borowski (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) is a technical Polish-English translator and an international relations aficionado.