There’s a high supply of jobs in Seoul as the city is responsible for more than 20% of South Korea’s GDP. With a population of 9,963,000, Seoul is also the largest metropolitan area in South Korea. It is considered to be one of the richest cities in the world due to the thriving economy. Companies such as LG and Samsung have contributed to Seoul’s prosperity and continue to provide job opportunities to large numbers of people including foreigners. Some of the sectors that drive the economy are information technology, education and the heavy industry.
Once you have secured a job in Seoul, your employer will act as your sponsor and arrange for a work permit. The Ministry of Justice is charged with approving the work permit and then issues a certificate that enables an individual to apply for a visa in your home country. This can take up to four weeks and the visa will last for around a year. Expats arriving in Seoul on a tourist visa will not be able to convert this into a work visa - this needs to be done by the South Korean consulate or embassy.
Workers in Seoul earns around 11,000,000 KRW per month. Salaries can range from 1,490,000 KRW to 48,700,000 KRW depending on factors such as previous education, years of experience and others. Once workers in Seoul cross 10 years of work experience, their salary will see an increase of up to 21%, while those who have crossed 15 years can see an additional 14% increase.
Children in Seoul start schooling at a very young age. Education, in general, is taken very seriously - working hours are pushed back to minimize traffic so that students are not late for their exams.
The education system includes six years of primary education, three years of middle school and three years of high school. It is common to find classes divided by gender, but this has changed significantly over recent years.
Seoul’s high schools are divided into academic and vocational schools. Academic schools lead students on the path to higher education and therefore is the preferred type of school to attend for most students. High school students face a rigorous school day - classes start at 8 am and sometimes will run past midnight. A typical school day involves studying before and after school hours.
There are three types of school options for students - Korean schools, Homeschooling and International Schools.
Local Korean schools are preferred for those parents who plan on living in the country for several years in order to help their children adapt into Korean society easily. Homeschooling has become popular amongst expat parents due to the practicality of homeschooling. International schools mostly offer the American or British curriculum and charge tuition fees from 12,000 to 30,000 USD per year.
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