Dear Korea,

As a Korean adoptee who can’t speak the language, you proved to me that it is possible to find work other than teaching English in Seoul. I got lucky though because I was ready. I’ll admit I was skeptical at first, but I’ve always believed in looking past boundaries if you want something badly enough. Finding ways to create new opportunities and certainly noticing when they come your way.

When I made the decision to move here, I had no idea what I was going to do for work. How would I support myself for a year with no ability to speak Korean? There are many options for teaching English, most of which provide a good income and some even provide housing. I considered this and reached out to as many people as I could about finding the best teaching programs. One that came recommended by a couple friends was EPIK. It still didn’t feel right. I knew it could be a great experience but continuing my career growth trajectory has always been something I’ve worked really hard to do. I had to see what else was out there because if I could at least find something aligned to my previous experience, I could keep building.

Some friends in my network had connections that led to introductions and several conversations. Momentum. Sometimes that’s all you need to keep pushing yourself forward. At first, finding non-English teaching jobs seemed hopeless, especially if you can’t speak the language. I got discouraged a bit, but one evening a friend of mine who also happens to be a Korean adoptee, told me about a marketing role for a startup with Korean Americans who could speak English. I had my first conversation with the company a few days later. As all the words of my previous years’ experience flowed out of me, I listened to myself in that moment and realized that every job before had prepared me for this opportunity. Within 2 days I had an offer, which actually came to me on my birthday. Since coming to Korea I’ve met others who have non-teaching jobs that don’t know the language, so there are opportunities. It may take some time to network or build your own path, but it is possible. I’m not saying it’s easy or that it will work out this way for everyone, but anyone considering moving here should realize it is possible to continue building on what you already started and where you are today.

As Korean adoptees, you actually get an F4-Visa which I obtained with the help of an organization called G.O.A.L. If you are not a Korean adoptee here are some options of work visas. Another option I learned about recently is to obtain a Start-Up visa supported by the Korean government through a point system program called Oasis. The previous main requirement for a startup visa was a registered patent in Korea, however this new program has changed this. If you’re considering starting your own business in Korea there are a lot of considerations and encourage you to check out the Seoul Global Center which provides free business classes for foreigners who want to launch their own startup. You can get a good perspective on someone who did this here.