So, I’ll probably explain more about the “reasons for going back to Korea,” but one reason that definitely stands out that is a very strong justification for the migration back: cost of living.
I didn’t expect this, to be frank. I came back originally to escape many of the pressures of life that seem to be overwhelming in Issaquah. However, after moving here, I’ve been making a bit less than in the U.S. The year before I entered the Real Estate business, I topped out at about $63k/year plus options and other benefits at Expedia. It wasn’t a bad salary, but we were still going into further and further in debt. My year in Real Estate generated about $130k in income…maybe more…probably closer to $150k, but I had a hard time keeping track. It was the first time I did so well in life. Plus, minus the tax man, I didn’t really have any reason to keep track as long as it didn’t disappear.
After arriving here in Korea, I was just seeking to make at least 3 million won a month, which seem to be the high end of salaries posted on all the different boards advertising English jobs. If I found a corporate job, I think I may have made more, but since my Korean skills were lacking and I didn’t have the established network locally, that wasn’t possible. CDI helped me make that initially.
However, when I was promoted to HI, my salary quickly bumped up to the 3.5 to over 5 million mark in some months when I worked a lot. Right now, I’m making about 5 million won a month, but sending Jooyoung between 3 and 3.5 million a month. I spend about 1 million a month in monthly expenses and save about 500,000 won a month. It may not seem like a lot, but it’s better than the debt I was accumulating before moving out here — despite making all that money in Real Estate. We were paying as much as $2000 a month for just our cars. I won’t beat this one too much, but let’s just say “I didn’t need to drive an Audi,” but someone did. 
So, Korea has been wonderful when it comes to the fact that I’m finally saving in my life and that includes paying most of my salary to my family, taking a couple trips — been to Fukuoka and the U.S. already this past year & I do eat well on a regular basis. My housing is paid for though…so that’s a little extra, I guess. However, the lack of other expenses really makes life financially great.
The other thing I started to realize very much was that this was meant to be. I’m finally starting business(es) that I’ve been dreaming about doing for a while. My current lifestyle allows for that with little risk. Also, I didn’t realize it as much until recently, but I’m at, if not very close to center stage of the world for the next 50 years. While the U.S. still dominates the world economy. I’m going to argue that the Chinese will overtake the U.S. in the next 5-10 years and that being here is actually a little more exciting in many ways.
It will also provide more opportunity. One of my ideas of creating an information portal in English to China is honestly very timely. While others will do similar things, I think I’ll be more successful because it will be a collaborative effort. It won’t be about making money either as much as it will be about creating good information for all those who are interested & educating Chinese on how to speak, read, listen and write English via the website. So, look for http://chinapedia.info to be honestly a very highly trafficked site moving forward. I’m really excited…
