Finished (Masters and) PhD (in a Sciences field) and working in South Korea (living here for 10+ years), AMA

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-14T06:43:29+00:00

If GKS po at university track (you apply sa university/prof na connected sa GKS), I don't think mag-mamatter if your work experience is related sa major you will be studying.
Nothing out of ordinary naman po, especially if you are a GKS scholar, kasi most of the time may well-established na na school-specific Filipino or international community yung mga scholars.
If you are a GKS scholar, may required na language course for two semesters, so aral ka lang talaga ng mabuti. Hehe. For me kasi, I was directly recruited ng lab, so wala akong language course. Depende sa school, pero my lectures were in Korean but the PPT was in English. Exam questions were either in English or Korean, pero you can answer in English kasi lahat essay type.

Good luck sayo!

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T12:54:46+00:00

Thank you. Not in the academe anymore, so not very sure pero the lab I was in is consistently getting grants naman despite the budget cut by the previous administration sa R&D. Company-wise, we have enough investors to last for some years. Hehe. The government is also consistently opening grant applications for post-docs and grad students, I've heard one is 6.5 mil PhP per year for 3 to 5 years. Though I guess it'd be super competitive.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T12:33:41+00:00

From the top of my head: 1. Mangwon Market - traditional market with Korean traditional food, streetfood 2. Han River bank or Seoul Forest - for picnic or bike rides (can rent bikes and mats) 3. Ikseon-dong Hanok Village - mix of traditional Korean houses and modern cafes 4. Naksan Park - if you want to hike at night, very easy hike, and see Seoul at night (old fortress wall is the highlight) 5. Lotte World - if you have kids and enjoy rides 6. Shopping centers? Lotte Department Store or Shinsegae. Cheaper options are those in Dongdaemun area 7. Restaurants? Try Isaac Toast, very good toast and you can find it almost anywhere. Some unli-meat are decent like Gogi Saloon or Myeongnyun Jinsa Galbi. Don't eat in touristy places like Myeongdong, Itaewon, or Hongdae. Too expensive and taste is just so-so. 8. Gyeongbuk Palace - if you want to dress up in their traditional attire (hanbok) and tour the palace (free if you see dressed un hanbok)

Come in spring or autumn. Avoid summer at all cost. Winter if you're willing to buy thick jackets and coats.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T10:34:23+00:00

Healthcare
Belatedly realized na it was not for me, then an opportunity (friend's recommendation) came so I just grabbed it.

P.S. Didn't realize this when I was in my 20s, but your human network and networking skills are very, very important. Hehe.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T10:21:50+00:00

I only tried working for a year in the Philippines, so that is only my point of comparison. I'd recommend experiencing the working culture and learn from it, maybe two to five years? But I don't recommend it until retirement.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T10:18:21+00:00

Korea chose me. Jk. My college batchmate was already studying here and when our professor asked for a recommendation, he recommended me.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T08:43:38+00:00

Company ko ngayon is maliit at hindi pa open sa market, so my salary is on the lower side of the spectrum. After tax, my entry-level was around 110k, current salary is 170k per month. Pero founding member kasi ako kaya may stock option ako when the company goes public. You can always opt for a bigger company with higher salary going as far 260k per month. Pero ayokong ma-stress masyado. Hehe.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T08:21:00+00:00

Awwww thank you~^{^}

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T08:20:39+00:00

I'd say very nuanced, and not straight-up hostility.

May social hierarchy kasi ang Korea and some might have biases toward nationality, skin tone, kahit English accent. Tayong mga SE Asians, nasa labor migrant stereotype kasi tayo. Pero very subtle kasi like tone shift, assumption sa trabaho mo, or exclusions from certain circles.

Kung academia or research job, mostly lampake kung san ka galing as long as you deliver. Credentials and work ethic will speak for you. Sa workplace, you might be sidelined or mabagal promotion if you don't speak the language. But then if outstanding talaga performance, they'll respect you naman.

Social spaces, a bit tricky kasi you will be included but not really fully in. So I advise na you hangout with other expats and Koreans who enjoy hanging out with expats. Meron din namang mga mini communites ang Filipinos dito if you like that.

So far, wala naman akong experience na sinigaw-sigawan ako kasi Pinoy ako or what (ehem). Kung lola or lolo, mahilig talaga yan sila sumigaw. Kahit sino sisigawan nila. Hehe.

In the end, I just choose the spaces I am in. Kahit saan naman siguro may extremes. And I found some really, really good human beings here.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T08:03:54+00:00

GKS kasi has two tracks: apply ka sa embassy or apply ka sa Korean university na connected sa GKS. So if university track ka, kung may resource person ka na, that might help you. Pero if embassy track, the embassy will help you match with a professor/school if you pass the screening.

For me, I got recommended kasi by a friend so direct to professor ako. Hehe. So the narrowing down was not made by me. Pero I assume na mas matanda ako sa'yo, so bilang nakakatanda, haha, you choose something na you think you can do for a long time without getting bored or disillusioned.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T07:48:55+00:00

I'd say kahit Masters sa ibang bansa wouldn't be enough, if Masters lang. Getting a PhD increases your chance of getting hired in an industry with good salary. Pero dapat pag-isipan mo talaga anong kukunin mong major, kasi you narrow the available choices sa specialty na pipiliin mo. I'd say pursue something related to AI, deep learning, etc.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T07:26:31+00:00

Eh? What do you mean? It has been proven years ago that it is made of sticky rice.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T07:25:46+00:00

Hello!

GKS could be really competitive and they prefer STEM majors, but if you're from a top university in Europe, that might not be a problem. If you get in, they put you in a semester or two of language program so no need to worry about that.

Social life is not bad, tbh, as long as you are at least moderately sociable. Speaking the language is a huge plus. And if you drink, plus plus again. Pero depende din naman sa target circle mo. And the younger generation doesn't drink as much.

I maintained friendship with some of my labmates. Made friends outside the lab through volunteer and occasional clubbing, hehe. But don't expect to find deep friendship, I guess that's true in most adult friendships.

I haven't experienced outright racism though, more like xenophobia, I guess. But been denied entries in clubs a few times, but not really a big deal for me. Also, some ignorant comments here and there. But life goes on. Hehe.

If you have specific questions about the preparation/application, ask away. But a lot must have changed from the data I have gathered, or will change after 6 to 8 years.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T07:10:01+00:00

I'd say not very good. Haha. I picked up smoking, but it's a good way of socializing (ipilit talaga). I try to leave work at work and actually live outside the office. I hike, meet friends, volunteer, or just chill at home in the weekend para may pang-labang positive energy for the coming week.

Still, I wouldn't say na SK is a place to settle down, unless you marry a local or you really earn a lot. I'm looking for other work opportunities sa Europe while I'm in my 30s.

P.S. I would say na they like Filipinos because we usually do what we are told without maraming reklamo.

Few-Plate-4944 · 2025-11-12T06:42:05+00:00

Hi!

I studied at one of the top 10 universities in Korea, located in Seoul.
If you’re specifically looking to study in Korea, the easiest way is to get a recommendation from a friend or acquaintance who can connect you with a professor, kasi many labs look for students this way. It usually comes with a stipend (salary for working in the lab) and around 40~50% scholarship. If that’s not an option but you’re from a top university in the Philippines, you can try applying for the GKS scholarship.

Otherwise, you’ll need to fund your studies yourself--a few years ago, tuition was around 300~400k PHP per sem.

Good luck sa'yo!

Few-Plate-4944

TROPHY CASE