Fields of Opportunity: One Expat Branches Out in Gwangju

“Are you a teacher?” or “Are you a tourist?” are two of the most common questions that foreigners living in Korea are asked, especially if they’re riding public transport with a backpack slung over one shoulder. But while teaching or tourism are common reasons to be in Korea, they certainly aren’t the only opportunities available. As Korea continues to emerge on the global stage, more expats will continue to join the mainstream workforce alongside Koreans, and the range of jobs that foreigners occupy will continue to expand. As some expats on the front-lines are already discovering, jobs outside of the education realm can provide some unique added benefits.

Twenty-five year old artist Jen Lee, from Houston, Texas, is working for a branch of Neon Pumpkin here in Gwangju. The Gwangju branch is called Neon Creation. Neon Pumpkin and its branches form an animation company with the goal of creating memorable, quality work for various clients. It also serves as a place of learning for those with a passion for animation. Neon Creation moved to the Gwangju CGI Center in April 2012 and is known for recently hiring many Gwangju citizens right out of college, as well as some promising talent right out of high school.

Jen is learning the ins and outs of the business with the hopes of stepping into the role of producer and, eventually, that of art director. Jen has wanted to be an artist as far back as she can remember. Her mother was an artist, and Jen would watch her mother create when she was a child.

“According to my mom, I was drawing before I could talk,” said Lee when we spoke with her. “I grew up watching cartoons and I’ve always loved stories, but I was never much of a writer. So, I figured if I can’t write it, I might as well draw it.”

The awe and admiration turned into sketches and art classes by high school, and became a full-blown talent once she graduated. Jen also applies her skills by creating the “Dear Korea” comic strip, featured in Gwangju News.

Jen’s mother is originally from Seoul, so Korea seemed to be a comfortable next step for Jen after a brief stay in Japan. Once in Korea, Jen worked for a kindergarten for a short time, before a series of extraordinary circumstances landed her at Neon Creation. Jen’s mother came to visit Gwangju the same time that the owner of Neon Creation was in the city. It turns out that the owner and her mother are old friends, and once Neon Creation saw how Jen had flourished as an artist in the last few years, they had to have her.

In a typical day of work, Jen has various projects she attends to. She works on designing characters and also does 3-D modeling on the computer. While she keeps a sketchbook filled with personal art, most of her portfolio work these days is done on a computer screen. She describes her workplace as casual and laid-back, and loves that she can wear what she wants to work.

Jen is quick to point out some of the perks of the job. “In America, when you are on the clock, you have to be working and look busy. But here, I was surprised at how casual the atmosphere was.”

There is also a lot of trust in her office, and Jen enjoys the independence that comes along with it. No one looks over her shoulder; instead, there are just periodic progress checks to see how her projects are moving along. The close relationship Jen shares with her coworkers is another plus. They enjoy spending time with each other and when the new Diablo 3 came out, they even shared the experience of a new computer game together.

Even though she is the only foreigner at her job, she feels this title can sometimes provide positive added attention and interest in her. It also means that she can speak English, and can act as a liaison between her company and potential connections to American companies. She also can share the perspective of the Western mindset. Jen finds herself in a unique position as a Korean-American, and this background brings with it some added responsibility.

“A lot of Koreans expect me to follow Korean social cues, but I consider myself American, so sometimes there are more expectations placed on me.”

There are some challenges that come along with any job experience, and for Jen, the most obvious one rings true for most foreigners in Korea: the language barrier. Jen points out that most workplaces in Korea are also seniority-based, and the oldest person is always right. She knows that you can’t question your superiors, and it is better to go along with whatever it is they may ask you to do. Jen’s advice to anyone looking for work as an artist in Korea would be to “know the culture, speak the language, and always have a good collection of your work with you.”

Jen’s long-term goals while in Korea are fairly simple. She hopes that by the time she moves into her next phase of life, she will have created something permanent that will be memorable and recognizable in Korea.

“While I’m here, I want to learn as much as I can, so I can take it back to America. I also would like to create something as a way of giving back to Korea, as a way of saying thanks.”

The Gwangju community waits in anticipation to see what that might be.