American expat weighs Korea vs US schooling for sons

Derek Laan, a 39-year-old American expatriate living in Seoul, South Korea, said he is reassessing whether to remain in the country as he compares education options for his two young children. He said the question has become more urgent as his sons, aged two and five, move closer to the years when formal schooling and longer-term planning become difficult to postpone.

Laan has lived in South Korea for nearly two decades, according to the account. He said the decision could shape not only academic outcomes but also the day-to-day structure of family life, including routines and expectations.

Career built in Seoul, with concerns about advancement

According to the account, Laan first arrived in South Korea in his early twenties to teach English. He later moved into sales and marketing roles, including positions with Doosan Group and Descente, before becoming a senior program manager at Interlink.

He said his life in Seoul is anchored by both professional experience and personal ties. He married a Korean national and established a household in the capital, while also maintaining a public-facing lifestyle that includes media appearances and sponsored biking.

Even with that stability, Laan said he sees limits in the local career ladder compared with what he believes is available in the United States. He described career advancement and pay in South Korea as generally lower than in the U.S., and said that comparison adds weight to the broader question of where his family should be based over the long term.

Education pressure becomes the central factor

Laan said his biggest concern is the intensity and pressure he associates with the South Korean education system. As he evaluates what that environment could mean for his children, he said he is considering a return to the United States.

In the U.S., he has a potential support network in Boulder, Colorado, where his parents and sister live. He said that family presence is part of the practical calculation, offering a place to land and an alternative setting for his children’s schooling if he chooses to relocate.

Trade-offs for globally mobile families

The situation highlights the trade-offs expatriates can face when balancing professional opportunity, personal satisfaction, and family priorities. For globally mobile workers, decisions about where to raise children can intersect with differences in workplace culture, compensation expectations, and education norms.

Those choices can reshape careers and household finances across borders, the account said. Laan has not stated a final decision, and the timing and feasibility of any move remain uncertain as his children approach school age.