Corporate Burnout to New Life in South Korea

After decades in the corporate world, Jane Newman made the decision to leave her job and start over in a new country. At 60 years old, she stepped away from a management position in Brisbane, Australia, to move to South Korea. Her journey began with a simple interest in K-dramas during the pandemic, which eventually sparked a curiosity that led to a permanent relocation.

Newman's departure from her career was driven by severe burnout and physical strain. Since moving to South Korea, she has found a new sense of purpose and community. She now lives in Seoul, where she balances work on a new tech startup with a flexible schedule that allows her to explore her surroundings. Her story highlights a growing trend of foreigners choosing South Korea as a place to live and work.

Working as a manager for a consulting firm in Brisbane, Jane Newman faced a heavy workload that persisted even as the world returned to normal after the pandemic. After months of long hours in front of a screen, she experienced significant burnout and physical symptoms.

The physical strain began with shoulder and back pain, which eventually developed into arm pain severe enough that she could not use her mouse. While standing desks and different chairs provided little relief, the mental toll was equally heavy.

"I found it more and more difficult to do my work," Newman said.

By July 2024, she and her employer agreed it was best for her to step away from the company. This decision marked the end of a chapter defined by a demanding corporate schedule.

Newman's connection to South Korea started during the pandemic lockdowns, where she spent evenings watching K-dramas on her recliner. This sparked a curiosity about the country she had only seen on TV. She had first visited South Korea in 2023, and remembering how much she enjoyed that trip, she decided to return for a two-month break.

Following her sabbatical, she returned to work in Australia, but the symptoms of burnout resurfaced quickly. Realizing that South Korea was a place where she felt good, she made the decision to go back and stay for a few months to see how it felt.

"I knew that South Korea was a place that I loved, and it made me feel good," Newman said.

She initially lived in an Airbnb in Gwacheon, a city just outside Seoul, for three months. There, she lived with a local host who invited her to participate in various community events.

Living in Gwacheon allowed Newman to immerse herself in the local culture. She joined a group supporting former US military "comfort women" and participated in two English clubs. These clubs met to discuss news, read English fiction, and give weekly presentations on various topics.

Through these activities, Newman found the sense of belonging she had been missing.

"I met the most wonderful people, and they really invited me into their conversations. And I got to know a lot more about Korea itself, and its history," she said.

She noted that her social life in Australia had largely revolved around work or old friends, and community groups she was part of had faded after the pandemic. In contrast, her experience in South Korea provided immediate connection.

"All of those things made me feel really welcomed, and at home, and part of a community, which is what I was really lacking back in Australia," Newman added.

By February 2025, Newman moved to Seoul to begin the next phase of her life. She looked for an apartment close to public transport with separate living and sleeping spaces and a good view. After about two weeks of searching, she found a place in Dongdaemun, a popular neighborhood.

Her two-bedroom apartment costs 1.43 million Korean won per month, which is approximately $1,000. Her Gen Z daughters were not surprised by the move, as they knew how much she loved South Korea and had already visited her there.

Newman's daily routine now mixes work and settling into life in Seoul. She starts her mornings with coffee from a nearby Starbucks before working on her coaching sessions and tech startup, which aims to help young people struggling with social isolation.

Her work schedule has changed dramatically. Where she once worked 60 hours a week, she now works around 20 to 30 hours. This flexibility allows her to exercise, meet people, and work from libraries or cafés.

"But I do make sure I get out once a day to go out and enjoy this beautiful place I'm living in," she said.

According to data from the Ministry of Justice, the number of foreigners living in South Korea at the end of 2024 stood at 2.65 million, a 5.7% increase from the year before, indicating a rising trend of international relocation to the country.