Feeling stuck in Korea with a D10 visa… Should I go back to teaching or keep pushing for creative work? Need advice.

Hey everyone,
I’m really stressed and could use some honest advice from people who’ve been through similar visa or job struggles in Korea.

I’m currently on a D10 visa (expires in April). My background is in creative work (photography + some content creation), and my goal is to eventually get something like an E-6-2 position. I’ve been applying, meeting people, and trying to get more creative opportunities, but nothing stable has come through yet.

My situation now:

• Money is extremely tight — struggling with rent + bills.
• Teaching jobs (hagwons + public) mostly start around March, so I can’t rely on immediate hiring.
• I was told I can’t freelance or take part-time gigs because I was on an E2 before switching to D10.
• I could get sponsored for E-6, but I’ve heard you need to leave Korea to activate it, which scares me because of the cost + risk.
• I want to pursue creative work long-term, but right now I honestly feel hopeless.

I’m stuck between:
1. Going back to teaching just so I can survive, even though it feels like going backwards,
or
2. Trying to hold out for something creative, but risking running out of money and visa time.

For anyone who’s been in Korea on a D10 or switched visas before:

• Is it true you must leave Korea to activate an E-6-2?
• Is it smarter to just take any job now for stability, even if it’s not what I want?
• Has anyone successfully transitioned from teaching → creative industry here?
• Is pushing through worth it, or should I just go back to teaching until I’m more stable?

Any realistic advice, personal experiences, or tips on surviving this visa/job gap would mean a lot. I’m trying not to give up but this is the most lost I’ve felt since coming to Korea.

Thanks in advance. 🙏