Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tflynn]

Hello everyone,

I have not posted much, but I think this is a great website. Anyhow, I have seen various amounts for realistic income while teaching in Korea, like 'Save $10,000', even $20,000, over the course of a year. What is realisitic?

I am strongly considering teaching in Korea (very strongly, to be honest) and would be grateful for any insight on the income/savings potential.

Thanks!
- T

PS -- feel free to PM if you prefer. Thanks!

[Son Deureo!]

The income and savings potential here are pretty good. In a typical newbie hogwon job you can expect to make 2.0-2.2 million won ($1USD=about W950), and since you have a free apartment and no need to own a car it's easy to live pretty comfortably here and still have a thousand dollars or so left over at the end of every month. Add more to that if you know how to live frugally or are willing to take the time and risk to do any of the numerous opportunities to teach privates. Subtract from that if you plan to do a lot of international travel or have other expensive habits (prostitutes, student loan payments, etc.).

[Kurtz]

OK here is my first posting on ESL!
I was like you recently, not sure if to go to Korea, Japan etc., and I decided on Korea.
I've been in Korea only a month and have not worked out all the cheapest places to eat etc., so I can live MORE cheaply if I wish but considering I eat out every meal apart from breakfast I have saved US $ 1200 in the first month.
I went out drinking last Friday which cost a lot, and have not been been away on weekends yet but I think that is not a bad number to work from.
I've scored a few privates so I think I can save US $1200 every week and go away and have a few beers during the week.
Of course you can save more then that, as well as save a lot less if you are a pleasure seeker but yes, you can save money here as well as have a good time.

[mrsquirrel]

[yashi]

If you are frugal, US$20 a day is sufficient to live a comfortable existence. Add about another US$250 for bills and other misc. expenses. You do the math. Also, you can send home money on a monthly basis.

[Darkness]

I save a minimum of $1800cdn/month but I live really cheap, and I dont have any extra circular activities.....YET!

[EMKAYES]

[The Cosmic Hum]

[jlb]

I save 1.7 million a month on a salary of 2.3. I live pretty frugally but don't do any privates. Even if you spend a lot, you should be able to save 1 million very easily.

Of course if you do privates and live frugally, the sky is the limit.

[ontheway]

doing privates = extra circular activities

[Qinella]

[Kurtz]

sorry guys, I meant US $ 1200 a month, not a week!!! silly me , which is still OK for a job taken at random off the net through a Korean agency to do a job I've never done before.
It's very cheap to eat out, kimbap with banchan for 1000 won.....or 8000 won for a beer in a fancy bar....go figure where your money goes.

[oneofthesarahs]

I don't think you HAVE to find an additional source of income. If you really want to save money, living in a rural area is the way to go. Not only will you be less tempted with blowing all of your money at the bars, but everything's cheaper if you DO decide to blow your money on drinking, clothes, etc.

I live a fairly frugal, but not spartan, lifestyle, and I save about 1000 US a month. Granted, most of that will probably be gone after I travel around when my contract is up, but hey...that's not too shabby, especially considering that in the United States I was breaking even most months.

[tflynn]

Excellent feedback, thanks everyone!

I don't expect to go to the bars much at all -- I've kinda been there, done that.

And I don't really know much about private lessons, except that they are technically illegal, but everyone does them anyway from what I can tell.

I read that with some visas you can do private lessons with no problems, though. Anyhow, thanks again for the info!

-T

[jlb]