Korean Job Discussion Forums

Peter Jackson · Joined: 23 Apr 2006

I've been looking at jobs in Korea since 2000 and am quite surprised that the salaries really haven't gone up that much. As a teacher in Canada I can say that even top jobs in Korea pay less than in Canada. Sure, Canada DOES have much higher taxes and a higher cost of living. So the REAL income in Korea could possibly work out to more.

But there are some things that teachers in Canada get that their counterparts in Korea do not:

Extended health and dental plans
Long and short term disabilty
Job advancement

I have had a great time working in Korea but I wish there were more ways to make money legally. A bunch of people I know were pulling in 5 or 6 million a month on the side. Too bad it isn't easier to make that legally.

Just thought of this today...

desultude · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:23 pm Post subject:

When I started working in Korea in 2003, the won was at 1400 per dollar (US), today it is at a little over 900 won to the dollar.

While that is not exactly a pay raise, it is effectively a big increase in income.

I don't know how it has fared vis a vis the Canadian dollar.

ThePoet · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject:

You overlook four things.

1. Yes there are more "benefits" for a teacher in Canada, but the majority of the teachers in Korea do not have teaching degrees or certificates. Merely a Bachelor's degree in any subject. Many bachelor's degrees are useless for decent employment unless followed by a Master's or even a Ph.D.

2. As a teacher from Canada myself, I was tired of the lack of jobs, and being on a substitute list, or shuffling from temp contract to temp contract. I did that long enough that I was on the upper end of the grid, and then nobody would hire me as my salary was way more than someone right out of university. I will admit that having a Drama Major and a Phys-ed/English double minor might not have been the wisest move on my part when I was hoping to become a teacher...everyone wants math/science teachers for some reason. Some teachers are also tired of the political kiss-assing that they must do and prefer their freedom. Also, the chances of burn-out, and stress related illnesses are very high in teaching in Canada...possibly because if you look at a student sideways these days, they'll accuse you of something....who wants that all the time?

3. Chances to travel. Many teachers here could also be availing themselves of the chance to travel while they are young and the lure of seeing the world for a few years, and getting paid for it is great. In four years I've seen more, and done more, and experienced more in my time here and especially my vacations over southeast Asia, than I experienced in 40 years back home.

4. Not everyone that comes here to teach are from Canada. As teaching benefits go, Canada is amazing. Tell teachers from the U.S. that starting salaries are 40K and they top out around 74K and they'll be green with envy! In Arkansas, the starting salary for a teacher is 18K. In California its just under 24K, but in California, 24K gets you a cockroach infested box for a house. England and Ireland have very few teaching jobs available and the cost of living is very very high. I don't know about New Zealand, Australia or South Africa, but I am assuming they have problems as well that force a bit of a brain-drain to ROK.

EVERYONE has their reasons for coming here and working. I can also tell you that I have done more to pay off my student loans, and other debts in Canada so quickly here...I'd still be looking at a mountain of debt if I was back home.

Poet

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

I think the wages have gone up moderately. I came here back in 2003 and got 2 mill. It was on the high end of salaries with 1.8 and 1.9 being pretty common. These days, 2 mill is the minimum and 2.2 and 2.4 are pretty standard, especially for kindy. With places like Poly and CDI, it was can go up to 3.0

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

willneverteachagain · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

the answer to your question is pretty simple.

because people keep accepting the contracts

Paji eh Wong · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

When you factor in inflation, wages are going down, not holding steady. I think that Korea is going the way of Japan, where EFL wages stagnate but cost of living continues to rise. The gravy train is slowly running out of steam, as it should.

I would be very interested in a systematic study of wages in the Korean and/or Japanese EFL market.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Early Retirement Exodus for Teachers
Donga.com (July 26, 2007)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2007072572458

The Bobster · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

regicide · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Location: United States

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

The major down side depending on what side of the world you are from is the exchange rate. Aussie dollar in 2001 was worth 643 won. Great to send money home. Currently above 800 won, not that great. An effective 30% decrease in exchange. I certainly haven't had a 30% increase in wages in a comparable period. Currently with such a high demand for teachers you would think that contracts would run from 2.5 - 3.5 depending on experience, but that is not the case. Americans are dong well with the exchage, Aussies not so well. Smile

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Anyone see jobs posted for 1.7 mil these days? Back in 2003 that seemed to be the low end. I don't really see anything sub 2 mil these days. Wages have gone up.

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

Competition in Hagwon industry is going up as well.

So price and quality are becoming important factors.

If Quality would be the only factor, prices would go up pretty fast, for qualified people (or deemed qualified for Koreans)

There is a limit to the disposable income Koreans have, you know.

LexusNexus · Joined: 05 Jul 2007