Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KoreanAmbition]

Okay, Seoul National University is one of the (if not THEE) top-rated universities in Korea.

Meanwhile Hagwons, PS, HS, and basically most other educational institutions get a seriously bad rep for their mistreatment of teachers as well as their respective benefits; teachers get screwed for housing issues, distance to school, hours required at school, days off, sick days, and everything else I can think of.


So the questions are:

1) "How does the top-rated university like SNU treat employees?"

2) "How do the lesser-ranked universities treat employees?"



Is there anywhere we're safe?

Cheers.

[Mi Yum mi]

Usually the better unis pay less. Everyone wants to work in Seoul and everyone wants to work at a uni. Supply and demand. Meanwhile I'll stick in the boonies making more for less

[KoreanAmbition]

Mi Yum mi,

I understand what you're saying with regards to supply, demand and salary. However, I'm curious if no matter what the salary is, are the good universities actually paying their employees? Do they pay on time? Is the horrible treatment of teachers present at all levels of education or are the universities (even the ones paying crappy wages) at least treating the employees with some respect with regards to honouring contracts?

[Kwangjuchicken]

[Mi Yum mi]

Unis are the safest bet in Korea. There might be misunderstanding, but they really are misunderstandings and not them screwing around. I've been mispaid twicw in 4 years at my uni. One time the payroll chick was out sick. We got paid a day late. The second was a bunch of overtime. A form was misplaced and it was settled in a day.

As for PMing you...I can't. For some reason the mods won't let me PM people. I can recieve them, but I can't send any. PM me your email and I can tell you what I know that way.

[KoreanAmbition]

KWANGJUCHICKEN,

You seem to have had some real problems with the university you worked at.

Can you share what university it was? You also didn't really say any of the problems that occured.

Can you be a bit more specific about why you had such a hard time there?

Thanks

[PRagic]

1) Don't confuse 'big', 'big name' and 'PUBLIC' when discussing Korean universities. In general, all of the national universities pay a lot less than their private counterparts, and this is across the board in all diciplines. Some of the only remaining good paying ESL university jobs in Seoul can be found at big schools (Yonsei, Ewha, Sogang, and Konkuk come to mind).

2) Many national universities are stepping up their efforts to recruit and keep foreign faculty, but it remains to be seen whether or not this will apply to MA holders in ESL positions. I doubt it, as most of the schools have chosen to slash their salaries and increase their contact hours.

3) KJChicken makes some good points. At smaller universities, you do get some perks and more personal attention. Some people like more involvement with the community, some don't. At the big, national universities, it's all about degrees and qualifications. Period.
And as the Chicken inclined, you can get that feeling REALLY fast!

4) If you're a career ESL teacher, SNU is no longer a top place to work from what I've heard. It is now a 'stepping stone job' to a better paying institution with less b.s. Too bad, as it used to be the holy grail of jobs. I knew a handful of people who worked there for years and years. None are there now, and all are doing quite a bit better, though they are a little bit bitter about the experience.

[PRagic]

1) Don't confuse 'big', 'big name' and 'PUBLIC' when discussing Korean universities. In general, all of the national universities pay a lot less than their private counterparts, and this is across the board in all diciplines. Some of the only remaining good paying ESL university jobs in Seoul can be found at big schools (Yonsei, Ewha, Sogang, and Konkuk come to mind).

2) Many national universities are stepping up their efforts to recruit and keep foreign faculty, but it remains to be seen whether or not this will apply to MA holders in ESL positions. I doubt it, as most of the schools have chosen to slash their salaries and increase their contact hours.

3) KJChicken makes some good points. At smaller universities, you do get some perks and more personal attention. Some people like more involvement with the community, some don't. At the big, national universities, it's all about degrees and qualifications. Period.
And as the Chicken inclined, you can get that feeling REALLY fast!

4) If you're a career ESL teacher, SNU is no longer a top place to work from what I've heard. It is now a 'stepping stone job' to a better paying institution with less b.s. Too bad, as it used to be the holy grail of jobs. I knew a handful of people who worked there for years and years. None are there now, and all are doing quite a bit better, though they are a little bit bitter about the experience.

[Shimokitazawa]

[plus99]

[anyway]

[plus99]

oh yeah, what effect is that?

[KoreanAmbition]

ANYWAY,

good call... you were correct.


I have no comment on why someone couldn't understand that.

[plus99]

ok, now youre just making yourself look stupid. even when THE is pronounced to sound like THEE it is still spelled THE.



and no it wasnt my intention to keep talking about this.

[PGF]