Korean Job Discussion Forums

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007

Are there any obstacles to young people trying to get a university English teaching job in Korea? Provided they are qualified--they have experience, and possibly a masters degree in a relevant field (like applied linguistics) but are 27.

I've heard that there might be a problem. However, I've heard no specific instances of this.

nate1983 · Joined: 30 Mar 2008

I'm 24 and will start this summer at Seoul National University (the Language Education Institute, but it is still only teaching SNU students). I've heard some places don't like younger teachers, but if you're 27 you should be fine. PM me if you like.

kiwiana · Joined: 29 Nov 2007

I agree, I started at my first uni at 26. Also consider the fact that in Korea you can add one to two years on top of your Western age, so in their eyes you're a little older.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

My uni isn't interested in hiring anyone under say 28, because many of our Korean male students are graduating around 26.

Most people they want to hire are over 30. This goes for both unigwon and the English department jobs.

squinchboy · Joined: 16 Dec 2006

I landed my first uni job this year at the ajossi age of 30.

poohbear · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Location: toronto for now

i know a 25 yr old, 24 yr old, and a 28 yr old w/ uni jobs in Seoul. Mind you, they all got the job cause they knew someone inside the department, doubtful if they woulda got it without that person's recommendation.

spyro25 · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

makemischief · Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Location: Traveling

28 now, started at unis when I was 26. bassexpander is right though- a small minority will definitely see your age as a negative- but certainly not most of them assuming you have the requisite experience.

htrain · Joined: 24 May 2007

I wa denied by one because of my age specifically. I have a master's but they said it was a no go because I'm 25. This was 6 months ago- I'm applying to more this time around.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

I am 26 and I had no problem. Got hired at 2 universities. I do have 2 students older than me too. We also teach real classes, no unigwon classes. 12 hours a week with 22 weeks vacation.

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

Ajgeddes, what are your qualifcations? You give the rest of us hope!

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

No master's? No certificates?

kimchipig · Joined: 07 Mar 2008

Standards, and conditions at Korea universities have been going downhill for years. When I got hired at my first university in Korea, there was a strict MA only policy. We also got the full vacation, nice (off campus) apartments, airfare and 15 teaching hours a week. The pay was W2.5m and that was in 1999.

Sometime later, the universities saw the light and realised they could pay W2.0, give 24 hours of teaching and reduce the vacation to 8 weeks if they lowered their standards to taking BAs. One by one, all of us got the boot, always after three years, because after that time they have to give you tenure. We were told that in order to stay in the English department, we had to get Phds, which was absurd since Korean MA lecturers were there for years on contracts.

If you are on an E-2 visa, and not an E-1, you are in fact working for the unigwan, even if you are teaching credit courses. That said, even if you are in the unigwan, it is still a lot better than entertaining kiddies in a hagwan.

But even better it to be teaching ESL to foreign students in your home town for more money than you could ever make in Korea.

Bryan · Joined: 29 Oct 2007