Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justin moffatt]

I am unsure if people will be willing to disclose information due to the highly competitive nature of our business, but here goes:

What other options do F2 visa holders have to earn additional money in Korea (in conjuction with a daytime full time position)?

1) Privates. Not always easy to set up, unless referals from other foreigners or Korean spouse/friends (if in Seoul). Mostly children.

2) Part time positions through agents and recruiters either directly or through advertisements on various websites.

3) Start a consulting company or recruiting agency.

I have engaged in all three, and find it frustrating, tedious, and time consuming (mostly setting up schedules, cancellations, dealing with Korean business culture, etc. etc. etc.).

There must be other options out there, more specifically, something stable and longstanding. Once again, supplementing a daytime full time position (i.e. Uni, public school, corporate position). Thoughts?

[PRagic]

1. Some people set up their own 'study room' in their home. It takes a month or two to get the ball rolling, but from what I understand, then it's all about teaching. Parents pay in advance for a month. No show? No problem.

The people I know doing this are all making 100K a year. They do work some hours, but it's their own business, and they don't have to waste time commuting. Not for me, though, and I know it.

2. Writing. Write test questions. But know what you're doing. Understand the format and the number and types of questions that are asked. Create new questions, don't just pick the bones of old tests. Do this in your off time, even if it's just an hour or two a few days a week. You'll be surprised at how fast the material can accumulate, and you'll eventually be asked and paid for the material.

3. Academic editing. What dicipline did you study, even if it was only at the undergrad level? Profs and think tanks here pay pretty well to have their material proofed. SNU's institute had so many requests, it actually started its own editing service! Make a flier and post it around at all the university departments, or even stick fliers under professors' doors. You can get business from grad students and professors. Not easy work, but you can work from your home and set your own hours.

Just like anywhere else in the world, success here can often be the byproduct of dumb luck. The trick is to take opportunities when they crop up, even if they seem odd, and make a go of them.

[Netz]

Justin,

I hate to say this, but I think it boils down to two options:

1. Stable job with predictable income (like your current position)

2. Unstable job(s) working for multiple entities, with an unpredictable income.

Of the 2, the second has the potential to be more lucrative, but obviously has its downsides too.

After having been here over ten years, I personally have come to the conclusion, that no matter how creative you are at "work", it's just not possible to "have your cake and eat it too".

I've talked with several friends about this (who have kids), and it's obvious to me that the thing that keeps them in the lower income bracket, is the "fear" of inconsistency involved in option 2, and the need to feed their children every day.

Korea is a big place, as you well know, and I think that ultimately you are only limited by your own abilities and creativity.

Also, I think you are correct in thinking that most people would be tight lipped about their "business". I know I am. It doesn't make sense to create your own competition, if you find a unique niche or area to make money with.

You really have to think outside the ESL box though, because there's definitely a perceived "glass ceiling" in regards to what is "reasonable" for a foreigner to make, and especially if you are an �English Teacher�. I myself have lost jobs because Korean co-workers thought I was "making too much".

That is yet another reason to not broadcast your activities to the world.

At any rate, you are obviously a smart and entrepreneurial guy, and no doubt will find the exploitable income source you're in search of, and when you find it, please post it here so we all know how you did it.

[Hank the Iconoclast]

I'm in the same kind of predicament. I am getting married in August and have already started to setup somewhat of a network where my fiance is from. I know that I can make much more doing that but I have a constant fear that I won't enough people necessary to support myself and my soon-to-be wife. Also having to fork out the key money on my own has me a little apprehensive.

[Mr. Pink]

It is tedious to book privates and deal with all the crap that they entail, but it is easy to make 5mil a month if you have a main job paying 3+ and do 1~2 privates a day.

[saw6436]

I did opton one for several years. I worked for a Hagwon full time in the afternoons and evenings. Early mornings were business men classes I taught privately. Mid and late morning were kindy classes I arranged on my own.

My first five years doing this I made some serious coin but got burned out on the hours and the inconsistency.

I presently working at a Hagwon in the afternoons/evenings and a public elementary school in the monings. My pay is a lot less than before but still decent. Also, less hours means less stress. I actually prefer knowing exactly how much cash I have coming in every month. As opposed to POTENTIALLY making alot yet, have privates cancelled on you at the last minute.

[Thiuda]

There is a lot of competition in Seoul; move into more rural areas and you're a big fish in a small pond. Find a university job in the countryside, and ensure you're working low hours and have a long vacation. Even if your base is slightly lower than working at a PS or Hagwon, you can use the extra time to work as a tutor, or, as in my case, farm yourself out to other institutions in the area. Negotiate your hourly rate and don't settle for less that 50k/h for tutoring jobs, and 100k/h working at other institutions - colleges...etc. Better yet, negotiate salary by course taught.

[TheUrbanMyth]

The F-visa is not the gold mine people think it is.


YOU are the gold mine regardless of visa. It's all in how you market yourself and how effectively you network (if you don't mind working illegally and go intelligently about it)

[bassexpander]

[justin moffatt]

Thanks for the Academic Editing idea, PRAGIC. Previously, I did some editing for corporate companies (boring manuals, websites, etc.), and for a few Korean professors and Graduate Students. Although, lately these offers have been far and few between (mostly based on contacts).

My hope when first coming to Korea was to instruct my areas of graduate study (psychology, philosophy, sociology) in English to Graduate students. These positions are relatively few to non-existent.

I compromised accepting University positions instructing English Education, Current Events, and Business related subjects.

The plan was to work simultaneously at another University (full time if possible, part time rarely pays enough per hour). The Korean government quashed that idea (not to mention many University policies that prohibit this).

Corporate classes were a good fallback position, however, they are inconsistent, sporadic, and the market is oversaturated with instructors (who will work for less money). Not to mention the headache involved in constantly rescheduling new classes to replace those classes ending.

I even ventured in working directly for Korean companies. However, the pay is usually low (for the amount of hours expected to be in the office), and work is generally boring (killing time exercises). Although some are more challenging but demand high volume hours (with limited vacation time) for reasonable pay.

Developing one's own business in Korea is also difficult, especially for foreigners. The bureaucracy and red tape is stifling, combined with the incompetent Koreans' business skills and practices.

There MUST be other possibilities out there, with block hours in the evening, instructing interesting subjects (not Mickey Mouse english), reasonable commute time, for standard pay.

Of course, these positions are highly coveted and I don't expect people to divulge on a popular internet site. However, it would be nice to know they exist, and the challenge is still out there.

[madoka]

Although I developed a non-ESL business in the U.S., I understand the frustrations of trying to go independent with privates. Although I've been doing it for a number of years now, I still am paranoid about the inconsistency of my income. Today, I'm supposed to work 11 hours of tutoring, yet I only have only 4 appointments for all of next week right now. I know that they'll book up at the last minute as I find that I have to work seven days a week, but it's unnerving to see that my income could potentially drop to nothing within a few days.

I can say though that you have to stick at it. It took a while, but I've developed a reputation for being the best. I'm now up to 6th generation referrals. I'll get phone tutoring requests from foreign countries. I've had clients fly in from other cities for appointments. Yet I still wonder about the future, as there is no real job security.

[Dazed and Confused]

I agree with the poster who said to get out of Seoul. You'll have less competition from other teachers. I've always skipped to the corporate and adult privates. They cancel alot and are short lived. However, my younger students I've taught them for 4-5 years and now I'm teaching their younger siblings. After 7 years we got enough privates and opened our own hogwon. Just us working and new students keep comming.

[Intrepid]

I disagree with the idea of getting out of Seoul. You have to bite the bullet and--ugh--get some hagwon work.
What was your major at uni? Could you teach the AP test for that subject? Can you teach the SAT Writing section? There are hagwons in Daechi and that hire a few token foreigners for the summer, especially, and then for Christmas, and US Spring Break (mid-March). They also teach the foreign school kids year-round.
These are places that sometimes list on the Job Board, here--Andy Prep is one, and they've advertised 50,000 won per hour. If you walk in able to teach one of the above subjects, you could get a lot more than 50K as you don't need a contract, they can call when they need you, etc.

[just because]

I think the best way to do it is lock in an after-school job for around 2.5-3 million, get a morning job as well(like a kindie or company) as both can be contracted and there is no instability.
With both you can make 4 million a month easily and still have some time for evening privates or a couple of nights at a hagwon as well and easily get to the 5-6 million range.

That is what i have been doing and it has worked a charm...and I don't work weekends.

A lot of it depends on how good you are at networking and what kind of contacts you have...I have lived here many years and have many friends who are long-termers as well so we kind of look out for each other other and we are well aware of the shifting dynamics of the market in our city.

Also surprisingly Korean ability has been a factor. If you can converse in Korean this seems to have a big positive effect as it knocks down on miscommunications and easily opens up other opportunities.

Another thing is I live in the newest apartment complex in the city so that has been helpful because i am stuck right in the middle of people with money, which is great for privates.


Anyway, the above method is very stable with a base around 4 with hours that are not long(about 10-4:30) plus you can do work on the side but in the times when you are taking a bit of a break still have a good base to fall back on.

[aphase]

I have to agree with the above poster. If you get an after school program job it makes things a lot easier. The thing is though you have to watch out for the shady ones. Basically my schedule is working a corporate private in the morning for an hour, then going to a kinder job for 2 hours, then get to my after school program from 1 to 5, and then go to my evening corporate private. The after school program keeps a stable salary in case your other lessons cancel on some days or you miss work because of holidays.

i recently lost my morning job but you could easily make anywhere from 4-7 million doing it that way. I know if I worked a little harder i could probably make a lot more, but i'm a bit lazy.