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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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 Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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| But the op's point is - why do taxi cab drivers worry or even care about what hagwon teachers are being paid? And why was he angry when the teacher told him the facts? Xenophobia, pure and simple. There's no justication for this. |
I think I can explain it without defending it.
It seems to be a leftover attitude from the 60's and 70's when Korea was developing. Koreans understood capital formation and that it takes money to make money. They exported workers to the Middle East and Europe and the money they sent home was the biggest share of Korea's income. There is a portion of the population that still believes Korea has to be very careful about how much money goes out of the country. During the '97 collapse lots of Koreans refused to watch foreign movies in order to keep money in the country. Today the papers frequently report the difference between how much Koreans spend overseas and how much tourists here spend. There are even those who object to other Koreans traveling outside unless its business.
Add that to the normal amount of resentment toward rich people (filthy rich, anyone?) that many people, not just Koreans, have and the xenophobes in the crowd plus the ever-active rumor mill. It's not hard to imagine some people believing this rumor. |
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merkurix
Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Location: Not far from the deep end.
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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| robot wrote: |
| byunhosa wrote: |
| I have met a few guys in Itaewon who claim they make 10 million KRW a month. This seems rather high, especially since the guy I heard it from seems to be drinking nearly every night. He is also single. Is this possible? |
This is what I find most impressive.
It's quite possible during intensive season, but doing it consistently every month is hard even for people with top jobs or high-pay tutoring gigs.
If you have an addtional stream of income (business, book sales, TV appearances, online class commissions, etc) it becomes much more feasible, but from one dude simply teaching, it's quite the feat. |
I will make a calculation based on what a poster once said.
Sometime ago, JustinHale reported that his rate was 70,000 won per hour (and this was a 'friendly' rate; I don't teach privates, so I am not sure what the 'official rate' is these days. So I will use this 'friendly rate:'
If one can assume that the teacher in question doesn't teach at a hagwon and only teaches privates, the amount is feasible provided that he can keep his privates stable:
If one starts at 9AM and ends at 11PM with an hour break after each hour for eating and travel, then one can teach 8 privates a day within that time range:
8 x 70,000 = 560,000 won.
That is a lot of cash. And that is just for one day's worth of work. Let's multiply that by five assuming that the teacher takes weekends off.
560,000 x 5 = 2.8 million won.
That is more than most hagwon teachers make in one month, the tutor makes in just 5 days of work. Let's now assume that the teacher works only twenty days out of the month (5 days a week over four weeks).
560,000 x 20 = 11.2 million won.
If one decides to even work half that, it is still possible to bank in over 5 million won monthly. One is probably better off being Canadian, since they can give themselves a little vacation every 6 months on a tourist visa. What if someone decides to work ten months out of the year assuming that the privates are stable?
11.2 million x 10 (with two months vacation) = 112 million won per year.
If you live meagerly and spend only 1.2 million a month for rent, utilities and vacation, you can still save about 100,000 K a year.
Do that for ten years and you can be a millionaire.
All untaxed.  |
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Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| My best friend regularly pulls in between 4.5-5.5 million won a month. He works part time at several different hagwon's (the employer who sponsors his visa doesn't mind). He also teaches privates. Granted, he speaks near fluent Korean. |
I honestly can't see how this would influence or impress upon the client your English tutoring skills. |
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Justin Hale
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Location: the Straight Talk Express
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: |
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| Merkurix wrote: |
| Sometime ago, JustinHale reported that his rate was 70,000 won per hour (and this was a 'friendly' rate; I don't teach privates, so I am not sure what the 'official rate' is these days |
70,000 for 2 hours |
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merkurix
Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Location: Not far from the deep end.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Justin Hale wrote: |
| Merkurix wrote: |
| Sometime ago, JustinHale reported that his rate was 70,000 won per hour (and this was a 'friendly' rate; I don't teach privates, so I am not sure what the 'official rate' is these days |
70,000 for 2 hours |
Oh okay. I stand corrected.  |
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dimitri31
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| merkurix wrote: |
| robot wrote: |
| byunhosa wrote: |
| I have met a few guys in Itaewon who claim they make 10 million KRW a month. This seems rather high, especially since the guy I heard it from seems to be drinking nearly every night. He is also single. Is this possible? |
This is what I find most impressive.
It's quite possible during intensive season, but doing it consistently every month is hard even for people with top jobs or high-pay tutoring gigs.
If you have an addtional stream of income (business, book sales, TV appearances, online class commissions, etc) it becomes much more feasible, but from one dude simply teaching, it's quite the feat. |
I will make a calculation based on what a poster once said.
Sometime ago, JustinHale reported that his rate was 70,000 won per hour (and this was a 'friendly' rate; I don't teach privates, so I am not sure what the 'official rate' is these days. So I will use this 'friendly rate:'
If one can assume that the teacher in question doesn't teach at a hagwon and only teaches privates, the amount is feasible provided that he can keep his privates stable:
If one starts at 9AM and ends at 11PM with an hour break after each hour for eating and travel, then one can teach 8 privates a day within that time range:
8 x 70,000 = 560,000 won.
That is a lot of cash. And that is just for one day's worth of work. Let's multiply that by five assuming that the teacher takes weekends off.
560,000 x 5 = 2.8 million won.
That is more than most hagwon teachers make in one month, the tutor makes in just 5 days of work. Let's now assume that the teacher works only twenty days out of the month (5 days a week over four weeks).
560,000 x 20 = 11.2 million won.
If one decides to even work half that, it is still possible to bank in over 5 million won monthly. One is probably better off being Canadian, since they can give themselves a little vacation every 6 months on a tourist visa. What if someone decides to work ten months out of the year assuming that the privates are stable?
11.2 million x 10 (with two months vacation) = 112 million won per year.
If you live meagerly and spend only 1.2 million a month for rent, utilities and vacation, you can still save about 100,000 K a year.
Do that for ten years and you can be a millionaire.
All untaxed. |
OK, assuming one does make huge sums of money whether it be, 5, 7, 10+ million won/mo etc, if it's done illegally, the problem is getting this money out of Korea.
For those claiming to make that kind of bank, how can that money get sent or taken out of Korea (considering bank regulations on remittance)? |
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merkurix
Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Location: Not far from the deep end.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| dimitri31 wrote: |
| For those claiming to make that kind of bank, how can that money get sent or taken out of Korea (considering bank regulations on remittance)? |
Western Union is your friend. Get in line on Hooker Hill behind the Nigerians with wads of cash ready at one of the currency exchange places.  |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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| merkurix wrote: |
| robot wrote: |
| byunhosa wrote: |
| I have met a few guys in Itaewon who claim they make 10 million KRW a month. This seems rather high, especially since the guy I heard it from seems to be drinking nearly every night. He is also single. Is this possible? |
This is what I find most impressive.
It's quite possible during intensive season, but doing it consistently every month is hard even for people with top jobs or high-pay tutoring gigs.
If you have an addtional stream of income (business, book sales, TV appearances, online class commissions, etc) it becomes much more feasible, but from one dude simply teaching, it's quite the feat. |
I will make a calculation based on what a poster once said.
Sometime ago, JustinHale reported that his rate was 70,000 won per hour (and this was a 'friendly' rate; I don't teach privates, so I am not sure what the 'official rate' is these days. So I will use this 'friendly rate:'
If one can assume that the teacher in question doesn't teach at a hagwon and only teaches privates, the amount is feasible provided that he can keep his privates stable:
If one starts at 9AM and ends at 11PM with an hour break after each hour for eating and travel, then one can teach 8 privates a day within that time range:
8 x 70,000 = 560,000 won.
That is a lot of cash. And that is just for one day's worth of work. Let's multiply that by five assuming that the teacher takes weekends off.
560,000 x 5 = 2.8 million won.
That is more than most hagwon teachers make in one month, the tutor makes in just 5 days of work. Let's now assume that the teacher works only twenty days out of the month (5 days a week over four weeks).
560,000 x 20 = 11.2 million won.
If one decides to even work half that, it is still possible to bank in over 5 million won monthly. One is probably better off being Canadian, since they can give themselves a little vacation every 6 months on a tourist visa. What if someone decides to work ten months out of the year assuming that the privates are stable?
11.2 million x 10 (with two months vacation) = 112 million won per year.
If you live meagerly and spend only 1.2 million a month for rent, utilities and vacation, you can still save about 100,000 K a year.
Do that for ten years and you can be a millionaire.
All untaxed. |
Finding 8 classes per day, 5 days per week, that pay 80,000 won is a tough haul. |
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Ginormousaurus
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Location: 700 Ft. Pulpit
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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| merkurix wrote: |
| dimitri31 wrote: |
| For those claiming to make that kind of bank, how can that money get sent or taken out of Korea (considering bank regulations on remittance)? |
Western Union is your friend. Get in line on Hooker Hill behind the Nigerians with wads of cash ready at one of the currency exchange places. |
Also, if you have friends who don't send much of their own money home, you can get them to send yours for you. |
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xCustomx
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
Finding 8 classes per day, 5 days per week, that pay 80,000 won is a tough haul. |
And when would you have time to prep? On your weekends? |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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If you had a job that paid roughly 3.5 million a month. Working for a private high school, you can pull that if you have the right credentials and you can teach SAT prep.
During vacation time, the school pays you a reduced salary, but you are free to do whatever you want. So, you can take a couple summer camp jobs, the intensive ones paying well over 2+ million for 3 weeks. On top of that you do some writing/editing work on the side.
In the mornings or in the evenings you teach a part time adult (corporate) class that pays around 1 mil a month.
In that case, 5+ million a month is entirely possible. You gotta have connections and some luck, but people do this. |
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merkurix
Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Location: Not far from the deep end.
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| xCustomx wrote: |
| Captain Corea wrote: |
Finding 8 classes per day, 5 days per week, that pay 80,000 won is a tough haul. |
And when would you have time to prep? On your weekends? |
The vast majority only require semi-spontaneous conversation practice (adults especially) or a conversation textbook which can be planned according to the page and number. It's just daily page-turning minimal prepping. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
If you had a job that paid roughly 3.5 million a month. Working for a private high school, you can pull that if you have the right credentials and you can teach SAT prep.
During vacation time, the school pays you a reduced salary, but you are free to do whatever you want. So, you can take a couple summer camp jobs, the intensive ones paying well over 2+ million for 3 weeks. On top of that you do some writing/editing work on the side.
In the mornings or in the evenings you teach a part time adult (corporate) class that pays around 1 mil a month.
In that case, 5+ million a month is entirely possible. You gotta have connections and some luck, but people do this. |
I usually top that every month, and that's without the 'reduced salary' bit.
But anyone claiming over 10 million... for any great length of time.. I find pretty hard to believe. |
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byunhosa
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Center Ice
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
| pkang0202 wrote: |
If you had a job that paid roughly 3.5 million a month. Working for a private high school, you can pull that if you have the right credentials and you can teach SAT prep.
During vacation time, the school pays you a reduced salary, but you are free to do whatever you want. So, you can take a couple summer camp jobs, the intensive ones paying well over 2+ million for 3 weeks. On top of that you do some writing/editing work on the side.
In the mornings or in the evenings you teach a part time adult (corporate) class that pays around 1 mil a month.
In that case, 5+ million a month is entirely possible. You gotta have connections and some luck, but people do this. |
I usually top that every month, and that's without the 'reduced salary' bit.
But anyone claiming over 10 million... for any great length of time.. I find pretty hard to believe. |
1) What is the going hourly rate for private lessons? My sister in law pays quite a lot for her son, at least 60 to maybe 80,000 per hour.
2) The guy I spoke with is not married to a Korean. Is it reasonable to assume his private lessons would be illegal? |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:37 am Post subject: |
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the average is 40an hr...
lets say you do 6 hours a day at 40hr.. that would mean you are illegal on a tourist visa or have an f2, so this brings us down to a minority now..
40hrx 6 = 240.000 x 5 days = 1.2 a week x 4 = 4.8 million..
now good luck having 6 classes a day stick for 3 months let alone 6!
- transportation, 3 month flying out of the country, housing etc..
you end up making the same as a legal teacher at the end of the day..
without the fat pay out at the end of the year..
of course HARD WORK does pay off.. and that goes in any business..
you could work 12-15 hours a day if you wanted.. tyou could 7 days a week if you wanted.. you could ride the subway 2 hours across town take every job offered, sleep 4-6 hours a day and just work work work work for 1 year.. im sure you will make some serious coin. |
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