Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ABC KID]

In hagwons, foreign teachers often earn considerably more than the Korean teachers with housing and plane tickets thrown in on top.

In public schools, the foreign teacher can sometimes earn more than a Korean teacher and even when the Korean teacher does earn more (and sometimes not much more) they are often vastly more experienced than the foreign teacher.

Of course, we can not put all Korean's together, but on the whole do you think Korean teachers that you know, work with now or have worked with in the past, are jealous of the foreign teacher's contract package, whether slightly or boiling over? Does it cause any problems?

Please explain your answers if possible...

[Otherside]

The only teacher at my school who I've discussed salaries with earns about double what I earn. That being said, she's been teaching longer than I've been alive. I doubt she's jealous of my salary though and I'm pretty sure she'll be recieving an increase next year.

[expat2001]

[jvalmer]

Don't K-teachers max out in the 5 million range? That's if you become a principal or one of those education office mangers.

[Korlingus]

Why would a Korean teacher be jealous? They have a future, tenure, responsibiliy and respect. The majority of Korean hagwon teachers aren't exactly cream of the crop. What's the preoccupation with salary around here anyway?

Most of the Korean teachers disdain comes not from a salary disparity, but from observing slacking 20-something foreigners screwing up their profession.

[aarontendo]

Meh, I said half n half cause a lotta the hakwon teachers are jealous, PS teachers couldn't give a shit. In fact often they're surprised when I say I actually save on my salary.

I've sat down with a few hakwon teachers for drinks, and only one of them didn't bitch about their salary, benefits, etc. being lower than foreigners. In fact, one time it was on a date and I just up and left, she had a bit too much of a chip on her shoulder in general tho heh.

[marlow]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

A few over-worked hagwon teachers are, but that's about it. Some newbie PS teachers may be jealous of the fact that we don't have to do and put up with all the shit they do for around the same salary, but they know that comes with their job.

[sojourner1]

They might be jealous or envious of your travels as they don't seem to travel.

[Adventurer]

I am not really sure how the Korean teachers feel about us. We are very different culturally, so that plays into things. You are assuming that at all hagwons the foreigners get paid more, but that's not necessarily true. At some places, Korean teachers get more remuneration than us.
At any rate, it makes sense to pay us more since this is not our country, and we can speak English far better than Koreans who learned the language unless they were raised in an English-speaking country, and the parents are putting their children in a hagwon, so that they could learn English.

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

Hag won teachers maybe...

PS teacher - god no. They earn so much more than us that they wouldnt give a crap. And dont think for a second that everyone at your school doesnt know what you earn already.

[marlow]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Unposter]

Native-speaking Teacher salaries are not that great compared to the Korean population. Even if you factor in all are perks, remember that they also earn perks and Korea has one of the largest underground economies in the world.

Anyway, public school teachers earn holiday bonuses, performance bonuses, have one of the best pensions in Korea, are eligible for special high interest and tax free savings accounts, recieve other tax breaks, are eligible for all sorts of discounts and often recieve gifts and free and discounted goods and services from student's parents and even people in their neighborhoods (even though it is technically illegal but almost impossible to get caught).

These days many Korean public school teachers also offer after-school classes (where they work) and are paid quite well. Some public schools even offer bonuses for those teachers who attract large numbers of students to the after school programs.

You would be shocked how much some Korean teachers make. There have even been movies made on the topic.

Some hakwon teachers also make huge money - 10 million a month or more. They are paid by the student not the class.

Lastly, IMHO, Koreans always complain about things. Think art of war. Keep your opponent off-balance and you can win the battle - whether your opponent is your teacher, co-worker or other. If they are not complaining, they are excessively complimenting. Either way they want something. Sincereity is a rareity. The main point is that don't just assume that they complain about salary or your salary because they are really concerned about it (though they may), it could very well be about something else.

Public school jobs are considered some of the best jobs in all of Korea. The competition for these jobs are fierce. Some people even pay large bribes - 100 million won and up - to get these positions. They do so because once they are tenured, they are set for life.

[expat2001]

At my school ,the K teachers are pissed that I don' t have to work on Saturdays. They have told me so several times.