Korean Job Discussion Forums

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

I read a lot of job advertisements on Dave's which say our jobs are recession proof. I wonder if they truly are. I feel relatively safe in my public school job. However, I don't know how it was for English teachers in Korea during the 1997 collapse or other hard times.

Can anyone shed some light on this with their personal experience? Was it difficult to be employed in Korea during those times? Did you have to make any sacrifices, financial or otherwise? Was your job in danger?

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

nicam · Joined: 14 Jun 2008

I think hagwon jobs might be more of a risk during these economic times, but public school jobs should remain safe.

My co-teacher told me that after the economic crisis of the 90's many many highly paid corporate Korean cats wanted to become teachers for the great job security. Suddenly teaching became one of the most sought after professions in Korea despite its mediocre pay. Hagwons would be exempt from this, being privately run and funded businesses and all.

When parents lose their jobs and oodles of cash, they will pull their kids out of academy. Also, the academies themselves will feel financial constraints aside from lack of enrollment. I suppose the bigger chains are relatively safe, but it's all bad news for teachers!

broken76 · Joined: 27 Jan 2008

Most jobs are safe during a recession in Korea. Some schools may reduce staff but as far as closing schools, well chances are they were going to close anyways regardless of the economy.
When the economy sours most schools actually do well. Koreans see job security as being better than anyone else and in order to get your kids better they gotta go to English schools, so in times of trouble some schools actually have a higher enrollment. Many Korean parents will take a second job or starve themselves just so their kids can get a better education.