Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kg2095]

I've read a few threads that have given me the impression that 2.1 million won is a good rate of pay for an ESL teacher (I'm not an ESL teacher myself). And I also have the impression that its 2.1 million per month.

Am I correct? If so why do people come to Korea to do a job that pays so poorly? Its only a little over US $400 per week. But if its weekly thats pretty good.

[VanIslander]

2.2-2.3 mill is the modal average for untrained newbies in hagwons

with free apartment, miniscule tax rates and cheap Korean food

one could save $1000 u.s. a month on that salary without even trying

on 2.0 mill back in 2003 and 2004 I couldn't help but save $15,000 u.s. a year. and had a great time, eating out all the time, travel to other parts of the country, motels, two trips to nearby Japan and still cash piled up

cheap flights to other asian destinations beg winter trips to Guam, New Zealand and southeast asia

one's money stretches so much farther than a $45,000 a year job back home does (did in my case)

[Kurtz]

You're correct. We are starving over here. I sleep on the streets, had to come here as a stowaway, I pay massive amounts of tax, put up with hellish racism and xenophobia, and what is worse, World War 3 is going to happen soon. I'd give Korea a miss.

I only came here as I saw on Korean TV soaps that life looked so amazing here and I thought I could better myself.

[bcoral99]

Well, its actually more if you consider the cost of your apartment and other perks that come with the job. at 2.1 plus apartment it prolly is around 2.4 or 2.5 a month. Plus, Korean is a much cheaper place with the exception of seoul than the USA and Canada. Food costs, living costs, health care etc. are all much cheaper. So in the end people come here because you can save alot of money if you want and you don't really need any qualifications except for a degree in anything. There is no way in North America that you will get that type of deal with just a bachelors degree.

[Juregen]

The benefits make a big difference.

[Kurtz]

[kg2095]

[E_athlete]

yup the bachelors is the new high school diploma in North America. In 20 yrs I wont be shocked to hear if MA becomes the new job hunting license.

Let's see what a bachelor degree gets me in Canada:

-living in parents' basement
-money enough to have fun and eat out and go on inexpensive dates
-$10/hr jobs that can't possibly pay for a real house
-cant get married or have a girl take me seriously.


In korea:

pros
-free housing
-buying power
-cheap food that tastes great
-small taxes
-you can save wads
-being non-Korean makes me unique
-cheap internet

cons
-homogeneous society
-language barrier
-xenophobia

[Kurtz]

[rationality]

[Draz]

[Tigerstyleone]

Korea is a good place to pay off dept, but not to save money.
Korean currency is too volitale. You could lose 30% of your savings in a month, which is what happen to a lot of us this year. However, if you send your money home and pay all your bills its worth coming over here for a couple of years.

[iggyb]

I'm just starting to look to get back in the industry after leaving it in 2000, but everything sounds pretty much the same.

If you want, you really can save more than you would in the US, because your cost of living in so low: no rent, no car, no car insurance, gas, and so on.

Of course, if you are the type that needs to head into Seoul every weekend to hook up with other expats and spend your money at clubs, then you won't be saving much after your good time.

I'm going back to Korea for a year - possibly two - specifically to save money. My wife and I have put off having kids and now we're pushing the age envelop for that, but we want to put ourselves in a better financial situation before we take that plunge.

The teaching market in the area we want to live in our home state is horrible this year and the next as well.

I think the biggest draw back to the salary level in Korea isn't the money but the number of hours worked and the working environment.

It sucks...generally.....unless things have changed greatly and I don't see people talking today as if they have.

The hours can be down right brutal. The bosses can also be crooks and cheat you left and right. You contract can end up being as valuable as toilet paper. And you can often have to put up with a thousand little headaches at a school.

For all that, you'd really rather be making much more per hour....

Then there is the issue of illegal private lessons - unless that has changed greatly the last few years.

If you don't mind skirting the law, you can make a lot of money per hour doing extra private lessons.

When I was in Korea before, I personally didn't do privates, because I was already worked to death at my standard job, and I didn't want the extra hassle of juggling schedules with individual private lessons...

[kg2095]