Korean Job Discussion Forums

[curiousaboutkorea]

I've noticed that recruiters are still using 1000 won=$1. Newbies, please be aware this is not the case. This may have been true a year+ ago, but not anymore. Even when I was looking for a job last year around this time, the won had just fallen and they were quoting this exchange rate. I excused it because it was a recent change and maybe they were used to 1000 won=$1.

Don't let any recruiter trick you by saying a 2.2 million won salary is equal to $2,200. It is NOT. It is equal to about $1,900.

[bassexpander]

They were still saying it when it was 1600 to 1.

[The Goalie]

Yeah, I always use the 1000 won=$1 equation in my day-to-day life but it's dishonest to entice people with inaccurate figures. They should just refer potential teachers to an on-line currency converter and use the Korean figures.

[Horangi Munshin]

When I worked in hagwons, some of the sharper students would pull me up on that. In those days it was around 1200won to the $US.

[kiknkorea]

Common sense should tell people to do all the necessary research, not just about the salary, but the school, area, etc.

Blindly going along with what recruiters tell you is a recipe for trouble.

[asams]

These guys must be stuck in 2004

[Chris_Dixon]

not having to pay for the apartment makes up the diff

[curiousaboutkorea]

[Hyeon Een]

Are there idiots who get on a plane thinking that 2.2m won = $2,200 from now until eternity? Surely people know that exchange rates fluctuate, so surely they'd check the current rate before they signed a contract.

Then again I have met some really really dumb people here..

Of course I think recruiters SHOULD be more up to date with their info, but I don't see it as a big deal at all. There are a lot of stupid posts on this board, but I can't remember ever reading one from someone who flew over here without checking the exchange rate first and then getting angry over it. It's only misleading if these job ads actually mislead people.

[Sleepy in Seoul]

Of course 1,000 won doesn't equal $1. It's exactly 842.466 won to the $ now.

[blackjack]

[ChopChaeJoe]

Where are the people tricked by this? I've never heard of any.

[curiousaboutkorea]

To follow up, I don't think I've come across anyone who was tricked by this. And yes, if they are tricked by this, they have it coming to them.

Nonetheless, I think it is still somewhat underhanded and wrong that the recruiters are doing this. Then, I remember where we are living...

[lifeinkorea]

You gots to realize teachers over the pond know nothing about the exchange rate to begin with. I didn't know when I signed on for my first job.

We are speaking probably from an experienced viewpoint.

[djsmnc]

1000 won is a Korea one dollar and 1000 yen is a Japan 10 dollar. Within each respective country, that is.