Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Justin Richard]

If you are Canadian the typical 2.3 million contract today is no better than a low 1.3 million contract in 1998 and when you factor in the cost of the living increase of at least 50% since 1998 why do people do this?

The lovely 0.65 cent Canadian dollar is truly missed. That was about 750 Korean won and sometimes less. That was the calling card to come here. The fact that you could wire to Canada 2 million a month very easily.

I remember that I had three homestay's during my first two years here that provided with me saving on all housing expenses even food. I received a 200,000 won a month bonus for not sharing the school apartment. Back then teacher's shared a standard three or four bedroom apartment. The weekends were crazy if you liked to just watch TV and read and get up early and go hiking with your students as opposed to drinking and partying all night. And it was a party for many teachers here.

Anyway, another fact is that a 1.3 million contract was slightly low in 1998 with 1.5-1.6 being the average. Also it was common to have teachers at the same school each receiving a range of salary from 1.3 to 1.8. Back in 1998 1.8 million was a high salary.

It was also very easy to double your salary teaching privates.

In Taiwan, it is exactly the same thing. From 2002 to present the hourly pay has not increased. Average hourly pay in Taiwan is probably $650NT an hour with experienced teachers getting $700. $800 is possible but unlikely and with fewer hours as well.

You can still double your income by teaching privates but the highest you will get is $1,000NT and that would not be many hours. Average private teaching is $800NT and many are lower than that.

You can still make a lot of money here but it is not that special and not as easy as it was 12 years ago but the long-term benefits are limited.

If I were young again I would not purse teaching English. It was unfortunate for me that I needed to come here but I got stuck in it and made it work for me but many people can't do this for 25 years and my advice if you are younger than 30 is to stop now and go back home to earn at least a Master's degree because that higher degree will be worth more.

[laguna]

[Justin Richard]

I am just reminiscing.

[T-J]

And to think I was pulling in 5 million a month back in 1997. Oh, those were good times...

[Justin Richard]

And the good times ended in 1998!

Actually by December 1997 if I recall right. The first hagwon I worked at I was told had 30 teachers in 1997 but only 8 a year later.

[Yahowho]

To paraphrase a movie;

I always liked to hear about the old-timers. Never missed a chance to do so... You can�t help but compare yourself against the old timers. Can�t help but wonder how they would�ve operated these times.

[PatrickBateman]

Glad I'm not Canadian.

[Epik_Teacher]

[Koreadays]

[PRagic]

Yup, I've been saying since I joined this board that...

1) hakwons are definitely not a long-term employment option, and

2) university ESL teaching/instrutor jobs, in much the same way, have ceased to improve over the past 15 years. So,

3) to make Korea viable as a teacher, you need to upgradge your skill set.

Even for the public school positions, long-term employment is a depressing option. There are pay ceilings, and not enough differentiation in pay for positions for qualified and certified teachers.

Can you still make some great coin here teaching English? Sure. You can work illegally doing privates, you can be a Kyopo and teach privates, or you can marry a Korean and teach privates.

Unfortunately, the bulk of Korea's education system is still not set up to be long-term non-Korean friendly. Maybe change will come from the top down. University professor positions are definitely looking for long-termers to go into tenure-track slots. To get these jobs, though, you have to have all your ducks in a row.

[OThePestO]

Hello

(FIRST POST)


What is their reasoning for not allowing private tutoring? I mean I taught in Japan and it wasn't a problem there.

[Epik_Teacher]

[AsiaESLbound]

While I wasn't in Korea, you OP, are dead on saying $1300 in 1998 would had been like $2300 today. It's the increased prices weather in America or Europe. When the Euro dollar came in and the twin towers fell in New York, everything changed. A $2000 today feels like $1100 about 12 to 15 years ago. My $2300 a month job 15 years ago was just like $4000 a month today. It was fun running around all over the US and Europe in my free time blowing money living it up.

[take a rest]

[Wai Mian]

Korea has averaged 3% inflation over the decade, yet salaries stay the same. Somebody is making a killing.