Korean Job Discussion Forums

[proudman]

I've been in Korea less than a year, and have an opportunity to work for a well known company in Korea to teach and interact with business folks. I'm wondering if the salary is reasonable for an individual with a business background and an F-4 visa.

It appears that the offer will be 3.5 million/month, full benefits, but NO HOUSING.

My current hagwon plays for my housing, and I consider that a major benefit. When factoring in the cost for housing, I don't know if the opportunity is really all that great.

I'd hope to get some insight from those of you that have made the transition from hagwon to working in the Korean corporate environment.

Any info regarding pay and any other insight would be greatly appreciated!

[edwardcatflap]

You didn't mention the number of contact hours. I've heard Korean corporations work their teachers pretty hard and you might be expected to work the same number of hours as the salarymen. If so, it's probably not that great. If it's the same number of contact hours as a public school, it sounds like a pretty good deal. if it's the same as a hagwan, it's still not bad. If it's the same as a University, it's very good.

[proudman]

it's a 9-6 job, monday - friday. i've been told that i will not be teaching all that much. there are a lot of details that still need to be communicated to me. but i feel like the lack of housing, or at least the lack of key money, makes the offer appear a lot less attractive.

[Carla]

[Mrclean]

I worked for a big company and liked it. 3.5 million is a good rate of pay, though I'm surprised there is no housing allowance. You may be able to negotiate on that point. Housing is a standard benefit at most companies.

I worked for one of the big companies and quite liked it. Consider the following points:

1) What are you expected to do during "office hours" when you are not teaching?
2) How long have the other teachers been there? Teachers who re-sign must like the place.
3) Consider commute time. Some company jobs are out in the countryside.
4) How much vacation is there? With a biz background you might get a university job for less pay but also a lot fewer on-site hours.
5) You might be able to make a similar pay rate by working as an outsourcer through recruiters and have more freedom. The guys who do that usually have to travel around quite a bit but you make good contacts and can find a job you really like, assuming you make a good impression and are a reasonably good teacher.

[conbon78]

I worked for a Korean company and I didn't get housing. It wasn't that much of a big deal other than coming up with the key money for my apartment. However, if I had known what I know now...I wouldn't have taken the contract. First, I was bored out of my mind. I taught around 15 hours per week (on the high end). The other hours of my day were filled with playing on Facebook and doing anything I could not to drive myself crazy. I actually came up with projects to do because I was so bored. I hated that.

Next, I had only 15 days vacation. I preferred hagwon life where I got only 10, but worked less hours.

Finally, it really gets you into the Korean culture. At least in hagwon life you tend to get people that are more fun and less uptight. I worked for a conservative company and I had to deal with more than I ever wanted too.