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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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 Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:08 am Post subject: |
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| i've made the switch. i'm on a 16,000 yuan/month salary, and considering the rents in the cities, i wouldn't take much less. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:36 am Post subject: |
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SAFEA has predicted a demand of 50,000 NEW teachers per year for the next decade and has been saying so for the last 5 years.
No news there.
The real news is that salaries have started to climb from the dismal 3000rmb that was offered 5 short years ago.
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morningsoju
Joined: 20 Aug 2011
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:02 am Post subject: |
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| interesting! how does life in China compare to Korea though? cost of living, food, nightlife????? |
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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| morningsoju wrote: |
| interesting! how does life in China compare to Korea though? cost of living, food, nightlife????? |
China is a huge country. When you say cost of living and nightlife its akin to asking what is the cost of living in America. It varies depending on region, city v rural, etc. No surprise that Beijing and Shanghai are going to be more expensive than southern China.
The good thing about China for those that hate Korean winters is that you can live in much nicer temperate region in the south. The food varies depending on the region but like anything else its a matter of personal taste. Most people would say 'chinese food' is tastier than Korean. Cost of living can be cheaper than Korea but it depends on where you live in China. Ironically, you can still get Korean food as there is large Korean community (North Korean mostly) in Shanghai and other cities.
Nightlife varies as well, the big cities will obviously have more to offer. For the guys, dating is by and large, much easier everything considered. Not nearly as much social pressure on chinese girls. I would say of the 3 countries, Jaoan, China and Korea. Korea is the much harder to date local women.
Salaries are going up and although the salaries on this site seem kinda low, once you're there (like Japan) its not too difficult to see that you can get a pretty good wage once you get the lay of the land.
Despite what you hear about internet restrictions, like Facebook, its easily gotten around. There is a device you can buy to circumvent the restrictions.
China is the next big thing it seems. Korea may come under pressure to keep and attract teachers if the trend continues. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:37 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
SAFEA has predicted a demand of 50,000 NEW teachers per year for the next decade and has been saying so for the last 5 years.
No news there.
The real news is that salaries have started to climb from the dismal 3000rmb that was offered 5 short years ago.
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I had thought of teaching in China, but the salaries were too low and people coming from the West do have some bills to pay, and 5,000 renminbi is not going to cover that. People are not going to from South Korea to China until the salaries are say at around 9,000-10,000 or more.
However, if Korea becomes too hard of a market for some, more and more will go to China in response.
I remember once talking on Skype to a Chinese girl who spoke decent enough English in my opinion, and she never went to the equivalent of a hagwon or the West. Was that just some exception, fluke? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
SAFEA has predicted a demand of 50,000 NEW teachers per year for the next decade and has been saying so for the last 5 years.
No news there.
The real news is that salaries have started to climb from the dismal 3000rmb that was offered 5 short years ago.
. |
I had thought of teaching in China, but the salaries were too low and people coming from the West do have some bills to pay, and 5,000 renminbi is not going to cover that. People are not going to from South Korea to China until the salaries are say at around 9,000-10,000 or more.
However, if Korea becomes too hard of a market for some, more and more will go to China in response.
I remember once talking on Skype to a Chinese girl who spoke decent enough English in my opinion, and she never went to the equivalent of a hagwon or the West. Was that just some exception, fluke? |
Keep looking.
There are a pretty fair number of jobs in the 10-12k range (plus housing (utilities included), air allowance, etc).
As demand continues to increase salaries will continue to rise and 10k does go a long way and the opportunity for money on the side is also pretty good).
Most of the good paying jobs are with kids.
Uni jobs pay crap but the hours are low and the real money is in the "extra" tutorial classes that your students have to take.
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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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The salaries have gone up. Furthermore, its not the wages but how much you save. Japan pays more than Korea but you can save more in Korea because of lower cost of living, taxes, etc. The same is happening more and more in China. The wages are lower but there are many who actually save more because of a lower cost of living.
One initial problem is that its bit frustrating getting started, tons more paperwork than Korea and you have to be far more patient intially trying to get up and running and finding your way around. Just like Korea, after settling in, its much easier to get things done.
China will make things tough for hiring people to teach english for Korea. To what degree is open to speculation. One last note, there seems to be much more non teaching opportunities to make money and much easier to start a business than in Korea. Many more places to go sight seeing, there is also Hong Kong for a more western getaway and there are cities (like Shenzen) that are very close to Hong Kong that make it easily accessible.
Its great for NETs to have that choice obviously and it may make Korea re-think how difficult they make it for NETs to work in Korea and put pressue on them to pay more if people are opting out of Korea. China isn't for everyone. Especially those that need hand holding. One thing for sure though, its become a viable option for many NETs in Korea and for those who are a bit adventuresome. Some folks are settled in Korea and that's all well and good. I think though a case can be made for China. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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I've only been here a couple months, so it's a bit hard for me to get a grip on the true cost of living.
However...in general, a beer at a supermarket is about 3 RMB, at a bar it's 10, and at a dance club it's 30-50. Cocktails range from 20 at bars to 50+ at clubs.
Local food: 3 rmb and up for street food. 10-20 for meat/veggies and rice dishes. More for a good meal like hotpot.
Also, rough on my paycheck are the taxes. They're about 20-25%, and it's not nice stuff like SK pension that gets returned to me at the end of the contract.
The other huge expense (Beijing) is rent. Plenty of people spending 3800 rmb+ on a studio. For me, I spend 2500 for a nice place, but I endure a crushing commute. Basically as far as rents go, you're talking Seoul prices. It's that or get roommates. Time to change jobs.
As for sirius black's comment..I'm not sure how coming to China required more paperwork. Right now, among Japan/Korea/China, Korea is the king of paperwork. I didn't need to submit an FBI check nor apostille documents. You do need to have a medical check once in the country. Also, if anytime you move, you have to register your address at the local police station. That's about it... The entire process from accepting the job to coming to China took less than two months. The only true headache came from trying to get my visa from within Korea - it would've been a cinch had I been stateside.
But they have made it harder to get a job in Beijing/Shanghai (must have some form of TEFL, must be 24, must have 2 years teaching experience) than outside the big two cities.
Last edited by nukeday on Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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I almost made the jump.
Had an offer at a Shanghai hakwan eqvt for 16 hrs teaching a week, 13.5k rmb and 20 office hours, ot worked out at 30k won per hr.
Couldv'e saved about the eqvt of 900k won a month I think on same lifestyle as in Korea saving 1.3mil a month.
That extra 400k does matter to me though, even though I'd way prefer those teaching hours obviously and i think in shangers it would be easier enought to get privates.
A friend lives in Shanghai and works at the same company and said the teaching is much better and the kids are much better. Also better food / shopping etc, even better than Seoul.
Other language mills in Shanghai pay around 12.5k - 13k for 20 - 22 hrs of teaching.
BUT - as wages go up, don't be surpired to see the hours go up and the working hours looking simmilar to what they are in sk eventually.
Personally I think 30 hrs a week is brutal and nutso and the lower hours in Shanghai really was a draw, but I had other reasons than money and hrs holding me back and backed out. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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Did that job pay for housing though? I almost took a job in Shanghai around that pay range and they sent some introductory letter talking about cost of living that stated "A studio apartment in downtown Shanghai will run about 2500 RMB" - complete lie. Probably true 5 years ago.
In my case, I'm teaching 30 hours a week, so it's a full, tiring load. However, I'm teaching adults and it's NOT a split shift...I think Korea's the only place in the world that tries pulling that nonsense. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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| I was going to put this another way but................if you have a cushy Korean job and aren't getting ripped off, think twice before quitting to greener pastures, because I doubt that they exist. I have some experience with this. |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| No. My 900k figure was based on my having to pay around 2500 - 3000 rmb for housing (there were apts available at those prices, as the job had contacts with realtors, though ym friend who way paying 2500 says his is going up to 3000 after a year or so...) and living a basic but not frugal lifestyle. |
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chrisinkorea2011
Joined: 16 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| nukeday wrote: |
I've only been here a couple months, so it's a bit hard for me to get a grip on the true cost of living.
However...in general, a beer at a supermarket is about 3 RMB, at a bar it's 10, and at a dance club it's 30-50. Cocktails range from 20 at bars to 50+ at clubs.
Local food: 3 rmb and up for street food. 10-20 for meat/veggies and rice dishes. More for a good meal like hotpot.
Also, rough on my paycheck are the taxes. They're about 20-25%, and it's not nice stuff like SK pension that gets returned to me at the end of the contract.
The other huge expense (Beijing) is rent. Plenty of people spending 3800 rmb+ on a studio. For me, I spend 2500 for a nice place, but I endure a crushing commute. Basically as far as rents go, you're talking Seoul prices. It's that or get roommates. Time to change jobs.
As for sirius black's comment..I'm not sure how coming to China required more paperwork. Right now, among Japan/Korea/China, Korea is the king of paperwork. I didn't need to submit an FBI check nor apostille documents. You do need to have a medical check once in the country. Also, if anytime you move, you have to register your address at the local police station. That's about it... The entire process from accepting the job to coming to China took less than two months. The only true headache came from trying to get my visa from within Korea - it would've been a cinch had I been stateside.
But they have made it harder to get a job in Beijing/Shanghai (must have some form of TEFL, must be 24, must have 2 years teaching experience) than outside the big two cities. |
This is probably the most accurate description i have heard. I actually have a friend who is a lead/head teacher at a school and she is making BANK. she said that when you first get to china, you will get low to decent pay HOWEVER the good money is getting a PGDE (Post Graduate Degree of education) that you can get in china in 1 years time. She said with that she could get me a job paying 20 - 22,000 rmb because with her connections she could get me in mid level. With that being the case, china is looking nice lol but im still thinking about it |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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| Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Cpl questions Chrisinkorea.
A westerner can do a pgde / pgce in China? Aren't those ft intense courses for home studetns in their own countries? My friend did his in England and didn't even have much spare time for a ft job. Also don't you have to do it in person - not online?
And don't most international schools only hire you with home country post qualification experience?
So one would, I'd imagne have to not be working ft whilst doing it, thus essentailly offsetting any SHORT TERM benefits of earning extra with the qulaification. Obviously for someone wanting to make a career or long term job out of tefl, sure, anyone but an idiot woud see a post grad qualification as the way to go.
Just curious as to the hows and whys of you considering it really, not asking for myself.
cheers. |
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