Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hoost]

Hi.

I have often heard that for non-tenure track EFL instructors there is a set limit to the amount of times an employee can renew their contract.

I have heard six years... Is it true or accurate?

[faeriehazel]

There is no law that limits the number of years a non-tenure track EFL instructor can work at a university. Universities have their own rules - I know some universities only keep their instructors on for three years, for example.

There is a law stating that "temporary workers" can only be employed for two years and then after that they must either be hired as regular workers or fired. I don't know how many university EFL instructors count as temporary workers though.

[I'm With You]

At Hongdae and Hankuk we were only permitted to stay for 2 years *4 yearrs for those teachers who were popular* and that was it. They were out on the street after that, regardless of their experience, academic qualifications, publications or popularity.

As I've argued in previous posts, there is a two-tiered system in Korean universities that exists: one for local professors and one for foreign instructors. And never the two shall meet. It's a night and day difference in terms of compensation, research budgets, bonuses, and social benefits. And of course job security.

Even those lucky foreign profs who are on tenure track, are often not paid the same as Korean teachers who hold the same status.

The academic apartheid in Korea will not change until foreign professors stop accepting positions at Korean universities. Eventually, the Korean government will get the message and begin ensuring that schools do not discriminate againist foreign instructors.

[atwood]

After so many years, and I think it's different for the public and private pension systems, instructors become vested and the matching pension payments the universities have to make increase substantially and that's what motivates some universities not to keep instructors any longer once that happens

As for the two-tier system written about above, no shit sherlock. But that's Korea. It's their ball so if you want to play it's by their rules. But keep in mind, foreign professors don't have to buy their positions and they don't have to make obligatory contributions to the university to keep their jobs.

[bluelake]

For those teaching in private universities, everything is governed by the Private School Act. The particular part of the act that relates to how long someone works for a particular university is Article 54-4, which states:

[faeriehazel]

The same article states that 기간제교원 can only be hired under the following conditions:

1. If a professor is taking a temporary break due to physical or mental illness
2. If there is a position that is unfilled more than a month due to a professor being sent abroad, suspended, fired, or on vacation, and the successor must be supplemented. (I'm assuming this means that if they can't find someone to take over full time for over a month)
3. If a professor is supposed to fired has appealed the ruling and the school is therefore unable to hire a successor
4. If there is a specific subject that needs a temporary instructor.

Foreign instructors who teach ESL don't fall under any of these categories. They fall under the category of 조교수 (assistant professors) formerly called 전임강사 (what we'd call adjuncts). I know many ESL university instructors who have worked at their schools for far more than three years.

[bluelake]

[I'm With You]

[cabeza]

[World Traveler]

[atwood]

[World Traveler]

[atwood]

[faeriehazel]

[hogwonguy1979]

It really depends on the univ. I have numerous friends at numerous univs where they say there is a 4 year limit but have been there 10 years+. When I was hired at my present univ there was a 4 year limit but last year the admin said that no longer applied but if we were ranked in the bottom 20% of faculty in student evals for 2 successive semesters you can't be renewed