Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cj1976]

I recently started doing some proofing and editing work for Korean students hoping to get accepted in overseas universities. Each paper is 500 to 1,000 words.

[PRagic]

accepted TO or accepted BY overseas universities, or perhaps even accepted INTO

You should be able to ask for anything from 8,000 to 25,000 won per page depending on the quality of the writing. If it's unintelligible and you're basically writing the essay for them, the price of poker goes up.

[Stan Rogers]

Do you guys have a visa to do this kind of work? I hope it pays well because the fines at immigration have gone up considerably this year.

[PRagic]

Most people that do this type of work either do it through an intermediary (e.g. their university, school, or hagwon) or have permanent residency. Lighten up, Francis....

[tob55]

Most of the work I have done in Gangwon-Do is 10,000 per page. The price is fairly solid through the agencies I have done work for. To ask more if you are independent is up to you. I have seen some people getting as much as 20,000 per page, but it is very rare. I did this type of work on the side for 2 years and it was okay when there was work. Most of the time I get engineering papers that are for journal submissions and occasionally get some nursing students. Rarely get long papers. Good luck.

[Big Mac]

I charged 12,000 Won for every 250 words.

[Stan Rogers]

[candy bar]

[Stan Rogers]

You're right, I'm just one of those surfer bums drinking beer and eating oranges at the beach. What would I know about what goes on up in Seoul and Kyonggi Do?

But the sudden hostility I'm receiving from a few shows me that I've struck a nerve.

[PRagic]

You haven't struck a nerve so much as stating the unnecessarily obvious.

[Stan Rogers]

I just find it interesting that I have never heard of anyone ever getting busted for this. Maybe more people should get out of the privates and into the editing gold mine. It's looks like a way to make money with little risk of getting caught by immigration or the tax auditors.

[PRagic]

My point was that there are plenty of legal editing jobs, particularly in Sepul, without having to hit the gray areas. But, still, nobody on the board needs to be reminded about immigration.

Maybe people should just stop worrying about what other people are doing to make a buck here.

If YOU want in, then by all means pursue it. There have been several threads over the years on ways to make a go of it in Korea without having to teach English (especially to kids).

[Stan Rogers]

Your view suggests to me that you believe that all foreigners in Korea are equal when they are clearly not in the eyes of the law. Why should legal law abiding editors or proofreaders have to compete with illegals? Maybe you are not the right person to be asking that question to. There is no such thing as "grey areas" in the eyes of the immigration and tax authorities.

I have no interest in proofreading or editing. But I know people who legally do this kind of work and I believe that this kind of work should be reserved for people who do it legally and who have significant ties to Korea and Korean people.

[PRagic]

Like I said, lighten up.

[guavashake]