Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jennbear73]

So,

For a person that has a college degree, with no TESOL/TEFL or any other cert and has never taught, american female...

Is the going rate 2.0 million won.

For the average amount of teaching which based on threads here, is 6 hours a day, no weekends.

With 1 month severance, flight, housing payed.

I guess I'm just trying to make sure that 2.0 mil won is what I should 'expect'.

I've seen a couple threads on this...but don't really answer the question. I'd like to be able to tell a recruiter, "Nothing lower than this $$ much, like 2.0 mill won, and could I conceivably get it considering I have no experience in teaching...



Hoping for some Help...

Jenn

[Ya-ta Boy]

That's pretty much the going rate.

[John Henry]

in the same boat as you. 2.0 seems to be going rate for 30 hrs. seen a lot of 1.9, but they are just giving you lowball. I think you could negoitate 2.1 if they really wanted you.

[mindmetoo]

My ideal would be Seoul city core, 2 mil, m-f, 5 hours a day, single modern apartment. Having to share would be a deal killer. Away from the Seoul subway line would be a deal killer. I'd slide down the pay scale 1.9-1.7 for such quality of life issues.

[Real Reality]

Average Annual Salary of Newly Employed University Graduate is 24.72 Million Won
A survey showed that the average annual salary of newly employed university graduates this year is 24.72 million won and that Shinhan Bank provided the highest salaries. Education, apparel and the leather industry provided 22.63 million won, the food and restaurant industries 23.03 million won, and the machine and steel industries 23.94 million won. The Shinhan Bank marked the highest annual pay among individual corporations in all industries with 34 million won. LG Insurance came in second with 33.4 million won, and then Hyundai Card and Pusan Bank with 30 million won.
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=020000&biid=2004022038228

Korea stands out as having a long scale reaching a much higher level than that of other countries. The starting salary for primary teachers in Korea is $24,140, marginally behind that for Australia at $25,775. Australia ranks 3rd in the starting salary offered to teachers but Australian teachers reach a relatively modest maximum of $36,175 (ranked 12th) quite early in their careers. Korean teachers, on the other hand, reach $39,921 after 15 years and $66,269 at the top of their scale.
(Unicorn Vol 26, No 2 July 2000)
International Comparisons Of Expenditure On Education
by Barry McGaw
http://www.austcolled.com.au/pubs.php?id=538

In Germany, Ireland, South Korea, and Switzerland, among others, teachers earn at least twice the GDP per capita. http://www.veaweteach.org/articles_archives_detail.asp?ContentID=324

Have you ever been paid late in Korea?
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=18732

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
Overall living conditions, including education, housing, medical care, transportation, immigration, and access to the Internet are pointed to as inconveniences. Not only inconveniences caused by different systems and customs in Korea, but also special discriminating practices, such as the practice of submitting two years of monthly rent in advance like a deposit, which is required of foreigners just because they are foreigners, are ubiquitous. "Even though Korea has achieved some degree of globalization in going abroad, it has still a long way to go for globalization in embracing foreigners inward," said foreigners residing in Korea.
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

Individual Selfishness Damages Economy
Collective selfishness is all the rage despite the fact that the Korean economy still has a long way to reach its goal. People are more concerned about having their own share of the pie rather than cooperating with each other to help society in a general way.
Donga.com (June 30, 2003)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=020000&biid=2003070115228

[marlow]

Yeah, you should get 2.0M, six hours teaching with almost no prep time, and a single apartment. Since it's your first time here, you may enjoy having a roomie (female), though. In that case your shared apartment should be large and comfortable for two people.

Ask for pictures of your apartment. Digital cameras are everywhere, so there is no reason pictures can't be offered.

[Real Reality]

marlow wrote,
"Ask for pictures of your apartment. Digital cameras are everywhere, so there is no reason pictures can't be offered."

Right.
Some places in Korea provide foreigners with very poor living conditions.
Places can be very different. Follow the links below to see some different places.
You will probably get an apartment like one of the first two.

1. http://www.edenrealty.co.kr/index.asp?q=2&idx=45

2. http://www.edenrealty.co.kr/index.asp?q=2&idx=38

3. http://www.edenrealty.co.kr/index.asp?q=2&idx=37

4. http://www.edenrealty.co.kr/index.asp?q=2&idx=74

[jennbear73]

Thanks people...

I appreciate it..I've been doing the research but just wanted to make sure that I was pretty much on target...

Looks like I am.

Again....my thanks...

Jenn

[mindmetoo]

[chronicpride]

Jenn, I'm assuming by your handle that you are around 32 years old. Add to this is the female from North America bonus factor, plus the recent isolated rantings (the paranoid folk here choose to call it a massive backlash ) against male teachers, and you are in a pretty good spot to ask for more than the norm. Also, your picture sells. If you can get a professional shot of yourself done, even with a subtle emphasis on glam, I would be asking for 2.4 and seeing what that yields. You'll get feedback from some schools and recruiters trying to talk you down, but if you hold firm, you will get some very good bites. Most directors and recruiters that I know, say that a 2.0 salary for an under 35 female from NA is a bargain. If you settle for 2.0, that means that your recruiter pocketed the extra difference, because he's going to turn around and sell you to the school for more than he would bill for the avg guy. He knows what you're really worth, and banking that you don't know. Don't give him the satisfaction by settling for a lower figure or an asshat school.

[Kenny Kimchee]

Anybody else have a look at the link that RR posted?

http://www.edenrealty.co.kr/index.asp?q=2&idx=45&page=4&startpage=1

[canuckistan]

[mindmetoo]

[Real Reality]

Something from Grotto,
I had no apartment for the first month! On September 11'th the apartment became vacant and I seriously would have put a dog in it. Mold on the walls, the floor, in the cupboards, on the screens, holes in the floor, broken windows, holes in the screens. I waited patiently and they were fixing things up slowly but surely. I myself spent about 20 hours over 3 days in it cleaning up the mold and mildew in the cupboards, the dirt and nicotine off the light fixtures, windows and everywhere else.

Then I was told everything would be ready by the 20'th...it did not happen! All this with Chuseok coming up. I had to go in and literally bang on the desk on Thursday and say why isnt there any furniture?
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 Post subject: ARRRGGGHHHHH

Haggard wrote,
How is it possible to be happy in the long-term in Korea when you live in a box? In the short-term, I can see it. The money and the new shine of the country and the culture can preoccupy your mind enough for a year or two to make you forget about the comparitively poor living conditions and lack of personal living space.
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 Post subject: How do you handle life in a Korean box?

Dr. Buck wrote,
In Korea, new aprtment complexs are called "New Town" or "Villa" and other such Konglish gibberish, but in real English, they are called ghettos!
Or tenement slums!.... life in the Korean cement box is a low quality one for sure, and anyone that does so for the long term is a loser with low-standards---whoa, big statement---or, must be rolling in such an amount of cash, perks, and prestige to make such a chicken-coop existence worthwhile.

Cement box living=low quality of life.
Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 Post subject: How do you handle life in a Korean box?

EFL LAW
http://www.efl-law.com/contracts_accomodation_warnings.html

Contracts & Accommodation: Warnings & Advice.
Below are some pictures supplied by a foreign teacher in Korea who was placed in absolutely disgraceful living conditions by his Korean hagwon employer. His contract merely said the employer would provide accommodation.





EFL Teacher: Roaches and a Bad Smell in my Apt.
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/articles/index.pl?noframes;read=872

[canuckistan]

Real Reality is one of those expats who probably just shouldn't be in Korea

Either that, or he's a North Korean anti-SK propaganda apparachik