Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BigBlackEquus]

Is your university becoming a unigwon?

Or in other words, a university + on-campus hagwon?

This seems to be a growing trend, even at the best of schools, where attached 'language centers' are turning a quick profit for the university (Seoul National University). The bad thing is that foreigners who work at the universities are now finding themselves having to put in extra hours on the hagwon side.

Examples:

1. Foreign Language Training and Testing Center Hankuk University of Foreign Studies http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=16102

2. One Full-time Instructor Needed at Language Education Center, Chonnam National University (Gwangju, Korea) http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=16332

3. WonKwang University Language Center http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=16161


There are also universities out-sourcing their teachers to area schools. What would we call those? Unigwouts? Here is one:

Full-time Public School ESL Instructors - Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Korea http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=16360

[VanIslander]

uniwon

"uni-won"

(as in: the university won, the teachers lose)

uniwon

[indytrucks]

[jacl]

Well, if you signed on to teach uni students at X number of hours, etc. then that's what you teach until the remainder of your contract. If they later decided to change their minds and give you hagwon classes/more hours then you tell them to go take a flying leap or give you X amount of dollars.

End of story.

[DougieG]

Ha ha ha ... of course that's what you would do. And then you run the risk of being shown the door mid-contract with minimal notice, or at the very least, not resigned at the end of your existing contract.

Face facts, uni bosses run the shown and can do whatever they like. If you don't agree and comply with their directives, then there's a very good chance that your university teaching career will come to an abrupt end.

Universities have a funny habit on not providing references or even -- shock horror -- going out of their way to screw you when your next employer calls.

[DougieG]

Q. Is your university becoming a unigwon?

A. Yes -- plans are afoot because the president of my school is envious of other school's cash cows, oops ... I mean "language institutes." The days of teaching soley credit classes are over and anyone who thinks otherwise is just lying to themselves.

[jacl]

[Hollywoodaction]

Yes, it's coming soon, or so I've been told. But I'm not worried. My university recently decided to give up a bit of job security. We (as in the teachers who have been here for years) have been placed on the tenure tract. I didn't get a huge pay raise, but I appreciate the university's gesture.

[Real Reality]

Are universities really compensating most qualified foreign educators appropriately? Whether they are in a "unigwon" or a university department, are foreign educators treated appropriately and fairly? You might find the following articles interesting.

Foreign Scholars Merit Equal Status
The foreign professor -- colleague or hired hand?
John B. Kotch, JoongAng Ilbo (June 14, 2002)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200206/14/200206142349223599900090109011.html

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin, Donga.com (July 4, 2004)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

12% Increase of Professors Salary Last Year, but Part-Time Lecturers' Were Decreased
Donga.com (February 14, 2002)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2002021400798

Professor Salary (2000 Salary)
South Korea: $5,511 per month
Exchange rate per US$1 used to calculate monthly salary; South Korea: 1,134 won equals US$1
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/features/salaries/2000/popups/content/21prof.html

Corrupt Professors Common, Students Say
by Baek Il-hyun and Kim Ho-jeong, JoongAng Daily (April 28, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200504/27/200504272214239309900090409041.html

Stop Corruption in Academia
Editorial, JoongAng Daily (April 27, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200504/27/200504272153216879900090109011.html

Ex-pats Describe Korea's Culture of Corruption
by Kim Hong-jin, Chosun Ilbo (December 16, 2004)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200412/200412160027.html

For Housing Rentals, Foreigners Easy Victims
by Byun Duk-kun, Korea Times (August 28, 2003)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200308/kt2003082818233111970.htm

A Country of Liars
by Kim Dae-joong, Chosun Ilbo (July 3, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200507/200507030027.html