Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Golden Lama]

I'm interested to know how many hours the average, Korean public school teacher teaches in a week.

I work in public schools and, as yet, have been unable to determine what that 'average' is. I don't want to come right out and ask because my motivations would be suspect, which they most definitely are.

I'd also like to know what their salary is - again, on average.

I just want to know exactly how short the short end of this stick is. My observations, so far, have me concluding that I'm working more for less money. I'm a qualified teacher, so that doesn't sit too well with me.

Stay well, y'all.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I was also curious about the same thing. So I asked. The Korean teachers at my public high school teach 3 or 4 classes each day. My co-teacher said the average is about 16 a week. Keep in mind this is a very small high school, so the average might be higher at bigger schools.

I'm also curious about their income, but I didn't ask about that. I do know it is more than we make.

[Golden Lama]

Dare I whisper it?

How's about a union?

I don't even know if there's a possibility. In Japan, there's a private union which English teachers can choose to join and there are some benefits to be had, so I wonder if it can be done in South Korea.

Any thoughts?

[Real Reality]

Teachers' Salaries (Year: 2002)
Korea
Annual statutory teachers' salaries in public institutions in equivalent US dollars: US$26,983 - US$74,671
Ratio of salary after 15 years of experience to GDP per capita: 2.73

Here are some other countries for a comparison:
Australia
Annual statutory teachers' salaries in public institutions in equivalent US dollars: US$27,493 - US$40,480
Ratio of salary after 15 years of experience to GDP per capita: 1.44
Germany
Annual statutory teachers' salaries in public institutions in equivalent US dollars: US$36,934 - US$47,921
Ratio of salary after 15 years of experience to GDP per capita: 1.72
New Zealand
Annual statutory teachers' salaries in public institutions in equivalent US dollars: US$18,109 - US$35,034
Ratio of salary after 15 years of experience to GDP per capita: 1.61
United States
Annual statutory teachers' salaries in public institutions in equivalent US dollars: US$29,513- US$52,104
Ratio of salary after 15 years of experience to GDP per capita: 1.18
Source: Education at a Glance 2004, Education Statistics and Indicators,
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
http://www.oecd.org/document/11/0,2340,en_2649_34515_33712011_1_1_1_1,00.html
OECD Data: Indicator D3: Teachers' Salaries (Excel Format)
URL: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/61/34/33671263.xls

For primary education, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Mexico have relatively low salary costs per hour of instruction ($13, $15, and $16, respectively); by contrast, costs are relatively high in Denmark ($48), Germany ($49), South Korea ($62), and Switzerland ($48). Salary costs per primary teaching hour in the United States are in the middle of this range at $35. In South Korea, high costs per teaching hour at the primary level are balanced by a relatively high student/teacher ratio(31.2) and a low proportion of current expenditure on nonteaching staff, resulting in below-average expenditure per student (OECD 2000.)
Chapter 1. Elementary and Secondary Education: Teacher Working Conditions. National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics
http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/seind02/c1/c1s7.htm#c1s7l3

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

May 15 is Teacher's Day in South Korea, and to honor their teachers, students will be bring them flowers, write compositions in appreciation of them, and even participate in sports competitions with them. Parents also often give gifts or gratuities to the teacher. According to an article in the Nishinippon Shimbun, surveys indicate that parents spend a minimum of 100,000 won on these gifts (roughly US$100.00), while cash presents can go as high as 30 million won (roughly US$3,000). Instead of cash, reports the paper, it is not unusual for teachers to receive gift certificates, gold bracelets, Western liquor, foreign cosmetics, or nutritional supplements.
Giving Gifts for Teachers Day
Japundit » Polishing the apple (May 15, 2005)
http://japundit.com/archives/2005/05/15/polishing-the-apple

Koreans Top Spenders in Education
By Kim Yon-se, Korea Times (January 14, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200501/kt2005011418130411880.htm

[JacktheCat]

Depends what you mean by "work." Korean public teachers generally teach from 16 to 18 hours a week vs our average of 22, and given their teaching style do less prep work for those classes. However they then have to do a crap load of office paperwork, and as you know from dealing with immigration, higher-ups on the Korean heirarchr totem pole love paperwork. So, hours wise, it's pretty even.

As for pay, the base montly salary of a Korean with only a few years under their belt is quite a bit less than us waegukins. But they get bonuses (depending how their students did on the standarised tests) which can substantially increase their pay, and they are paid for working during vacations, and they receive yearly raises. A high school math or science teacher with 20 years under his belt is one of the highest paid professionals in Korea.

[JacktheCat]

[Real Reality]

[Golden Lama]

[Demophobe]

Korean elem. school teachers teach around 24 to 28 classes per week. Their base salary is quite low, but they get many sizable bonuses and cash perks (legit, not from parents) throughout the year.

This is correct for my wife and a great many K. teachers I have spoken with.

[Hobophobic]

[jaykimf]

[Real Reality]

Comparison

Annual Teachers' Salaries (Year: 2002)
Australia
US$27,493 - US$40,480
Germany
US$36,934 - US$47,921
Korea
US$26,983 - US$74,671
New Zealand
US$18,109 - US$35,034
United States
US$29,513- US$52,104
Source: Education at a Glance 2004, Education Statistics and Indicators, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
http://www.oecd.org/document/11/0,2340,en_2649_34515_33712011_1_1_1_1,00.html
OECD Data: Indicator D3: Teachers' Salaries (Excel Format)
URL: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/61/34/33671263.xls

[tzechuk]

I was under the impression that it was quite low..... but I am probably wrong.

My last cleaner's husband is an elementary school teacher and she kept telling me how they had no money.......... who knows.

[livinginkorea]

That's 'cas they get paid a half of their salary every other month. It's like half this month and then time and a half the next month. A lot of companies do that here too.

Korean teachers do start off quite low. They get paid extra for being homeroom teachers and their salary increases with the amount of time that they are working, like all other government jobs. The ones who are the oldest are earning the big bucks

[jaykimf]