Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OneWayTraffic]

The 21k a year is for the Hagwon and PS jobs. Those can be a foot in the door to the better paying jobs out there. I made 21k a year or less in one year of the eight I spent in Korea. Of course to do that you need something more than the average ESLer has: F2 visa or better, a MATESOL, some business experience or the ability to work a couple of jobs legally.

[PatrickGHBusan]

As was stated, the savings potential is one thing you should key on.

Also, accomodations HAVE to be factored into your income as does the return flight and severance.

Why?

Accomodations: you would have to pay for this and it would take a large chunk out of your pay so having it provided by an employer is whats called a benefit.

Severance: it raises your monthly income as it typically represents one months pay at the end of the contract.

Flight: its a clear benefit because otherwise YOU would have to pay for it.

I think the initial post by Urban was pretty darn interesting and that the comparison can be a real eye opener for many of us.

[Unposter]

I don't really want to get into this argument but I think these numbers are skewed in some way and I am guess in more than one way.

But, one way is the Seoul/rest of Korea division. Admittedly, it is based on just my relative personal experience but salaries in Seoul are just much higher than listed in the UrbanMyth's link. And, it requires a lot more money to have a "middle class" lifestyle in Seoul.

It is like comparing national averages with what it takes to live in the big cities of the world such as San Francisco, New York, London, Sydney etc... It just does not quite add up.

Most ESL salaries are alright for single people but trying to raise a wife and children on it - well - it won't go far at all. And maybe, to people out in the provences, your salary may seem like a lot but to the professional class of Seoul, they are going to laugh at you.

When I first started work in Korea (at a hakwon), I had the basic ESLers salary and I remember being shocked that female bank tellers made almost 50% more than I did.

I guess it is all relative to your financial needs.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Weigookin74]

21K job a year? You mean dollars? That's whacked. You should get something higher. Plenty of jobs paying more. What's that work out to less than 1.5 mil won a month?

Average experienced job with some renewal allowance and annual salary bonus and free accomodation plus your month salary for 12 months, equals well into the 30's K when converted to dollars. Granted you got to get some experience to command a little higher but not much higher. Recession may be keeping salaries lower, but exchange rate is the killer. If they would go back to pre 2009 levels, my salary would be much higher. Well, thems the breaks. Still better than 21K? Where'd you get that figure from?

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ttompatz]