Korean Job Discussion Forums

litebear · Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland

In terms of qualifications and experience you probably fall into what? The top 5%? You describe your current job as like a "hagwon prison" where you earn 2.4m. If you think that's the best job available within striking distance of Bundang then you need more help than I can provide over an internet message board.

fustiancorduroy · Joined: 12 Jan 2007

angma,

You said you have writing experience, correct? Then you can get a writing job and make 3.0 million won or more right off the bat. Test-prep hagwons also pay quite well. I know there is a Hoyah TOEFL/SAT hagwon in Bundang. They pay 35,000 won per class minimum. With test-prep experience, you could easily ask for 40,000 won per class or more, perhaps much more.

In my case, I have about five years of experience in Korea. I have a bachelor's degree in English and solid command of teaching. I haven't had a job paying less than 3.2 million a month since my first year.

These days I work at a test-prep hagwon in Gangnam. I also teach a TEPS-prep class at a university in Seoul. I make well over 5.0 million a month at the hagwon. I teach 40 hours a month at the university for 80,000 won an hour, for a total of 3.2 million a month. I've also written several textbooks, which generate around 1.5 million a month in royalties. Soon, I will start making video lectures at my hagwon. If we're able to attract a solid base of customers, then I should be able to increase my income quite considerably.

With an F5 visa and excellent qualifications, the only thing holding you back from making this kind of money (if not a lot more) is you.

litebear · Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland

Empty_Seoul · Joined: 30 Apr 2011

For those who talked about writing, how did you go about finding writing jobs? I'd like to build up my writing portfolio. I'd prefer it to be in Korea but other countries would be ok too. Thanks for any help.

BigBuds · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Location: Changwon

It's easy to make above average money here if you have the right visa and a brain.

Go into business for yourself. I've been here ten years and have worked for myself for 8 of those. I own two buisnesses here and I also invest in the Korean real estate market. Started my first business here when my wife was still my girlfriend and we have since opened up another business.

In a bad a month, I clear about 10 million won. On a good month 20 million. Last year was great, no bad months at all, and this year a couple of bad months so far. This isn't including money made from real estate here.

The real estate market here can be great for some quick gains. For example, the last apartment I bought, I litterally owned it for 3 weeks and sold it again for a 20 million won profit.

Korea is a great place to set up business if you do it right and have an understanding of the culture. PLENTY of opportunities here!

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

angma · Joined: 02 Jul 2007

I don't own a house. How to do housing. My wife and I scrape by. I save money, but in an overseas account (for the future --- remote future) and it is not easily removed.

World Traveler · Joined: 29 May 2009

BigBuds · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Location: Changwon

Bruce W Sims · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Illinois; USA

Bruce W Sims · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Illinois; USA

Hi Angma:

I read your posts and I think about myself some years back. What I found was that when I argued long enough and hard enough for my limitations, thats exactly what I got. I'm not saying that you probably have hurdles to clear....and could be that your hurdles are maybe a bit worse than the usual. I can't say anything about that. What I can say is that I used to be waaay too accepting of my limits....and those usually came from other people's observations rather than my own. Here's a couple of things I ran into.

a.) You and I both have our Masters, right? Fine, that and a buck will get you a cuppa anywhere in Chicago. First thing I stopped doing was playing the "paper game". You have enough paper to get a decent job. Don't listen to other people tell you what its worth; you'll get played.

b.) You and I both have experience. Once again, don't let somebody else tell you what its worth. If you think back a bit you will realize that YOU were the one who took all of the knocks and falls, so listening to someone else tell you what your life experience is worth is really just self-abuse.

c.) You and I both have dreams and hope, right? Forget about listening to other people tell you what you can and can't do. Right now I'm suppose to be too old to teach in Korea. I guess somebody forgot to tell the people who have been contacting me, right. No....its not a torrent of callers begging me on bended knee. Just a few here and there, and enough to give me some choice about where I go and what I do.

I like to think about those boxers who go to their corners between rounds and listen to their coach rail on about what the boxer is suppose to do. But when the bell rings the coach is on the outside of the ring and the boxer is the one taking the punches. If you listen to other people tell you what's possible for you, you get to wake-up at the end of someone else's idea of what your life should have been. FWIW.

Best Wishes,

Bruce

meangradin · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

marsavalanche · Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Location: where pretty lies perish

my best advice is dont be on an e-2 visa.

Koharski · Mod Team Joined: 20 Jul 2009

The status of your visa does not determine if you can work private lessons. All unreported income is illegal!!! If you want to legally teach private lessons, you must obtain a tutor's license and jump through the hoops set by the Korean government.

All other forms of private teaching is illegal and discussion of illegal activity will removed from the forum.

Koharski