Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Teachers 'Overpaid' by OECD Standard
By Lee Hyo-sik, Korea Times (March 23, 2008)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2008/03/123_21163.html

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

I'm always wary of reports which use selective statistics to make a point. Using GDP/capita as a yardstick doesn't show the full picture. I'm pretty sure teachers in Luxembourg could use GDP/capita to show that they are in fact heavily underpaid, even if in dollar/euro terms they are out-earning other teachers by a heavy margin.

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

I think in the case of Luxembourg you're right, but even if we eliminated the smaller countries that skew the numbers and set the bar at 10 million people, we'd still get a majority of the members of the OECD, and enough to make a reasonable comparison.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

This is really interesting and useful information. Just a second. Let me copy, paste it to word, print it, and bring it to my next "What are Korean teachers making" meeting.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

I used Luxembourg as an extreme example. My point is, the article is using selective statistics - and I am always wary of that. GDP/capita is one tool that can be used, but it does not generate a complete picture. Overall dollar earnings, cost of living, purchasing power, etc - are all valuable tools used when comparing salaries. Using just one of these tools can generate a distorted image which can be used to suit a specific agenda.

PS. according to the article and my average math, Korean teachers (with 15 years experience) earn 3.6mill/month.

poet13 · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject:

So does this mean that the average school teacher here makes 43,338,000 won per year?

2.33 X 18,600,000 (GDP) = 43,338,000.

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

The high average is 2,500,000w per month or 30,000,000w per annum.

If you want to add housing at 300,000 the 33,600,000.

The low end is 1,800,000w per month or 21,600,000w per annum.

If you want to add housing at 300,000 the 25,200,000.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

Cbclark, this article is discussing KOREAN teachers, not native-English teachers.

trachys · Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Location: Busan

Why doesn't the headline read 'OECD teachers underpaid by Korea's standard' ?

It might not be mining, but it's a demanding job--as all but the smuggest board members will attest