Korean Job Discussion Forums

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I'm going to a private middle school in Bundang. The school looked too nice to pass up.

I'm looking at the GEPIK contract and like others, worried about teaching other teachers/parents and the security deposit for the first 3 months clause.
I don't mind doing some extra work, but the security deposit (30,000 won a month)sounds steep. Basically, my relocation fee of 30,000 is out the window from the start. How much of a hassle is it to ask for a revision?

Also, I've heard that the cost of living is half compared to the U.S as long as you avoid westernized restaurants and don't go to malls. With the deposits, each of my first three pay checks should be 180,000....is this livable?

...shoot, I still need to deduct medical, tax, and utilities...

[Colorado]

Something's wrong with your math.
Do it again because no, you wouldn't really be able to live on 180,000 won a month.

[KYC]

The deposit is 300,000 won NOT 30,000. It's for 3 months so a total of 900,000. You will get it back at the end of your contract.

What relocation fee are you talking about? You do understand you also get a settlement allowance of 300,000 in cash when you first arrive...don't you? You should get that on your first day. I arrived on a saturday and received it 1 hour after my ct helped me settled in.

And yes, please check your math again. There's no way your first 3 paychecks could be 180,000. What's your base salary? They deduct the deposit, pension, health insurance, maybe tax unless you're american, school lunch, and maybe teacher's club. Those are the only deductions I can think of. My first 3 paychecks were 1.8 but I started higher than most ppl. It shouldn't be lower than 1.6 if your base salary is 2.0 a month.

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EDIT:

My starting is 2,100,000 with a TESOL cert BTW.

Sorry, it should be 1,800,000 -_-;
I get confused with the korean money system sometimes.

[KYC]

You're worried you cant survive on 1.8 a month? Ok...don't come to Korea then. You won't make more unless you do privates.

I get from 1.9 to 2.0 a month after taxes and eat out almost everyday and shop every wkd. I still have money to send home.

[640x480]

I'm asking the question obviously because reading the South Korea GDP does not exactly tell me where to shop for bargains.

I'm sorry, but I feel forums are the most accommodating yet harsh environment for newbies. A simple, "Yes, I make this much and I even have enough left over to send home." would suffice.

Thanks for the response anyway.

[Otherside]

Simply put, If you aren't extravagent its really easy to get by on W1million a month. (I generally spend about W700-800K, and I never cook at home.. but then, travelling once or twice a year really bumps up the average.)

On a 2.1 salary, you will lose 300K the first 3 months. After Tax, Pension and Health insurance, you will be sitting at about 1.65million. So that's plenty. Even if you aren't a savvy bargain hunter or have to send money home (unless its an exhorbitant amount and some mafioso is holding your sister hostage) you shouldn't have any problems.

The one positive about that deposit is that you get it back when you finish, makes for a really fat final paycheck .

[Scouse Mouse]

At the moment I make 2.2, and with a pregnant wife (hospital bills at least once a month) we still save at least 800K a month. That is without doing any extra private lessons.

Buy your food from the local markets and save a TON on supermarket prices. Do not eat out every day, and when you do eat out, eat korean food. If you drink, don't drink every day, and limit it to weekends.

As a single person in Korea, if you don't mind limiting your social life, you can save 70%+ of your take-home salary every month. Aim to have some fun and socialise, and you can still save 50% with ease!