Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jillbean1217]

So, I am new to the ESL forums, and while I've been lurking for awhile, I have a question that I can't find answered anywhere else.
I am leaving for Korea at the end of Sept. or early October. I've received two offers, one for hourly employment and the other for monthly salary employment. I've looked at them from every angle, and they both have their perks and their negative aspects. Would anyone mind (who has lived in Korea on either side of the spectrum) giving me a few pointers to help me make a decision? Thanks!

Hourly:
30,000 KRW per teaching hour (guaranteed minimum of 24 teaching hours per week) [although my recruiter says that it's easy to pick up extra hours on your off days, I'm not sure if she is just saying that though]
Full airfare reimbursement (half paid during contract signing, other half after completion of the 1 year contract)
5,000,000 KRW housing key money loan
200,000-500,000 KRW Relocation bonus (depending on location)
E-2 visa sponsorship and airfare for visa run if needed
7 days unpaid vacation per year (after completion of 2 full terms)

Basically with the hourly contract, I have the opportunity to make more money but a lot of the benefits are gone

Monthly Salary:
2,500,000 KRW per month for 120 teaching hours
Full airfare reimbursement (half paid during contract signing, other half after completion of the 1 year contract)
Free Semi-Furnished housing (rent only; utilities and other monthly maintenance fees responsibility of the tenant)
200,000-500,000 KRW bonus (depending on location)
50/50 medical insurance and pension
1 month severance pay at end of 1-year contract
E-2 visa sponsorship and airfare for visa run if needed
7 days paid vacation per year

Thanks again!
Jill

[jadarite]

If they are guaranteeing 24 hours, why pay by the hour then? Something sounds strange there. I would ask for a monthly salary, even if it dips a little below what you would make hourly just to make sure you are getting that.

Otherwise, they might try to cheat you out of money based on an hourly premise that you only worked so many hours. With a monthly salary, they owe you the money regardless if they can get students or not.

I would offer doing overtime though at an hourly rate.

[Khenan]

Your first option looks like a standard CDI contract offer. If so, I can't recommend them, although they were certainly not the worst job I ever had.

I can't speak as to the second option, except to say that you will almost certainly net more money with this option than the first, if the first is CDI.

The math = 24 x 30,000 = 2,880,000 won. Compare this to 2,500,000 won, and realize that you will have to pay rent out of your paycheck for the first option. Then include the deductions and month-to-month inconsistencies (if it is CDI), and solve for X.

[ChinaBoy]

Put me down for an "hourly" vote

Less work, baby! I love free time. 120 hours teaching probably involves another 40 hours of prep. They can't make you come in for prep if you're hourly.

That said, depending on what kind of housing you'd like, the monthly salary might be better. It can get pretty pricey, and the hourly contract doesn't pay for it. Key money is ok, but the monthly rents could kill you. Of course, the 2nd offer might put you in a real dump.

Haha, well, maybe I didn't offer an opinion after all.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[jillbean1217]

[enns]

Take the hourly. Odds are if you're at a large school(which are most CDI academies), you'll get 30-33 hours a week. Add on intensives and some months you can pull in 4.5+ mil for really not that much work. Check on pension and health, many branches are now including that in their package(speak directly to a branch). There's a reason why the vast majority of CDI workers choose hourly. It really is a good setup.

[huck]

[jadarite]

[jillbean1217]

I've been trying to do the math on this, and it seems like in the end, they both boil down to the same thing. Based on 120 hours a month on the hourly option, I would be making 3600 USD. Then I'd have to pay for housing, which my recruiter says is between $500-$700 Canadian Dollars (Which, due to the downfall of the dollar, is about 500-700 USD). So, let's say median range is $600. I'd be bringing home 3,000 USD per month. (so, 36,000/year)

The salary contract is $2500 USD per month, with 120 hours/month written in. However, not having to pay for housing is a definite bonus. Add in the severance pay and the pension and you've got an extra 5,000USD, roughly. That is 30,000 USD plus the $5K for pension and severance, so we're looking at about $1K discrepancy between the two. Add in the insurance and paid vacation and I think they are about equal.

I think I am going to go with the salary amount, because it will be nice to not have to deal with the whole housing situation.

That being said...why does my recruiter keep trying to push hourly?

[Young FRANKenstein]