Korean Job Discussion Forums

HunterORL23 · Guest

Is this enough? How much is it with taxes taken out? I will be teaching with EPIK in February and this will most likely be my salary for the first year. I am hoping to get into a private school after that and make more.

How much in won can one live off of a month if I transfer 800,000 won home per month? Is 600,000 won enough to live comfortably? Because I want to stash another 200,000 or 100,000 (since I know some will be taken out from taxes) for international travel every 6 months. I will lower the price of what I send home if I have to but it does need to work out to about 500 is possible.

Clockout · Joined: 23 Feb 2009

You will probably net around 1.55-1.6 million

It's possible to live on 600,000/month but it's a pretty meager existence.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

I live quite comfortably on 500,000 won a month. That inlcludes all meals (I cook every meal and eat well), utilities (electricity/gas) and travel (bus).

That said, I live like a monk in Korea - I don't drink or go out, and I purposely save most of my salary to live in Thailand. One year working in Korea = 3 years living in Thailand.

This takes discipline, and I can't see how anyone who has a social life could live on 500,000 won a month.

redaxe · Joined: 01 Dec 2008

600,000 won a month is 20,000 won a day.

That's like a coffee, a can of beer, a kimbap, a bowl of ramyun, and a couple of subway rides.

No western food, no shopping, no bars or clubbing.

You could do it, but why would you? I'd suggest you find a better job before coming to Korea.

HunterORL23 · Guest

I would want to eat out like twice a week, maybe go to a cultural attraction or two on weekends, and have a beer every now and then. A few months every now and then I would also like to go down to Busan on the train, or to lotteworld theme park and things like that. I hear a lot of fun stuff in Korea to do is also free. Maybe I will just for the first year send over like 600,000 back home and live off 800,000 instead.

Rusty Shackleford · Joined: 08 May 2008

You can still live like a king on that sort of money, you just won't be saving a heck of a lot. You can live very well on 1 mil, though that figure is slowly creeping up.

HunterORL23 · Guest

When is the won supposed to get better???????

typo · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

Bbang! · Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul

I can't believe there are jobs still offering 1.8 mil. That was the average starting salary 5 or 6 years ago. Anyone with a reasonable lifestyle (occasionally socializing and eating out) would have a hard time living on 1.8 mil if you're sending 800,000 home every month.

1.8 isn't too far off from what many places could potentially pay you for working part-time. 1.8 for full-time work is a joke. You better be getting a sweet apartment out of the deal.

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

Public school teachers get by on all the "respect".

HunterORL23 · Guest

thurst · Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Location: Seoul

you're with epik and you're only making 1.8mil...are you sure?

DrugstoreCowgirl · Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject:

Do yourself a favor and get a TEFL cert before you come over and your pay will go up 200,000 won a month.

typo · Joined: 16 Jun 2009

Hi, the phrase "when does the currency get better," when we have no knowledge of your current location/context, means absolutely nothing. So yeah, your "terminology" was not to my "enjoyment." Have a nice day.

edit:
also, if you're not even here yet, you don't want the won to get stronger. that'll make your non-won currency weaker. try to figure out at least a little bit of a subject before you go on with your snark, bubs.

HunterORL23 · Guest

Well I went to the EPIK web site and I saw that with no experience and only a BA the salary is 1.8. Perhaps I am wrong why what is the typical starting salary for someone with my qualifications? I am just preparing for the worst, if heaven forbid, I am stuck with an 1.8 salary when I get there.