Korean Job Discussion Forums

linton · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Location: Seoul

Hi,

I have a question and was hoping that someone here would know the answer. I spent 3 years teaching in Korea and I am looking at going back there with my wife and child. I am American and my wife is Chinese so when my child is ready for elementary school will he be able to go to a public school for free or little cost.

In the past I taught at a public elementary and middle schools in Korea and I am totally ok with at least the elementary school system there.

Thanks any info would be great

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

What is your question?

linton · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Location: Seoul

Sorry to make it clear my question is: What would it cost if anything to send an American child to a Korean public school? Of course I would be living there.

stimpleton · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Location: Suwon

If it's a regular elementary school, the only cost will be for school lunches. My son's now in his second year at a Korean elementary, and it costs us about 50,000 a month for him to attend (just in lunch and milk money). Hope this helps.

EDIT: Of course, you'd also have to arrange dependent family visas for your child and probably your wife, but that's what allows the child to attend the school. Might be a good idea to make sure your employer knows this - my first one didn't, and got stung for fees when we went to renew a year later and the kids had never gotten visas... (they went to Korean Kindy)

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

brier · Joined: 14 Dec 2009

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

If your wife is Chinese, why not return to China? She could work, or at least get you some privates...and in China you can make close to what you would make in Korea, probably more if you were doing privates and if your wife was working...

linton · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Location: Seoul

Thanks all for the useful information.

Yes my wife is Chinese and I am working in China right now because she wanted to be close to her family for the baby. I earn an ok wage here in China. I did earn more in Korea with a lot more respect but the family problem is now what will my wife do???

She earned her BA and Masters in Korea and even worked for a Korean company for one year. Here in China her job choices seems limited because of the pay level so we are looking at moving back to Korea next year and she will most likely work on a doctorate degree.

My wife has spent 1/3 of her life in Korea and one of the reasons we want to go back to Korea, at least for a few years, is so our child can learn Korean.