Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IwalkAlone]

So I have decided on a school with good pay and decent hours compared to the American work week. Only real concern is that this school has only been around for about 5 months with 150 students. There are 3 KT's and 1 part-time foreigner already.

My questions to the dave community...

1. What are the odds of this school going bankrupt? (past experiences if you have them)

2. What are the odds of me being blamed if the school goes bankrupt?

3. If the school runs out of funds...how much money could I stand to lose? (I'm assuming just the last paycheck)


I hate to be negative but there are certain situations I would like to avoid. I have taught before in Korea. The most recent school was about 230 students and seemed to be doing fine with 4 KT's and 3 FT's plus 3 van drivers and a secretary.

[ilovebdt]

[oldfatfarang]

There are no guarantees that any school will survive in Korea., especially a smaller school.

Korean parents change schools for many reasons that are just too many to mention here. After you work here a while you realise that you're only responsible for only a small percentage of younger students leaving classes.
My personal experience in my very small, newly opened school (1 year old) is that hakwons are like every other small business - worldwide. They are on a knife-edge budget, borrowing money to pay wages some months, and have little business skills, (and especially money/budgeting,planning skills).

And there is certainly no guarantee about honesty in the Hakwon business in Korea. This is a cutthroat society and education is a cut throat business here. Many schools are just not honest with their employees. They will tell you anything to get you to teach for another month (and hence another month's income for the school - not necessarily for you).

I think every teacher in Korea runs the risk of losing their final pay, their return airfare, and their bonus.
That is why many English teachers resign contracts, collect their final pay etc, and then run away.

Sorry, no guarantees here. But maybe in Japan?????

[Col.Brandon]

150 students is OK. If it was 50 or less I'd be worried.

[casey's moon]