Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Korea Is Now World's 11th Largest Economy
The world's No. 11 economy's per-capita income level is similar to that of New Zealand ($13,260), Greece ($11,600) and Portugal ($10,720). According to the Bank of Korea (BOK), Korea's per-capita GNI topped $12,646 in 2003. If a nation's per-capita GNI exceeds $9,076, it is categorized as a high-income group (55 countries).
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200405/kt2004052516405211870.htm

Which place would you prefer to live and work for several years?
(You might even consider raising a family there.)

[weatherman]

Good post RR. My choice would be Korea. If you look at the PPP (purchasing power parity) for Korean income it is around $19,000 That isn't too too bad. If you are making double country's average you see that our income goes a long way.

That said, we get paid far less than what a Korean man with same education and age would make, which sucks.... Some Korean men do very well...

[Real Reality]

weatherman wrote,
"That said, we get paid far less than what a Korean man with same education and age would make, which sucks.... Some Korean men do very well..."



Sometimes I wish I did not know. Ignorance is ....

[Wangja]

As it happens I've worked in all except NZ: 2 years in Athens, 4 years in Portugal. Korea is my choice - in my 6th year.

Portugal is better the further north you go. I had the advantage that my Portuguese is (well, was then) fluent.

Athens is in many ways pleasant but the driving standard is unbelievably bad and the pollution has to be breathed to be appreciated. Also, the only word of Greek I really used was "mallacca!" but I did have a good time.

[VanIslander]

New Zealand, Korea, Portugal, Greece.... in that order.

And I'm glad I make over the $12,646 national average here - plus the lower cost of living compared to the other places with the same income levels.

[Real Reality]

VanIslander wrote,
"And I'm glad I make over the $12,646 national average here...."

Do you make over the national average for an instructor, teacher, secretary, fast food worker, or taxi driver?

[Real Reality]

Korea 49th in World in Per-Capita GNI
Korea's per-capita gross national income (GNI) is 49th in the world, only half of that of Hong Kong and Singapore.
According to the World Bank's "World Development Indicators 2003" released Tuesday, Korea's per-capita GNI for 2002 reached US$11,400 and ranked 49th among 208 countries, rising three spots from 52nd in 2001, said the Bank of Korea. Moreover, Korea's total GNI came to $543 billion, 11th in the world.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200405/200405250034.html

[Real Reality]

S. Korea's economy ranks 10th in the world: IMF report
South Korea's economy moved up one notch to rank 10th in the world in 2005 in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday.
Yonhap News (April 27, 2006)
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20060427/910000000020060427174208E3.html

List of countries by GDP
Rank... Country ... GDP
1. United States 12,485,725
2. Japan 4,571,314
3. Germany 2,797,343
4. People's Republic of China 2,224,811
5. United Kingdom 2,201,473
6. France 2,105,864
7. Italy 1,766,160
8. Canada 1,130,208
9. Spain 1,126,565
10. South Korea 793,070
11. Brazil 792,683
12. India 775,410
13. Mexico 768,437
14. Russia 766,180
15. Australia 707,992
List of countries by GDP (nominal)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)

International Monetary Fund
http://www.imf.org/

[bobbyhanlon]

the average in new zealand is only $13000? i can't believe that.. is it true?
the korean figure is pretty low too.. i refuse to believe $12000 is average. you can't even live on that! and besides everyone knows the illegal economy is massive here. even english teachers are making plenty on the side which isn't accounted for.

[Real Reality]

[Homer]

RR..before you go and throw yourself off a bridge or chain yourself to city hall in protest because you think you should be making more than a taxi driver perhaps you should factor in the total wages and expenses formula in your little calculator..

Simple example:

Case A: Foreign teacher

Avg wage: 2.0 million per month

Housing costs: Ranging from 100 000-150 000 Won

Avg Hours: 30-35 per week.



Case B: Cab driver

Avg Wages: Will vary depending on number of fares picked up but hovers around 1.8-2.2 million per month

Housing cost: If he is lucky, he owns his own place after years of saving.

Avg. Hours: Typically works 12 hour days, 6-7 days a week.

Expenses: Family to support, gas (most of the time it is not reimbursed, maintenance on his cab, buying his cab.


Starting to get an idea RR...comparisions need to take all factors into account in order to be valid...otherwise you are just trying to get a raise out of people by posting silly and shocking posts...you have a solid future as a Fox News reporter however!

Oh and before you go and roll in the "but what do professors in nuclear physics make at Harvard and why aren't we making the same"..hint: the pay scale of tenure track professors in other countries or in Korea has nothing to do with your pay. The only instance where it would have something to do with your pay is if you yourself were a tenure track professor.

[coolsage]

Now that Homer has had his rant: the GDP, even the PPP, doesn't equate with the intangible factors that add up to a life of quality. Is the air clean? How good is the water? Are the schools good? How long is your daily commute? How long does it take to get to the beach of your choice? Is the bartender putting triple-sec in your margarita, or some flimsy Chinese knock-off? These are notions not easily measured, and surely possible grist for somebody's dissertation on the thesis of the real quality of life.

[Homer]

Sage...it was a rant my good man...it was a bit of sarcasm refering to RR's recurrant "pay scale" drama comparison. I am sure you have seen it around a few times.

I do like your quality of life formula however...