Korean Job Discussion Forums

Crystal98 · Joined: 18 Jul 2006

I have just been offered a job in seoul making 3 million won a month with no deductions. My apartment is paid for and I get a month training. I've noticed on job boards that the average salary is between 1.8-2 million won for new teachers, so having a school offer me 3 million to start makes me wonder whether it is a reputable school. Should I be concerned? There are two foreign teachers who have been there for a little over a year who haven't run into any problems yet.[/quote]

melvaughn · Joined: 11 May 2006

Hmmm, that does sound unusal from my research. A teacher at the school where I work went through a recruitor and was told that the average starting price of most hagwons is 1.8m. I believe the average starting price is 2.0w and with more experience/education (masters/phd) possibly 3.0w but even that is rare.

John Henry · Joined: 24 Sep 2004

Anyone who takes 1.8 should be ridiculed by their peers. I'll start.

You can get 2.0 easy. 3.0....Have to wonder if they're just telling you what you want ot hear.

Talk to people that work there.

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

DCJames · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

NOTHING is free in Korea. If you're getting 3.0, your Korean boss will make you earn every won..

Good luck!

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

3.0......60 hours a week. No prob.

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 05 May 2005

maryb · Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 2:28 am Post subject:

sounds like CDI to me

alabamaman · Joined: 25 Apr 2006

CDI information

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=65510&highlight=CDI

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

melvaughn · Joined: 11 May 2006

I agree that 1.8w is crap and that most newbie teachers should accept no less than 2.0w. I didn't go through a recruiter myself because I don't trust them.
But I'm teaching in Tongyeong city (pop 140 000) very small city and not only do I spend no more than 6000w a day, if that, I'm definitely not enjoying life less than if I were in Seoul. I live across from Jeju, I'm right by the ocean, moutains. The teachers here go scuba diving, climb moutains and hang out at the beach everyday. There are western restaurants here, similar to Seoul and they are dirt cheap. I look out my apartment every morning and I'm surrounded by mountains everywhere. I wouldn't be experiencing this in an overcrowed, city like Seoul. Plus every teacher here rides scooters through the winding roads by the Ocean. It is great. Plus we get royal treatment here from the Koreans, since there are only 12 of us foriegners in the whole city. I've already experienced having money (10,000w) handed to me by men on the street numerous times Laughing

And there is a close-knit group of teachers who we do everything with together.
Also I feel I'm really experiencing the culture here. In seoul you can easily forget your even in Korea.

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

3 mill will probably come with strings attached. Some adult institutes advertise that starting wage, but with split shifts and phenomenal overtime and no housing. You can already automatically deduct at least 500,000 from that sum if you have to find your own housing. Editing jobs can also offer 3 mill or more. An MA in some unis can get you over 3 mill.

Tell us more on the specifics of the job and respondants will be able to offer more pointers.

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

Definitely Seedy......I

OneWayTraffic · Joined: 14 Mar 2005

It's doable, but you will probably work for your won. I say go for it. If they were really seedy they'd probably just underoffer.

I made 3.1 a month for much of my time at Pagoda. I was working 6-8 classes a day plus a class in the weekends.

Peter Jackson · Joined: 23 Apr 2006