Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jessie-b]

A Korean ex-coworker of mine started his own hagwon. I don't think he has any students yet but he's been giving Korean lessons to a few waygooks around town on Saturdays. I've been a few times. The lessons are mostly for beginners, maybe a good review for low intermediates such as myself. I wasn't really into it cuz he was conducting the lessons mostly in English. For the past two weeks he's texted me saying that he invited some Korean native speakers to teach the students one-on-one, and that I should come around.

Well....I was at a PC bang last night with a Korean friend and we were checking out the postings board at the local University. My friend pointed out this one post that a lot of people were pissed off about. It was about a guy charging Koreans 20,000 an hour to teach waygooks. At first I just said, "That's messed up. What a douche." I looked at the photo and it was my ex-worker. He charges Koreans 20,000 an hour and promises the Koreans that they will be able to "make friends" with foreigners and practice their English under the guise of teaching Korean.

I don't think he's told any of the foreigners about this. He certainly didn't mention to me that he was charging people to teach. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt that he's not a complete tool. Do you guys think this is totally underhanded and sneaky or is it a valid business plan? Most of the Korean responses were critical of him, the plan, and wary of meeting foreigners ( criminals and druggies with fake diplomas). I don't know how he makes any money in the first place.

[Ruraljuror]

Maybe I've been in Korea too long, but my reaction to this wasn't outrage...I actually laughed out loud.

If it makes you feel better, his business is going to be a crushing failure and he will lose whatever money he put into it. There simply isn't much demand from foreigners to learn Korean. At best it's a niche market. You aren't going to get rich selling something that your customers don't want.

Charging your labor to work is such an awesome idea though. Next time you see him buy him a beer for me.

[jessie-b]

I guess its a lot like college volunteer programs that overcharges the volunteers. I've known this guy for a long time and don't want him to be a failure but I don't want to participate in scheisting people. I also don't want to learn Korean through speaking English. It doesn't work too well.

My PC bang friend didn't think it was so awful. He compared it to his Korean club at his Uni in N.Dakota. Non-Koreans would pay a fee to experience Korean customs and food.

[Tommy]

Reminds me of the Seoul tour bus that charged foreigners to unknowingly teach Korean children also on the tours.