Mr. & Mrs. Vandebilt + kids

When we were deciding whether to come to South Korea to teach we had many questions.  Leaving our comfortable home life was a major decision and it was sometimes difficult to make an informed decision.  You can never know the details of what it will be like but it sure helps to have some answers and set up a support system before you leave.  I have gathered some general information that is useful in making your decision.

Culture

Chances are you are coming from a middle class Western lifestyle.  You may not think that you live a Hollywood lifestyle but the reality is that you do.  The things that you take for granted – bedrooms with beds and fitted bedding, bathrooms with bathtubs and shower stalls, kitchens with stoves, clothes dryers, etc., are luxuries in South Korea.  It is not that you can’t have these things just they are not considered necessities of life.

It is hard to adjust to life in a culture that is fundamentally different from your own.  In South Korea you will find things that you will not understand.  It is hard not to pass judgment on the culture but you just learn to accept it at face value.  You can not change the culture of South Korea.  You can change the way you interact with it.   In my experience culture is an immobile part of life and you just have to work around it.  You will always be a Westerner but you can certainly figure out how to live in an Eastern culture.

Opportunity

Teaching in South Korea is an excellent opportunity.  There are a few reasons that South Korea stands out as being one of the best places to teach.  South Korea is actively recruiting foreign teachers.  It is easy to find work and there are plenty of jobs to go around.  You can choose to teach at a publicly funded school or a privately funded school.  Each option has its own pros and cons but each is a viable source of income.  Your job is generally secure when the school is well established and needs to keep up their reputation.  Private schools recruit for start dates at various times throughout the year where public schools recruit based on the school terms.

Alternatively you can do private tutoring.  Private tutoring means a lot more setup work.  Private tutoring is not sanctioned by the government but it still happens.  Do not expect to walk into throngs of South Koreans begging for private lessons.  It will take weeks for you to set up a network of students.  Even then you will be the one actively seeking work.  Private tutoring is not generally a viable source of primary income.

Searching

The easiest and possibly best way to find work in South Korea would be to have a friend in South Korea find work for you.  If you know someone who has experience working in South Korea ask them to put you in contact directly with a reputable school or recruiter.  This takes a lot of the guess-work out of it for you.  It saves you from having to worry about whether the contact is legitimate.  If you are not lucky enough to know someone with experience working in South Korea you could try joining Facebook groups to make contact with someone who does.

There are plenty of recruiters available online to work with you at finding a private school placement.  A recruiter is someone who has contacts with private schools in South Korea.  You do not pay the recruiter, the school does.  If a recruiter tries to make you pay – find another recruiter.  A good recruiter can answer all of your questions.  The recruiter should also be able to give you contact with a teacher at the school they plan to place you with.  If you still feel uncomfortable just keep looking.  The most popular place to start looking for a recruiter is Dave’s ESL Cafe.

For public school placements you can choose to use or a recruiter or do it yourself.  The South Korean government runs a program called ‘English Program in Korea’ (EPIK).  You can apply to this program online, by email, through the Korean consulate, or with an approved recruiting agency.  To be considered for the beginning of the next school term you will have to follow their guidance and meet their deadlines.

Compensation

Private schools generally pay about 2.2 million Won (~$2200CDN) each month.  You need to have a completed university degree.  The school will pay for your flight and place to stay.  You will have to ask about overtime rates.  You should receive medical insurance – 50% paid by employer.  You should also receive severance pay when you finish your contract worth about a month’s wage.  Vacation time will vary but you will likely get about 10 days paid vacation – these days are public holidays.  You will have to work out for yourself what is a good deal.  If you would like more vacation time with greater flexibility be sure to ask.  Assume nothing about your contract.  Be very specific with your questions and make sure that everything is completely clear before you go.  You are responsible to ask all of your questions up front and have all of your agreements written into your contract. Make sure you sign your contract before you go.

Public schools pay on a scale based on your education level and placement site.  You at least need to have completed a university degree.  You will fall somewhere between 1.8 million Won and 2.7 million Won (~$1800-$2700CDN).  The school will give you an entrance allowance of 1.3 million Won (~$1300CDN) to cover your airfare.  The school will give you a settlement allowance of 300,000 Won (~$300CDN) within the first month of your contract.  There is generally no opportunity for overtime.  You have to keep office hours regardless of actual teaching hours.  Your school dictates your office hours.  You will receive medical insurance – 50% paid by the employer.  You will receive severance pay when you finish your contract worth about a month’s wage.  Alternatively, you will receive 2 million Won (~$2000CDN) to renew your contract but you will not receive the entrance or settlement allowances on renewal. Vacation times will vary but are generally much more flexible than private schools and will be clearly stated in your contract.  Your public school contract will be clear and will not have room for negotiation.

Private tutoring pay is up to your discretion.  You can generally ask between 20,000 Won and 50,000 Won (~$20-$50CDN) per hour.  You do not need a university education to tutor private students.  You will have to cover your own airfare and place to stay.  You set your own working hours but do not expect to teach more than a few hours each day.  You will need to have your own medical insurance.  You set the contract with each student individually.  Payment is best asked for in advance when possible.

Cost

A generous estimate for your monthly expenses is about 800,000 Won each month (~$800CDN).  This budget allows you to live like a rock star compared to an average South Korean.  You are able to save up a lot of cash in a relatively short amount of time if you are careful with your spending to maximize savings.  A lot of people come here and get caught up in the party scene and waste a lot of money on unnecessary things like booze and western style food. You will fare out best if you follow a budget and send your money home before you get to spend it on things you don’t need.

Necessary items (food, shelter) are generally cheaper in South Korea than they are at home.  You will find though that luxury items are generally more expensive.  If it is name-branded it will be more expensive in South Korea.  If you are planning on buying new brand-name clothing or electronics do it before you come or have it shipped in later.