🚀 go-pugleaf

Paul Han wrote:
> 
>                 *****  English Teachers Wanted in Korea  *****
> 
> BCM Language Center in Korea has almost 20 years of teaching history
> and reputation.  Please see following hiring schedule.
> 
> Starting from  February 1997 classes : 22 teachers
>                  March 1997 classes :  35 teachers
>                  April 1997 classes :  22 teachers
>                 May 1997 classes : 40 teachers
>                 June 1997 classes : 35 teachers
>                 July 1997 classes :  42 teachers
> 
> Qualifications  :  BA Degree, native American English speaker
> Contract Terms  :  One(1) year contract basis (renewal is optional)
> Salary  :  130 hours a month and US$ 2,000 is guaranteed

"US$ 2,000"?  The day a Korean employer pays in U.S. dollars is the day I'll 
start believing in Santa Clause again.

Why these constant lies?

Teachers in Korea are paid in Korean won, and contracts are written in won 
amounts -- NOT U.S. dollars.  It's important to know this because the value 
of the won is constantly changing;  it was 760 to the dollar when I arrived 
in Korea sixteen months ago.  The last time I went to the bank (Dec. 17), it 
was 847 to the dollar -- that's a difference of roughly 12%.

Let's look at an example of the arithmetic:  Notice the "1,000,000 Korean 
Won (Approx US 1,300) of bonus"?  Figure it out.  They're using an exchange 
rate of 769 to the dollar.  That would be funny if the joke weren't on you. 
At today's rate, 1,000,000 is equal to about $1,180.

Prospective teachers should also know that the "bonus" is a 
government-mandated retirement allowance that, by law, should be based on 
the average of the actual amounts you receive --including overtime-- over 
the last three months of employment.

Know before you go.