FFF (25)- Tutoring Rebels

If you think finding teaching jobs in Korea are plentiful, then get ready for a whole world wind of opportunity- but of course with stipulations.  Private tutoring is in more demand than teaching in a formal setting.  Why would the overzealous Koreans want to pressure their children into being the best?  Of course that would never happen.

Some teachers find tutoring jobs through friends, co-workers, and even on the streets.  If a brave Korean, antsy enough to learn English, spots a waygook on the street they may approach you and boldly ask for private tutoring.

But Privates (as we waygooks call them) are illegal… at least if they’re paying you cash.  And boy will they pay you cash.  Koreans are so adamant in being one step ahead of the rest, that they will typically pay anywhere from 30,000 won (about $27) to anywhere up to 100,000 won (nearly $90) PER HOUR.  Of course this depends on location, experience, age of student, yada yada; but it’s pretty safe to say that the going rate in Seoul is around 50,000 won/hour.

In a recent forum on a Korean teaching website, there was chatter circulating about how much to charge per hour.  One response mentioned “don’t get out of bed for less than 30K an hour.” 

And according to research conducted by Hyundai Research Institute, some parents are spending 19 percent of their monthly income on privates, cutting back on the parents’ retirement funds.  In total, it is estimated that 33.5 trillion won is spent on private tutoring, while the government sets aside only 31 trillion won towards education.

So this brings about why private tutoring has become illegal and who exactly is private tutoring illegal for? 

The government hasn’t completely banned tutoring, but anyone with an E2 visa (a working visa) is not allowed, by law, to teach private tutoring lessons.  To control privates, the government set up Hagwons (Academies), which are typical employers for Native English Teachers (NETs), especially in the larger cities, such as Seoul.

But this problem with the budget sheds light on why private tutoring would be illegal.  With the pressure to have their kin be the best of the best (remember Korea is #2 in education, see FFF 3), Koreans gain excess stress to be able to make enough money to provide for this posh educational environment.  Remember, Koreans are dishing out about 19 percent of that monthly income, cutting back on retirement, causing them to work longer.  Surprising to some people, this isn’t appealing.  So instead of having children and working until you’re 100 (they live long plentiful lives in Asia), why not opt out of children?

Ultimately, the birth rate in Korea is dramatically decreasing and the government is pointing one of its fingers at private tutoring.  In addition, educational inequality is increasing within the school system, extra ciricular activities are being distrupted, and private tutoring goes against the educational reform. See Korea's War on Private Tutoring for more details.

What is the punishment?

Well if you feel ballsy and want to take on the risks, you might find 1) fines 2) jail or 3) deportation.  But those fines are no joke- in one source it stated that the fines could be 5 million won (approximately $5,000).  And Korean jail is not your luxurious U.S. jail; they’re exactly how jail should be- rough.  And deportation- no one wants that on their record.

How do people get around these laws? 

Some tutors accept gift cards, dinner, and other gifts in replacement of the cash advances.  F2 visas are available through talking with their employer and the government.  Others just pray they don’t get caught by the government and those goodhearted fellows out there just volunteer.

And this is exactly what I’ve opted for.  When someone approached me about private tutoring, I began researching and soon became aware of the consequences.  Not wanting to take on any crazy Korean inmates, I decided that 2 hours per week is good for the body.  

Now I’m not putting myself up on a pedestal or anything.  I do get something out of this; I get to take a break from my crazy middle schoolers and interact with a brilliant 4^th grade boy and an adorable 1^st grader, who last week begged if I could stay the night J.  Anyway, hope this sheds some light on the illegal tutoring (and legal, volunteer tutoring) that goes on in South Korea.  Hopefully I’ll be able to report back with some more adorable stories from my 1^st and 4^th graders.