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All about South Korea => Life in Korea => Topic started by: SPQR on June 27, 2022, 07:27:25 am

Title: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: SPQR on June 27, 2022, 07:27:25 am
Out of 185 countries and fifteen territories in the word, Korea
is squarely in last place for fertility. This means no babies and
hence no more students. This will affect all teachers, hagwons,
schools, universities and any businesses whose main customers
are of student age.

Have you figured out what you will do? The writing is definitely
on the wall.

In my case I plan to retire in 2028-2029. It will be cutting it close.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Adel on June 27, 2022, 07:30:16 am
Cue hangook and Chinese dreams.  :azn:


(https://media4.giphy.com/media/l0Hlyh2XqwqxbaEYo/giphy.gif?cid=790b76112669848ff2e0f04953ca11580f52fe00e9bb7e02&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Augustiner on June 27, 2022, 07:34:00 am
I think this would be more of an issue in smaller towns.  Any decrease around me in the Gyeonggi area is barely noticeable.  Babies everywhere and new teachers always flowing in.  There may be less opportunities, but jobs will still be around. 
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Kayos on June 27, 2022, 08:03:42 am
Planning to do 1 more year, and will be studying again next semester as well, to retrain for when I return to my home country.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: 745sticky on June 27, 2022, 08:07:54 am
i'm planning on 1 more year as well. stuck it out here for a while because savings are ok and i wanted to travel (rip), once i get 3-4 vacations in around asia i think that'll be good enough for me to call it quits
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: KoreaBoo on June 27, 2022, 08:09:03 am
Saw the writing on the wall years ago, secured a permanent career and moved back.

The future is brighter.

Just don't get stuck in the never-ending game of musical chairs which is Korea
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: hangook77 on June 27, 2022, 08:09:20 am
Cue hangook and Chinese dreams.  :azn:


(https://media4.giphy.com/media/l0Hlyh2XqwqxbaEYo/giphy.gif?cid=790b76112669848ff2e0f04953ca11580f52fe00e9bb7e02&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g)

In your wet ones....
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: SPQR on June 27, 2022, 08:24:34 am
A friend of mine was teaching at a uni in Asan.  The entire English program was axed
and now the school has given notice of complete closure.

He's now having a great time teaching in Hungary.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: hangook77 on June 27, 2022, 08:52:50 am
A friend of mine was teaching at a uni in Asan.  The entire English program was axed
and now the school has given notice of complete closure.

He's now having a great time teaching in Hungary.

Wouldn't a school still need some English?  English still a requirement for Korea and for many company jobs? 

Glad he's enjoying himself in Hungary.  He has obviously reached the point where money no longer matters.  I wish I could do a year in Europe somewhere when retired years from now as long as they don't have age restrictions. 
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: waygo0k on June 27, 2022, 10:03:39 am
There will probably be a mini boom in adult classes
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Lazio on June 27, 2022, 10:06:40 am
I think this would be more of an issue in smaller towns.  Any decrease around me in the Gyeonggi area is barely noticeable.  Babies everywhere and new teachers always flowing in.  There may be less opportunities, but jobs will still be around. 

Agreed.
The nearest elementary school to us is adding a new story to the building to make room for the growing number of students. Another elementary school not far from here runs with 10 classes on each grade. All filled to the maximum capacity.

Of course the numbers on a nationwide level are declining. But I believe the population decline will not necessarily be followed by the same decline in overall spending on education. Meaning that parents will spend more on one child than before.

With that said, anyone with a half brain would know that this industry doesn't provide permanent employement opportunities and one should be ready to exit at any point.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: waygo0k on June 27, 2022, 10:16:57 am
Agreed.
The nearest elementary school to us is adding a new story to the building to make room for the growing number of students. Another elementary school not far from here runs with 10 classes on each grade. All filled to the maximum capacity.

That's probably because schools are merging together. And if you're in Gyeonggi, the apparent population boom is from a) Seoulites expanding outwards b) the rest of the country moving in towards Seoul
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Lazio on June 27, 2022, 10:21:59 am
That's probably because schools are merging together. And if you're in Gyeonggi, the apparent population boom is from a) Seoulites expanding outwards b) the rest of the country moving in towards Seoul

No merging. This entire area (including the schools and everything else) was built around 10 years ago. No new residential units were added since. The schools were planned to accomodate a certain number of children living nearby. But they clearly miscalculated the numbers.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Mr.DeMartino on June 27, 2022, 10:44:50 am
Out of 185 countries and fifteen territories in the word, Korea
is squarely in last place for fertility. This means no babies and
hence no more students.
One thing I see in Korea- no babies. That's not the outcome of what you are claiming. "Last place =/= Zero". This is obvious to anyone who hasn't obliterated the reasoning centers of their brain because they need "something to take the edge off."

FFS people, a decline in birthrate to 1 per couple doesn't mean no children being born and extinction in 50 years.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Chinguetti on June 27, 2022, 11:22:16 am
I'll be gone before then.

But it's not that hard to get qualified to teach in other countries. As long as you have that teaching cert, there are a lot of open doors that don't have the pay cap that Korea does.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Augustiner on June 27, 2022, 12:16:10 pm
Wouldn't a school still need some English?  English still a requirement for Korea and for many company jobs? 

Glad he's enjoying himself in Hungary.  He has obviously reached the point where money no longer matters.  I wish I could do a year in Europe somewhere when retired years from now as long as they don't have age restrictions.

Quite the coincidence that you two know the same guy. 
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Augustiner on June 27, 2022, 12:21:29 pm
Agreed.
The nearest elementary school to us is adding a new story to the building to make room for the growing number of students. Another elementary school not far from here runs with 10 classes on each grade. All filled to the maximum capacity.



My school added an entire floor on two years ago because of the new apartments being built.  No school mergers around here. 

Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: 745sticky on June 27, 2022, 02:01:54 pm
Quite the coincidence that you two know the same guy.

to be fair its kind of reasonable to assume that somebody teaching in europe probably isnt in it for the savings. i went to high school in prague, a fair few of my teachers had "retired" and moved into teaching from other careers - i think one was even an ex-senator or something.

all the young teachers were EU citizens, which i imagine gives you some sort of benefit lost to people who moved over from the states or wherever
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Augustiner on June 27, 2022, 02:43:52 pm
to be fair its kind of reasonable to assume that somebody teaching in europe probably isnt in it for the savings. i went to high school in prague, a fair few of my teachers had "retired" and moved into teaching from other careers - i think one was even an ex-senator or something.

all the young teachers were EU citizens, which i imagine gives you some sort of benefit lost to people who moved over from the states or wherever

If it's the ESL thing I can believe salaries aren't huge in Hungary, but I wouldn't come out state is a reliable fact seeing as I've never been there or researched jobs there.  Also, he may be working at an international school there.  My buddy went from Korea to Bangkok to Munich and is now doing quite well.  I was just having some fun with Hangook for not even allowing the possibility of a guy he doesn't know, in a situation he is completely unfamiliar with, to be concerned with how much money he's making. 
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: 745sticky on June 27, 2022, 02:49:53 pm
If it's the ESL thing I can believe salaries aren't huge in Hungary, but I wouldn't come out state is a reliable fact seeing as I've never been there or researched jobs there.  Also, he may be working at an international school there.  My buddy went from Korea to Bangkok to Munich and is now doing quite well.  I was just having some fun with Hangook for not even allowing the possibility of a guy he doesn't know, in a situation he is completely unfamiliar with, to be concerned with how much money he's making.

thats fair, im just saying that the stereotype of expats saving europe for retirement years is something that goes well beyond hangook
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: SPQR on June 27, 2022, 03:16:30 pm

to be fair its kind of reasonable to assume that somebody teaching in europe probably isnt in it for the savings.


You're right. This guy gas been in Korea longer than I have. He prepared well
for retirement. I'm pretty sure he went to Hungary for the experience.

Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: hangook77 on June 28, 2022, 03:06:44 pm
to be fair its kind of reasonable to assume that somebody teaching in europe probably isnt in it for the savings. i went to high school in prague, a fair few of my teachers had "retired" and moved into teaching from other careers - i think one was even an ex-senator or something.

all the young teachers were EU citizens, which i imagine gives you some sort of benefit lost to people who moved over from the states or wherever

Europe has advertised itself as a low pay destination.  Recruiters don't lie and tell you you'll make lots of money.  You know what it is before going over.  It is what it is.  Take it or leave it. 
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: hangook77 on June 28, 2022, 03:09:04 pm
If it's the ESL thing I can believe salaries aren't huge in Hungary, but I wouldn't come out state is a reliable fact seeing as I've never been there or researched jobs there.  Also, he may be working at an international school there.  My buddy went from Korea to Bangkok to Munich and is now doing quite well.  I was just having some fun with Hangook for not even allowing the possibility of a guy he doesn't know, in a situation he is completely unfamiliar with, to be concerned with how much money he's making. 

Huh?  I already said good luck to him.  Everyone knows if you teach in Europe the pay is shit.  So, if he already made his money and doesn't need it, he can teach there for kicks.  I wished him well whoever he is.  Not sure why you think I know him though.  Your argument still makes no sense. 
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Augustiner on June 28, 2022, 03:36:48 pm
Europe has advertised itself as a low pay destination.  Recruiters don't lie and tell you you'll make lots of money.  You know what it is before going over.  It is what it is.  Take it or leave it.

I didn't read where the guy said he was an ESL teacher.  Like I said, I have a friend who made the jump from years of ESL here to an international school.  Great pay.  He was certified as a teacher back in Canada, but had never taught anything but hakwans in Korea before he made the leap. 
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: VanIslander on June 29, 2022, 05:10:52 am
Free rent.

Great job (love teaching youth - no kindy, no adults).

Money more than needed.

2002 until now; hope to continue to be happy doing what I do until 2029 (Korean pension already locked & loaded anyways before this date).

The order is wonky but the facts are clear:

I came here 20 years ago, have loved several things about my life here, none more than the joy of teaching. Second, never doing so before the afternoon (as a morning person i've had two days in one; writing two books, walking countlessly, listening to music galore & podcasts; sleeping until noon after Koreans took me on the 3-stop tour often).

Times have changed, but it still is a joy to teach. Waking up HAPPY to teach, NOT "GETTING THROUGH A DAY"(er, unless one is sick), going to bed knowing one has helped improved the lives of some (students, and animals, cats specifically - but that is another story: if you are cynical then i'm part of the problem with my multiple weekly after midnight tuna can opened drop offs and mackarel throws (i huck them gladly ;).
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: chimp on August 07, 2022, 06:12:59 pm
Free rent.

Great job (love teaching youth - no kindy, no adults).

Money more than needed.

2002 until now; hope to continue to be happy doing what I do until 2029 (Korean pension already locked & loaded anyways before this date).

The order is wonky but the facts are clear:

I came here 20 years ago, have loved several things about my life here, none more than the joy of teaching. Second, never doing so before the afternoon (as a morning person i've had two days in one; writing two books, walking countlessly, listening to music galore & podcasts; sleeping until noon after Koreans took me on the 3-stop tour often).

Times have changed, but it still is a joy to teach. Waking up HAPPY to teach, NOT "GETTING THROUGH A DAY"(er, unless one is sick), going to bed knowing one has helped improved the lives of some (students, and animals, cats specifically - but that is another story: if you are cynical then i'm part of the problem with my multiple weekly after midnight tuna can opened drop offs and mackarel throws (i huck them gladly ;).

How do you deal with the lack of *****? Are you celibate?
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Billy Herrington on August 08, 2022, 12:22:11 am
You can always move to China.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: VanIslander on August 09, 2022, 08:47:34 pm
You can always move to China.
I have known three teachers who exited Korea to go to China: 1. One bailed for an accounting clerk job in Illinois; 2. One jumped off a building in China; 3. One returned to South Korea within three months and swears off China.

May those who praise their Chinese experiences post here. Maybe it isn't as daconian as it sounds.
Title: Re: What will you do in Korea when there are no more students?
Post by: Billy Herrington on August 10, 2022, 09:07:20 am
China's awesome. They have lots of cool stuff like walls, ping pong, Tsingtao beer and you can catch the Panda Express to the zoo in Chengdu.