Dear Agata,
South Korea's expenditure on private education is the highest in the world. Against the very low cost of living, you can save up to $15,000 USD a year based on an entry-level standard salary. The benefits provided are round-trip airfare, free furnished housing, 3.3% - 5% income tax deduction, severance pay (one-month bonus at the end of the year), medical insurance and visa sponsorship.
At an entry level 2.0 million won salary (which is a little over 2000 USD), teachers are able to save up to $15000 USD at the end of the year.
Some things to consider:
1. Your housing is walking distance from your school
2. Transportation can be very cheap- Subway for one hour travel is about $1.00
3. A sandwich on the street will cost about $1.00 and a california roll is about $1.00
4. Utilities are your at your expense. It can be anywhere from $40-$60 but more, depending on how much you use
5. Bowl of noodles at a restaurant is about $2.00 with eggs maybe $3.00 :)
Please note, there have been many Park English teachers who were able to achieve their goals of saving up to $15000 USD by their first year. However, there have been teachers who have left this country with nothing saved at all. There are many places to go and spend your money here, from shopping, traveling, and drinking (which is very common in Korea) It's solely dependent on the teacher.
Sincerely,
Park English Team
