In South Korea, teaching is more than just a high-status profession with a high starting salary; it’s also one of the most stable careers.
Lee Sang Min, assistant professor of education at Korea University, said: “After the economic crisis in 1997, most Koreans considered stability as the most important thing when choosing a job. Therefore, many university students pursue teaching positions in elementary, middle, and high school.”
Lee Sungho H., professor of education at Yonsei University, agreed: “The most critical reason for being a teacher is job stability. Teachers are guaranteed retirement at age 62. In addition, teaching provides fringe benefits such as summer and winter vacation, a fixed daily time schedule, and a good pension schedule.”