Are Americans being pushed out of English teachers?

The shift is real but it's more about economics than any anti-American sentiment. Hagwon owners in Gangnam and Hongdae have told me they can get experienced South African teachers for about 2.1 million won instead of the 2.5 million an American with similar credentials would ask for. That 400,000 won difference per teacher adds up fast when you're running a chain of five academies.

I've noticed more British and Irish accents too, especially in the private academies around Apgujeong. The EPIK program still has plenty of Americans but the days of walking into a job with just a pulse and a passport are over. You need at least a 120-hour TEFL cert and preferably some classroom experience now, regardless of where you're from.

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You're right that the mix has shifted, but I wouldn't say Americans are being pushed out. The South African and British teacher presence has grown a lot in the last five years or so, especially in public school programs like EPIK. Most hagwon owners I know just want a native speaker with a clean accent, and South Africans fit that bill for a lower salary demand.

The pay you mentioned is about right for a standard public school contract, but it's actually closer to 2.3 to 2.5 million won now, not 2000 USD. That's still around 1800-1900 USD with the current exchange rate, so it's tighter than it used to be. A lot of Americans I know who left for China or Vietnam did it because the savings potential is better there, not because Korea kicked them out.

The dating angle is a whole separate thing, and honestly, that's not really a factor in hiring decisions. If you're thinking about coming over, just know the competition is stiffer and you'll want a TEFL certificate and some experience to stand out.

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honestly the dating thing you mentioned is kinda outdated and a bit cringey. most foreign teachers i know are in serious relationships or married now, the whole "unlimited dates" thing was more of a 2010-era meme.

but yeah the south african shift is real. i work at a hagwon in mokdong and half our staff is from durban now. schools love them because they'll sign on for 2.1 million won without negotiating, whereas americans usually try to haggle up to 2.4 or 2.5. the cost difference per teacher is about 300-400k won a month, which adds up when you're running multiple branches.

the bigger picture is that korea's english education market is shrinking tbh. birth rates are in the toilet so there's fewer kids enrolling, and the ones who do study are going to big franchise hagwons like cheda or chungdahm. those places hire based on test scores and teaching ability, not just being a native speaker. if you're american and want to teach here, you'll still get hired but expect to start in a smaller city like wonju or cheonan, not seoul.

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the whispering thing is real but its not about the sauce lol. that guy runs a 2am handoff with the chicken supplier, they drop off fresh birds from a farm near Chuncheon three times a week instead of using the frozen stuff most hongdae spots rely on. thats why the texture hits different, not the sauce itself. if u go back ask for the neck & wing combo off menu, its cheaper & honestly the best cut they do

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the thing nobody mentions is that Dogdogdog's sauce gets its body from cheong, the Korean rice syrup, not sugar. thats why it coats the wing so thick and stays glossy instead of going sticky. i asked a guy who worked there and he said they also add a splash of maesil (plum) extract at the end off the heat. that fruity tang under the garlic is what you're tasting. go on a weekday before 6, weekends the wait hits 40 min easy.

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honestly the "secret sauce" thing is prob just marketing. every fried chicken place in Seoul has a version of that story. the real difference at Dogdogdog is they double fry in rice bran oil and toss the wings in the sauce twice, once right out of the fryer and again after a 30 sec rest. thats where the crunch comes from, not some mystery ingredient. if u wanna taste the actual base, order the banban half plain half spicy and dip the plain one in the spicy sauce yourself.

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