gettyimagesbank

Nearly nine out of 10 teachers in their 20s and 30s are considering leaving the profession and changing jobs due to inadequate pay, a survey showed Wednesday.

"It's difficult to save money on my monthly salary alone, so I tried studying for a finance certificate, thinking I wouldn't be able to prepare for retirement with this job," said a 31-year-old elementary school teacher in Seoul, surnamed Lee.

Her experience reflects the growing dissatisfaction and increasing departure of young educators, highlighting the urgent need for better compensation and stronger protections of teachers' rights to attract and retain top talent in the field.

According to a recent survey released by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Association, 86 percent of teachers in their 20s and 30s have considered quitting and changing jobs due to low pay.

The survey of 4,603 teachers from kindergarten through high school showed that only 0.7 percent were satisfied with their salary. In contrast, 93 percent expressed dissatisfaction, with 65 percent stating that they were extremely dissatisfied.

A 39-year-old high school teacher in Gyeonggi Province, who wished to be identified only by his surname Oh, recalled a Gen Z colleague frequently expressing frustration and talking about leaving the profession to study at Kyung Hee University's College of Oriental Medicine.

"While some complaints from students and parents may be difficult to address, there's a prevailing sense that teachers are left to handle these challenges alone," he said.

Oh added that this makes the job less appealing for younger teachers, especially when considering their working conditions and pay.

Gwak Tae-un, a 27-year-old high school teacher in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, expressed concerns over the inadequate compensation for homeroom duties, noting that the allowance is insufficient given the intensity of the work.

"Junior teachers are often tasked with responsibilities that others avoid, such as homeroom duties and handling school violence, leaving them exposed to challenging conditions without adequate compensation," she said.

The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations hold a press conference calling for improvements in teachers' treatment in front of the Government Complex Sejong, Tuesday. Courtesy of Korean Federation of Teachers' Association

The basic salary for first-time teachers in Korea ranges from 2.19 million won ($1,632) to 2.25 million won as of this year. While additional allowances, such as extra pay for homeroom duties, can supplement this salary, various deductions often leave the teachers with a net income of around 2 million won even after years of service.

The average after-tax income for new teachers stands at 2.31 million won, which falls short of the 2.46 million won monthly cost of living for a single household, as reported by the Minimum Wage Commission under the Ministry of Employment and Labor for 2023.

Reflecting growing dissatisfaction, the number of young teachers leaving the profession is increasing steadily.

According to the Ministry of Education, the number of elementary, middle and high school teachers with less than 10 years of experience who quit rose from 448 in 2020 to 576 in 2023.

When asked about solutions to the problem of junior teachers quitting, a slight majority of respondents, 53.9 percent, said improved treatment is crucial. Additionally, 37.5 percent emphasized the need for stronger protections of teachers' rights.

Experts emphasize that in a capitalist society, the importance of wages and working conditions cannot be overlooked, stressing the need for measures to improve teachers' treatment.

Park Nam-gi, a professor at Gwangju National University of Education, pointed out that teachers' salaries have not increased significantly compared to other professions.

"The pay for young teachers should be enhanced, as the Teachers' Status Act encourages special treatment for educators," he said.

The Special Act on the Improvement of Teachers' Status mandates that the state and local governments provide favorable remuneration to teachers, but Park argued that this is not being followed adequately.

Park Joo-ho, a professor at Hanyang University's Department of Education, acknowledged that while teachers' salaries may not see rapid increases due to their status as public employees, other improvements are necessary.

"Expanding training opportunities and supporting teachers in obtaining advanced degrees can help cultivate talented educators," he said, adding that increasing allowances is also critical to addressing teachers' dissatisfaction.