According to an analysis of OECD data by Prof. Lee Young of Hanyang University released on Sunday, the annual salary in 2007 of South Korean teachers who had 15 years or more teaching experience was 2.33 times higher than the country's per capita GDP. Only Turkey had a higher level, with teachers paid 2.56 times Turkey's per capita GDP.

South Korean elementary school teachers earned about 2.34 times per capita GDP, a little more than secondary school teachers, who earned 2.33 times higher. Besides Turkey and South Korea, there was no nation in the world whose teachers' annual salary was more than double their country's per capita GDP.

The average annual salary of elementary school teachers in the 30 OECD member countries was 1.28 times higher than per capita GDP; that of middle school teachers was 1.3 times higher; and that of high school teachers was 1.41 times higher.

In the EU the average annual salary of elementary school teachers was 1.19 times higher than per capita GDP; that of middle school teachers was 1.25 times higher; and that of high school teachers was 1.36 times higher.

In his analysis, Prof. Lee said, "This only means that the annual salary level of Korean teachers is relatively higher than the per capita GDP, far from indicating that it is high in absolute terms. Many talented people want to become teachers because their pay level is relatively higher than others. But the level of satisfaction with public education is low."

He continued, "It's necessary to conduct teacher evaluations so that teachers can produce desirable results (in school education), and to revitalize competition in public education by giving (students) wider choices of schools."

(englishnews@chosun.com )