From what I know, pale white skin is a desired attribute for English teachers in South Korea.

In that country, having a light skin tone (rather than having a tan, or having a natural darker complexion) can make the difference between getting hired or not. It can also be beneficial in getting a higher salary.

Is the same true in China? If so, can even a summer tan make a difference?

Thanks!
jxdy11: A person needs a degree and citizenship of an English-speaking country in South Korea, too. However, lighter-skinned people there definitely have an advantage. White, attractive females have the biggest advantage.

So, assuming that an applicant is qualified, is appearance as important in China as it is in South Korea? ...and is appearance desirability directly correlated to white skin like it is in Korea?

Not necessarily. Your citizenship is probably more important than your skin tone, one of my colleagues is a very dark skinned African guy but he has Canadian citizenship so he got a job no problem.

I don't think it matters. I have taught oral english in China and I never saw my interviewer until after I was offered the job. I also heard that the year before, one of the teachers was an African-American. Skin color doesn't really matter.

From what I understand they want native speakers of English. Some online postings say they actually want Americans or British people... As far as skin color, I have a friend of mine who is African American and had no problem getting a teaching job in China.

No. What is desirable is if you have a degree from an English-speaking country. That's what makes a difference for your salary.
EDIT: The reason I say degrees matter is because I know even Asians with degrees from the US or Britain will be automatically higher paid than an Asian with the same degree from China. If you're talking about two people with the same qualifications (ie. both English degrees from America), then probably someone who's foreign or who better fits the stereotypical English speaker will be preferred. I don't think this automatically translates to a person with white skin. There are black Americans who would be higher paid too, because they are from the US.

In China the schools prefer "real" foreigners. Teachers of Asian decent will have a tougher time to find a job and will be offered lower salaries.

Same for qualified English teachers from India.

But I doubt a simple tan will have an effect.

Nobody cares about the skin, or even nationality. One of my teachers use to teach English in China, and she was neither Chinese or Caucasian.

Maybe they think that the teachers of that demographic are more apt to take hwatever salary is offered in order to say that they have lived in China to their liberal friends back home in Canada.

The same is not true in China. Light skin? It sounds silly here in China to ask this question. No light skin doesn't matter, speaking English with no strange accent is what counts. Irish, Scott's I have seen turned away without an interview, yet the same school hired an Italian with very dark skin and he could speak perfect English.

In China dark or light doesn't matter. There is a definite prejudice against blacks. I am only being honest in what I have seen and been told.

People just don't want to admit or accept it. But yes light skin, light hair, eyes etc do make a difference and are helpful no matter what your doing in China. There is a shortage of qualified teachers so anyone qualified WILL do fine and if you AREN'T qualified you prolly cant save yourself by being light BUT equal qualifications and you are better off being pale skinned and particularly blond.

Pale skin has always been considered the standard of beauty in China, nothing to do with Westerners, I think it comes from the ideal HAN Chinese look. Still they do pick and choose and give preference to better looking people. Also I have been told they think black people are criminals because they watch too much of the wrong American TV. Its sad and racist but its what I have heard and it runs across a lot of Asia and causes a lot of them to be prejudiced like that. Accents too as has already been mentioned, can be a problem. They prefer midwest neutral USA-nian accent or British although I wonder if they know the difference between a lot of them, just don't go with a strong Alabama drawl or a Scottish brogue and you prolly alright. Someone posted on a blog somewhere that he had problems due to visible tattoos too, at some schools anyway.

A summer tan is probably not a biggie, as I said there is a shortage of people who are actually qualified...