Korean Job Discussion Forums

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

My best friend is considering teaching in Korea.

Believe it or not, he's 33, his BA is in psych, he has an engineering degree from A@T, and he is about to finish his MBA at William and Mary( three classes left). Needless to say, if he takes the plunge, it would not be for the money. He's just a smart, adventurous guy with a desire to do something "different".

Anyway, I was chatting with him last night and mentioned the whole "privates" issue and noted you could get deported for doing illegal privates. He asked why provates are illegal and I was stumped.

Can anyone tell me exactly why privates are illegal and deportable?

Thanks,

me

Also, isn't it nice to know people from the states who could make 20Xmore in their country would still be willing to teach kids in another country for the experience? Personally I think the Koreans' prejudice toward hiring the young, just out of uni kids is a big mistake on their part for obvious reasons.

Personally, I think the Korean's

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

don't even bother questioning the validity, usefulness or application of the laws in korea. It's best if you just make an effort not to cross anyone's path.

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

It might be for tax reasons. It seems likely that few doing privates are paying any tax on their income.

h

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

Taxes is exactly the reason. I seriously doubt that anyone doing privates pays taxes on their income.

Also, your VISA is restricted to your sponsor. That is why it's a deportable act. Not paying taxes probably won't get you booted, but violated the terms of your VISA will.

KPRROK

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

I have also heard the argument that it gives well-off kids advantages as poor kids can't afford the private lessons, but this seems illogical due to the fact well-off kids can get a legal private lesson. Logical reasoning, however, doesn't seem to be a policy maker in Korea.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

There are a whole series of reasons for private tutoring to be illegal, some of which are:

1. Taxes, as already mentioned.
2. At one time, Koreans were forbidden to have 2 jobs. Don't know if that is still true, but it used to be, and by extension...
3. Tutoring was a job reserved for college students, so foreigners were barred to keep them from horning in on the market.
4. If you want to work more, you should work more for your boss. (I'm serious. Immi told me that one once.)
5. There is something to the idea of not letting rich kids have an advantage (there is an odd socialistic streak here and this is part of it--so is public school teachers being forced to move around periodically).

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

awesome answers.

thank you very much.

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

Nice try everyone, but you are wrong (see: Japan).

The real reason it's illegal is because the hagwon cartels have influenced the government to make it so. Your boss doesn't want to bring you over here and then have you teach little Kim for thirty an hour when he could charge fifty and give you fifteen.

Sucks for us, good for them. Honestly, if I was in their shoes, I'd wouldn't want to compete with my employees for business either.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

You stole the words from under my fingertips.

The real reason is that it protects the hagwan industy/Korean jobs.

They don't want foreigners coming in and making wads o' cash and then leaving. (Not that this really prevents that from happening, but it does ensure that at least some of the money spent stays in Korean hands)

If Japan can have a more fair system, why not Korea?

swetepete · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Location: a limp little burg

In all seriousness, the many reasons why privates are illegal can be seen here:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=72942

MissSeoul · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere in America

B-Teacher · Joined: 09 Nov 2006

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

Just as in USA, those on work visas may only have one sponsor - employer - at a time.

Just as in USA, there is provision for adding a second employer, but separate application has to be made. Here they are free I believe and in USA cost a few thousand USD.

Just as in USA, ncome tax has to be accounted for.

All seems fair and reasonable to me.