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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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 Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:48 am Post subject: EPIK application, some questions and general feedback |
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Hi there
Im about to submit my application to the Korean Emabassy in London for the EPIK programme. I am a level 3 applicant, have worked in a hagwon before and can speak korean to a lower intermediate level.
I am just looking for some general feedback and pros and cons of the scheme. The search engine wasnt very helpful and a lot of the stuff i found was a few years old. i.e. complaints and queries regarding a 50 week contract (now 52 weeks) and that back then you didnt receive severence pay if you stayed on (you now do).
These are some questions regarding the contract, not actually work related but anyhow just so I know where I stand.
Does the POE still deduct 86,000 won a month? Does this include the medical insurance contribution and pension contribution?
What exactly is a settlement allowance?
When are you refunded the airfare, it just mentions after arrival?
How complicated is the procedure for claiming tax exemption?
The pension plan is 4.5% of the salary and the contribution from the POE is half of this - is this correct?
Thanks
Last edited by stevieg4ever on Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:54 am Post subject: |
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| Your best bet is to negotiate with individual schools. If finances permit, obtaining your job during a visit here would be preferable. |
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blynch
Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Location: UCLA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:01 am Post subject: Re: EPIK application, some questions and general feedback |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
Hi there
Im about to submit my application to the Korean Emabassy in London for the EPIK programme. I am a level 3 applicant, have worked in a hagwon before and can speak korean to a lower intermediate level.
I am just looking for some general feedback and pros and cons of the scheme. The search engine wasnt very helpful and a lot of the stuff i found was a few years old. i.e. complaints and queries regarding a 50 week contract (now 52 weeks) and that back then you didnt receive severence pay if you stayed on (you now do).
Thanks |
You are wasting your time.
(they dont accept any brits) |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:04 am Post subject: |
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Is there any reason not to apply with EPIK then?
| butlerian wrote: |
| Your best bet is to negotiate with individual schools. If finances permit, obtaining your job during a visit here would be preferable. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:07 am Post subject: Re: EPIK application, some questions and general feedback |
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Not true. The University where I study part time at has sent over brits before. They have a partnership programme with the Korean Embassy in the UK and send over applicants every year with a recommendation.
| blynch wrote: |
| stevieg4ever wrote: |
Hi there
Im about to submit my application to the Korean Emabassy in London for the EPIK programme. I am a level 3 applicant, have worked in a hagwon before and can speak korean to a lower intermediate level.
I am just looking for some general feedback and pros and cons of the scheme. The search engine wasnt very helpful and a lot of the stuff i found was a few years old. i.e. complaints and queries regarding a 50 week contract (now 52 weeks) and that back then you didnt receive severence pay if you stayed on (you now do).
Thanks |
You are wasting your time.
(they dont accept any brits) |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: EPIK application, some questions and general feedback |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
Hi there
Im about to submit my application to the Korean Emabassy in London for the EPIK programme. I am a level 3 applicant, have worked in a hagwon before and can speak korean to a lower intermediate level.
I am just looking for some general feedback and pros and cons of the scheme. The search engine wasnt very helpful and a lot of the stuff i found was a few years old. i.e. complaints and queries regarding a 50 week contract (now 52 weeks) and that back then you didnt receive severence pay if you stayed on (you now do).
These are some questions regarding the contract, not actually work related but anyhow just so I know where I stand.
Does the POE still deduct 86,000 won a month? Does this include the medical insurance contribution and pension contribution?
It sounds about right for the pension contribution on a salary of 1.9m. Medical would be 1/2 that and be a separate deduction or about 46,000.
What exactly is a settlement allowance?
They give new hires a settlement allowance of 300k won to help them establish their apartment with things that are not included in the apartment when you arrive. This may include mops, cleaning products, towels, bedding, etc.
When are you refunded the airfare, it just mentions after arrival?
Typically 7-14 days after arrival/
How complicated is the procedure for claiming tax exemption?
You simply have to prove continuing residency and taxable status in your home country.
The pension plan is 4.5% of the salary and the contribution from the POE is half of this - is this correct?
Mo. Pension is 9% of your salary. You pay 4.5 % and the employer pays a matching contribution equal to your 4.5%.
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks a lot for the info Ttompatz, really helpful stuff. 
Regarding the scheme in general i chose EPIK as a safer option to finding a dead end 학원. How did you find the work itself? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| stevieg4ever wrote: |
Thanks a lot for the info Ttompatz, really helpful stuff.
Regarding the scheme in general i chose EPIK as a safer option to finding a dead end 학원. How did you find the work itself? |
Do you mean how did I find my job or how is the job?
I found it by networking. I was in Korea.
How is the JOB?
I find the work pleasant, the students, on the whole, are respectful and in my particular school I am treated like one of the staff with 1 minor exception. I only have to attend 2 or 3 of the weekly teachers meetings per year.
I have heard of others who have to sit through the weekly teachers meeting (conducted in Korean) even though it usually has nothing to do with the English program but I am lucky enough to not have to.
I get (as per my contract) 4 weeks holiday per year, medical on the national plan, pension, severance on completion of each contract (paid out annually), and a great school with great facilities and staff who really care (professional teachers instead of day care for spoiled kids).
Is it perfect?
No but it is usually better than simply acceptable and I do get a good level of job satisfaction. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) it is usually an 8 with the occasional day that is a 4. Sounds like work anywhere. |
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stevieg4ever
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Location: London, England
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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TTompatz
sounds like a good deal. I understand that working environment and conditions differ from POE to POE. Thanks for the info though. |
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