Korean Job Discussion Forums

[GranPaPa]

This is the contract I received from CDI. I wanted to know what anybody thought about this contract and its legitimacy. I have read and heard of so many horror stories that I want to make sure that I don't become part of one. I can be reached at: [email protected]

Please let me know what you think about the contract below!

Memorandum of Understanding

Dear Mr. John Bernardi,

This letter is to inform you that you have been offered employment as an instructor at CDI (Seoul) Campus. Please review the offer presented below for clarification.

The offer CDI has made and accepted by you is as follows:

25,000 KRW per teaching hour (guaranteed minimum of 24 teaching hours per week)
Full airfare reimbursement (half paid during contract signing, other half after completion of the 1 year contract)
5,000,000 KRW housing key money loan
200,000 KRW Relocation bonus
E-2 visa sponsorship and airfare for visa run if needed
7 days unpaid vacation per year (after completion of 2 full terms)

Instructor must send a sealed official transcript, the original college diploma (not copies), copy of the passport, and two passport photos via EXPRESS (or overnight) mail WITH TRACKING INFORMATION to address above. Absence of these documents will null and void all current and previous employment offers made by CDI.

CDI will conduct a basic medical examination to ensure a clean bill of health and the absence of illegal substances in the event a candidate is accepted into the training sessions. Failure to pass or decline the test will NULL and VOID all current and previous employment offers made by CDI without any form of compensation and/or reimbursements.

By signing below, you agree to undergo official CDI training to acquire the CDI instructor certificate prior to being fully employed at CDI schools. Refusal of training and/or deliberate poor performance as determined by CDI will null and void any and all offers made by CDI.

To accept this employment offer and to enter the training session, print out this document and sign below.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Doesn't look good to me. Why the hell would there be only 7 vacations days and on top of that unpaid?

They come off as militants.

[GranPaPa]

How do I approach them about this contract and what should i be asking for? Is It ok to negotiate a contract? Or is it considered bad taste in Korea.

[ttompatz]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[ChuckECheese]

[GranPaPa]

Thanks! After reading up on CDI I am asking for a monthly salary as opposed to an hourly wage. It makes more sense. I would be making 1mil krw more a month plus housing, pension, and 50/50 medical.

They told me on the phone that accpeting an hourly wage would be more lucrative. After seeing what they are offering me I feel as though I've been had.

[wisernow]

Make sure you get housing or housing subsidy as most contracts pay about 1.8 to 2.2 with rent free housing. This CDI agreement offers key money. You have to find your own housing and furnish it.

Make sure you get one month's severance pay as most employers offer one months severance pay. Unless you don't think you will be finishing the typical one-year contract.

Find out if they will comply with the Korean Pension tax as north Americans get up to 9% refund from the Korean Pension tax office.

The reason why CDI offers an hourly pay is because they can then avoid paying into the pension fund, avoid medical insurance and not have to pay you any more than what you teach.

If you are or become a good teacher CDI will increase your hourly rate and you can make more than the average monthly salary in Korea but if you are not so good at your new job then they can reduce your hours and not pay only for classes that you teach.

Also, CDI will ask you to teach even on national holidays and if you don't want to then they can just not pay you. CDI is open 363 days but depending on your teaching schedule you may or may not have to teach on national holidays, weekends etc. The hourly wage is to ensure that you will accept the teaching schedfule they want to give you.

On the good side you may get to teach possibly above average students and they don't seem to offer any kindergarten classes if you did not want to teach kindergarten.

CDI can be a great place for great teachers to earn possibly high pay but they are known for having one of the industries highest turnover rate. They are known to pay on time but you will most likely either excel or burn out fast.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[yingwenlaoshi]

I just wonder why they have to be such pr1cks about it all. How in the hell is a student losing out if they're not taught on a holiday? And they just don't seem trustworthy with the tax deal and pension. I guess anything is negotiable in theory. Like housing. But they don't come off as very lax about that. They'd have to pay me at least 4 million, M to F with at least 2 weeks vacation with housing. Who the hell wants to work Saturdays and national vacations? That's just silly.

Then there's their curriculum to think about. What is it?

[mongrelcat]

im new in this forum but

is it normal for a school to ask for you to send you original copy of your diploma?????

and is it normal to say "yeah, okay!!"

[babtangee]

[yingwenlaoshi]

How much do students pay at CDI? I've heard there are 15 students per class. If they're paying 200,000/month for M to F then that's 3 million per class. Full schedule of 6 classes would rake in 18 million.

And what are they paying teachers? No national holidays? 7 unpaid vacation days?

[alabamaman]

OP,

CDI requires that you work orientation before you obtain status of sojurn. You can't work or participate in work related activities (training) before you obtain status of sojurn.

Ask the following questions and post the responses please:

1) Do I work or participate in work related activities (training) for CDI before I obtain status of sojurn?

2) When does CDI enroll foriegn language teachers into the National Health Insurance Plan?

3) When does CDI provide foreign language teachers with an Alien Registration Card?

4) Does CDI deduct from employee's monthly salary for income taxes according to a fixed percentage (%)?

[yingwenlaoshi]

What do CDI tax? I remember seeing 3.3%. That would be a bargain if you're making 3 million or more a month. At 30 hrs/wk, making let's say 3.5, who cares about pension? Big deal.

It all comes down to Saturdays, national holidays, vacation, and housing.

Then there's what it's like to work there. I guess if you're working 4 to 10, M-F, guaranteed the nice salary, and getting some vacation and sick days, it's all good. Just maybe the material you're teaching, class sizes, and less freedom in the classroom would be downers. But at at least 3.5? Hmm.

Still though. Maybe not enough.