Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ColleenNSK]

I am currently looking into three different schools with three different recruiters and was hoping that somebody out their might have some feedback on any of them. This is my first trip to South Korea so I am trying to do as much research about each school as I possibly can. So if you know anything about the following schools please let me know.

Lci Kids club (Location Pyeongchon - Beomgye station Seoul)

ECC (Location Seoul, Geumho-dong)

Easy Language School (Location - Suwon)

Thanks for all you help

[garykasparov]

[Milwaukiedave]

Colleen,

There are lots of things to consider with all three: What are the working conditions? Have you seen pictures of the apartment they are promising? What are they offering in terms of salary?

Don't let any of the recruiters bully you into signing when your not ready. Do lots of research and find out about the schools. If the recruiters pushes you, tell them to go to hell. It's better to turn something down that your unsure about, then get stuck in hagwon hell for a year.

When you do decide that you find one you like, post the contract in this forum and someone will look it over for you. Many times those who have been here awhile can tell you what kinds of changes need to be made.

[garykasparov]

The following questions center around legitimate complaints made by forum members and poorly written labor contracts. Ask these questions to the foreign teachers. They seem like allot but it is worth your time. These questions will give you a pretty good idea of what your employer will be like.

( 1 ) What time does your workday start and finish?

( 2 ) How long is your break?

( 3 ) How many hours of preparation do you work before the first class?

( 4 ) Did your employer clearly define ALL of your job duties before you signed the labor contract?

( 5 ) What duties do you perform that your employer did not explain to you before you signed the labor contract?

( 6 ) Does your employer provide you with a "pay reciept" that clearly states the nature and amount of all taxes, deductions and salary?

( 7 ) Were you provided with an Alien Registration Card?

( 8 ) Has your employer provided you with a health insurance card?

( 9 ) Does your employer pay into the Korean National Pension Plan?

( 10 ) What does the school curriculum consist of?

( 11 ) What are the English speaking abilities of the Korean teachers and your employer like?

( 12 ) Are the students placed in classes that are too difficult for them?

( 13 ) Does your employer deduct taxes according to Korean tax law or a fixed percentage (%)?

( 14 ) Does your employer pay you on time?

( 15 ) Does your employer pay you overtime wages?

( 16 ) Has your employer made deductions in your monthly wages that were not clearly defined in your labor contract? If so, what were they?

( 17 ) Does your employer respect your privacy (apartment and medical privacy)?

( 18 ) Does your employer pay employees their wages of the 12th month, severance pay and provide them with an airplane ticket home upon completion of their labor contract?

( 19 ) Is your employer abusive to students, foreign teachers or Korean teachers?

[mspencer1983]

DO NOT WORK AT KIDSCLUB BEOMGYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i worked there for 2 months in fall 05 and we "mutually parted ways"....

it was 100% pure hell.....the hours are bad..though you only work 6 hours, its spread from 9am-730pm...YOU LIVE ON SITE....in a rundown looking hallway with dorm like rooms on the top floor of the school itself....the school's lunch kitchen for kindergarten is on the same floor and the cooking staff would use all the hot water early in the morning preparing the lunch...and the teachers would never have cold water to shower....one guy who'd been there for a almost a year said he was getting these crusty things on his feet from lack of hot bathing...it was misery! the accomodations actually looked like the inside of a low income housing unit you'd see in a movie, im not exaggerating...i heard all kidsclub foreign teachers live on site but im not sure...

in the 2 months i was there another girl did a runner after only a week....

the boss *who i think has since been replaced* was a huge bitch...she was about 35 and unmarried and had a hunch back and her family was pressuring her to find a husband and she would constantly take out her personally issues on staff...

also the school does not hire black people...i was specifically asked if i was black on the phone interview *which should have been the first clue what i was getting myself into* because my passport had been photocopied and they said i looked dark skinned.

honestly..do yourself a favor and put an ex on that now!


i havent heard of the other 2 schools...but there's no way they could be worse

[mspencer1983]

if you need more info you can pm me

[ColleenNSK]

Below is one of the contracts that I received....let me know what you think

Article 1. Employment
The employer wishes to employ the employee for as an English teacher and the employee agrees to work for the said employer in Korea. The employee's job description is primarily the following.

A. ESL instructor in any and all phases of the employer's program to classes
That range from middle school students to adult level
B. Curriculum design and implementation
C. Development of the employer's educational program and materials
D. Field activities for and with students
E. Grading and evaluation
G. Attendance at teacher's meetings and workshops
H. Other related activities


Article 2. Period of Employment
The period of this contract is 2007.11.01-2008.10.31 beginning from the date of the employee's first working day after orientation/observation at the institute in Korea.


Article 3. Salary and Working Hours
The basic teaching-hour is 6 hours a day. (Monday to Friday, excluding Korean holidays). However, the employee agrees to teach extra hours when the employer asks to. Each class is organized 40 minutes� teaching for elementary students and 45 minutes� teaching for middle school students with 10 minutes� break.

A monthly salary is 2,200,000 won for 6 hours a day in Korean Currency. Payment will be made once a month. Payday is the 15th day of month. The first payment will be made after the first teaching month. If the payday is a national holiday or weekend, it will be paid on very next working day.
Korean Income Tax will be deducted from the employee's salary.


Article 4. Over-time Pay
If the employee teaches more than 6 hours a day, he/she will be paid 19,000 won per hour.

Article 5. Benefits

a) Housing
The employer will arrange and pay for furnished single studio-apartment (bed, TV, washing machine, cooking supplies, gas range, air conditioning) for the period of the contract, and the employee will pay living expenses including electricity, water, gas, oil, phone bills, etc. Meals are not provided.

b) Medical Insurance
The employer will pay one-half (1/2) of the employee's medical insurance premium which will cover the employee for one year. Half of the health Insurance premium will be deducted from the employee's salary every three month.

c) Completion Bonus
The employee will be given 2,200,000won upon successful completion of the 1 year and a month contract. This amount will be paid at time of, and is dependent upon, completion of the full contract term.

d) Holidays
All Korean holidays (around 15 days a year) are paid holidays and all teachers will be paid for summer vacation, Korean thanksgiving holidays and Lunar New Year's holidays. The employee will be provided Summer Vacation for about 3-4days including the weekends in July or August.

e) Flight
The employer will reimburse the Employee one-way airfare from employee�s main city to Korea within one week of the employee�s arrival at the institute. But if the employee leaves the institute before 6 months, the employee must pay back the one-way airfare to the employer. The employer will provide a return ticket to the employee from Korea to the employee�s main city upon successful completion of the one-year contract. In case of not completing the full-year contract, the employee has to reimburse the installment of air ticket that the employee has been received with monthly pay.

f) Special occasion - Disaster or unexpected Accident.
In cases the employee has an unexpected accident like a car accident or his/her family suffers from a disaster so that it can be suspected to death or his/her parents are about to pass away, the employer will release the employee temporarily-14 days as maximum.


Article 6. Disciplinary Action & Termination of the Contract
Employer may take disciplinary action to the employee and terminate this Contract upon occurrence of any one of the following events;

a) If the employee makes any misconducts (verbal abuse, assault and battery, sexual advances, improper monetary transaction and any unreported teachings at any other educational Institute or privately without the permission of the Employer) toward students or if questionable inter-personal relationships with individual students result in the loss of other students.

b) If the employee does any embezzlement of the company money(including tuition fee, teaching out and teaching material expense) resulting in the financial and mental loss of the employer

c) If the employee is involved with any misconduct among other employees and staffs (verbal abuse, assault and battery, sexual advances and financial damage) resulting in the financial and mental loss of the employer.

d) If Employee fails to perform continuously his/her duties for certain amount of time (absence, tardiness and early out) without any excuse.

e) If many of the employee's students complain about the classes, or if students enrollment falls below the accepted average.

f) If Employee fails to perform or unsatisfactorily perform any of the duties stipulated in this contract or the employee�s condition of contract in Article 1.

g) If any of the information provided in Employee�s application is neither true nor accurate in the even that the employee makes any sever damage (including sex offense, embezzlement, and sending our students to the any other educational provider) to the employer, the Employer may terminate or cancel this Contract and Simultaneously, the employee bear the responsibility on criminal and civil charges.

f) The employee is not allowed to talk or discuss about salary with any one except for the director or supervisor. In case the employee breaks it, the employer can reduce the salary to the lowest salary of present teachers and ask the employee responsibilities for all caused problem.


Article 7.
1) Basic Policies
The following policies have been established to assist instructors in the execution of their duties.

a) Professional dress and grooming in the work place is essential to maintaining the desired reputation of the Institute. The employer shall establish guidelines for professional dress.

b) All instructors must behave in a professional manner during class and when socializing with students outside of class. Instructors should be aware of the cultural background of Korean students and their expectations of teachers.

c) Instructors are required to attend all staff meetings as requested by the Director.
If an instructor must be absent, he must inform the Director or Assistant Director prior to the meeting.

d) Instructors are required to interview new students and evaluate their placement level.

e) If the employee is more than 10 minutes late or is absent with notification, a day or an hour of pay may be deducted. If the employee is late or absent without notification, 30,000won will be deducted per hour. Notification should be made 12 hours in advance.

f) The Employee will prepare teaching materials for each class beforehand and will be honest and diligent in teaching students in all classes. The Employee agrees to furnish all curricula, textbooks, and other teaching materials for free-talking classes and should prepare tests as needed.

g) The Employee will teach at any place (Public school, company or other institute) designated by the Employer. The Employer will be responsible for all transportation expenses.

h) If the learners or students complain about the methods of instruction, the Employer or other teachers will counsel to the Employee as needed.

i) All new teachers in EASY should arrive 3 or 4 days before beginning teaching and should observe senior teachers' classes for 2 days at least before start teaching.

j) The employer agrees to pay key money and monthly rent fee for employee�s accommodation.

k) Supporting food expense: The food expense will be paid for the employee assigned with the early morning classes (6;30 class and 7;30 class), saturday morning and afternoon classes, and morning and afternoon classes for vacation intensive courses within 3 days after beginning the classes in accordance with the company pay standard

2) Class Preparation

a) Attendance: Employee should be present for his/her classes 30 minutes before class begins (the employee with early morning classes should be in the class at least 5 minutes before the class)

b) ID Badge: The employee should carry the ID badge on the premises all the time.

c) Employee should clock in with ID badge at the assigned information desk.

d) The Employee will prepare teaching materials for each class beforehand and should not come out of classroom in class for any reasons.

f) Employee will be enthusiastic and diligent in teaching students in all classes.

3) Providing Teaching materials

a) Main teaching materials: management department provides new employee and employee with newly assigned class with necessary Teaching materials.

b) Sub-teaching materials: Teachers are encouraged to share sub-teaching materials provided by the employer with other employees and in the event that other teaching materials are in need, the employee should submit request form of necessary materials (including the name of books and publishing company) to the management department at least 1 week in advance and the employer will provide the employee with those materials after the decision of using books is made. The employee should sign his or her name and then receive the requested teaching materials from the management department.

c) Managing teaching materials: The employee should be cautious when using those materials provided by the employer and in case of losing them, the amount of the materials will be deducted from your next monthly pay.


Article 7. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
Any dispute arising in connection with this contract will decided by a Korean court of law according to Korean Regulations and Codes. The parties agree to comply with all applicable laws in their execution of the Agreement.

[xtchr]

That is terrible!!!
Others will go through it thoroughly, but I don't have time right now except to point out just a few things.

When is the daily start time? Finish time?
No you don't have to 'agree' to overtime, just because your boss asks you (i.e tells you).
Sick days?
They can't deduct anything for being late, certainly not the figures in that contract.
3-4 days vacation including the weekends, HAHAHAHA. NO WAY!!! It should be a minimum of 10 WORKING days.
You shouldn't need to 'furnish' textbooks.

And (this is only my opinion) you shouldn't work on Saturdays, ever, unless you get a full two day 'weekend' to compensate for it, i.e no work on Sunday and Monday.

[garykasparov]

This labor contract is made and entered into as of (month day, year) by and between (name of school), herein referred to as the "employer", and (your name) herein referred to as the "employee".

Article 1. Employment
The employer wishes to employ the employee for as an English teacher and the employee agrees to work for the said employer in Korea. The employee's job description is primarily the following.

A. ESL instructor in any and all phases in classes that range from middle school students to adult level.
B. Implementing the school curriculum
C. Field activities for and with students during working hours
D. Grading _____ and ____ to be submitted to the employer on the ___ (__) of each month.
E. Written evaluations to be submitted to the employer on the ___ (__) of each month.
F. Attendance at teacher's meetings during working hours and _____ (___) workshops throughout the contract term.

Omitted H.


Article 2. Period of Employment

The period of this contract is 2007.11.01-2008.10.31 beginning from the date of the employee's first working day after orientation/observation at the institute in Korea.

Article 3. Salary and Working Hours

The employee will work a 30 hour work-week from Monday through Friday excluding Saturday, Sunday and Korean National Holidays.. Each class is organized 40 minutes� teaching for elementary students and 45 minutes� teaching for middle school students. The employee will work from _____ to _____ throughout the duration of the contract term. Where the employer will allow a recess period of more than 30 minutes for every 4 working hours and more than 1 hour for every 8 working hours during the working hours. Recess periods may be freely used by the employee.


A monthly salary is 2,200,000 won per month in Korean Currency. Payment will be made once a month. Payday is on the 5th day of the month. The employer shall deposit the employee's monthly salary into the employee's designated Korean bank account. If the payday lies on a national holiday, day of paid annual leave or weekend, it will be paid on the preceeding work day. Korean Income Tax will be deducted from the employee's salary in accordance with Korean tax law. Whereas the employer will pay fifty percent (50%) of the National Pension Plan and the employee will pay an equal amount that will be deducted from the employee's monthly salary to be paid to the appropriate agency by the employer. The employer will provide the employer a pay receipt that clearly states the nature and amount of all taxes, deductions and salary.

The rest of the contract is crap. Plain and simple. It's a pile of sh*t. Don't sign it.

[wylies99]

If you have a genuine degree and no criminal past, then go for a public school job. Hogwans are rotten. Believe me, I may have one of the better hogwan jobs, and every day I deal with too much BS. I have friends in public schools who are content with their jobs. Not wildly thrilled, because the money isn't super great, but content.

[ColleenNSK]

Okay I just had an interview with a school and they asked me my height and weight, sexual preference and if I had tatoos. Is this normal or am being sold as a mail order bride?

[garykasparov]

[ColleenNSK]

I wish I could answer them that way, but I already had the interview. I will keep those answers in mind the next time someone decides they want to get personal.

[ColleenNSK]

Here is another contract I received. Let me know what you think of this one...


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(I took out the name of the Institute and my name here)

WITNESSES

whereas "INSTRUCTOR" has been selected and approved by "INSTITUTION" to teach "INSTITUTION" and "INSTRUCTOR" in consideration promises and covenants contained herein agree a s follow.

ARTICLES1 : TERMS

This agreement shall come into force of the date this agreement is executed, and unless terminated earlier, remain in force for 12 consecutive months from __th of _____, 2007 to __th of _____, 2008.

ARTICLES2 : COMPENSATION

Salary is commensurated with both ability and experience of "INSTRUCTOR"

1. A monthly salary of 2,200,000won in Korea currency will be paid for 30 teaching hours per week.
2. "INSTRUCTOR" will be paid 18,000won per hours as overtime teaching payment if they teach more than 30 hours per week.
3. They pay period will begin on the first day of each month and end on the last day of each month. Payment for part of month of employment (at commencement and termination) will be calculated on the number of days employed.
4. Income tax and pension will be deducted from the salary according to the Korean tax law (currently 4 to 9)
5. The Instructor will be covered with medical benefits under the Korean Medical Insurance Union, the government health organization. The costs of this coverage will be with held a half by institution and a half by instructor.
6. "INSTRUCTOR" will observe only legal Korean national holiday.
7. "INSTRUCTOR" will receive 10 paid vacation days. ( including summer and winter vacation) above beyond the national holidays observed and weekends during the contract term.
8. "INSTRUCTOR" is permitted paid emergency leave. This is permitted only under extreme and unusual circumstances. Extreme and unusual circumstances includes, bit not limited to, death or serious illness of self or immediate family member.
The "INSTRUCTOR" shall give the :INSTITUTION" the proper notice and proof of such incidents.
9. When "INSTRUCTOR" is unble to attend class due to illness, "INSTRUCTOR" shall notify "INSTITUTION" has the right to deduct 2 day's pay per a day the
"INSTRUCTOR" is absent from work. If "INSTRUCTOR" notify "INSTITUTION" with the proper proof of illness, "INSTITUTION" has the right to deduct 1 day's pay a day the "INSTRUCTOR" is absent from work.
10. "INSTITUTION" shall provide a round trip ticket to "INSTRUCTOR".
11. "INSTITUTION" will select and provide living accommodation for instructor.
The accommodation may be in a one-unit willa(apartment). The telephone charges and all utilities(electricity, water, gas...) will be paid by the instructor.
12. Dependent upon completion of the full contract period; instructor will be given' exclusive of monthly salary payments, additional 2,200,000won at the completion of this contract with the severance payment. Korean severance tax will be withheld.


ARTICLES3 : DUTIES OF INSTRUCTOR

1. "INSTRUCTOR" shall accept, obey and srictly comply with the instructions, supervision, training and discipline of the principal of "INSTITUTION".
These duties shall include English instruction in all phases of the institution's program. Administrative duties related to the classroom duties, attendance at scheduled staff meetings, workshops, school sponsored outings, and any other academic duties as may be assigned by the principal.
2. The "INSTRUCTOR" will faithfully teach and train students at the place and time designated by the "INSTITUTION".
The "INSTRUCTOR" is encouraged to try to develop new educational programs for the students.
3. "INSTRUCTOR" will direct and guide the students in conversational English. All necessary teaching materials will be provided by the INSTITUTION.
The "INSTRUCTOR" will take personal responsibility for knowledge and understanding of all teaching materials.
4. The "INSTRUCTOR" will work according to the institution's schedule and follow all the schedule change which may occur.
5. According to Korean teaching visa regulations, the "INSTRUCTOR" most not accept any other employment in Korea without prior written permisson from "INSTITUTION".
6. "INSTRUCTOR" will work Monday through Friday.
ARTICLES3 : DISMISSALS OR VOLUNTARY REGINATION

1. "INSTITUTION" will have the right to dismiss for instructor for neglect for unwillingness or inability to meet condition of employment set out under this agreement.
2. "INSTRUCTOR" for clear and frequent neglect of duties under this agreement.
These include but are not limited to, frequent absences, latenance without approval of the "INSTITUTION" or good reasons therefore criminal or other contract inside or outside the "INSTITUTION" that would harm the reputation of "INSTITUTION" or students or staff or for an inability to perform duties under this agreement.
Before any such dismissal, "INSTRUCTOR" shall be warned of dissatisfaction with performance and shall be given 40 working days in which to remedy the situation.
3. Criminal or other conduct inside or outside the "INSTITUTION" that would in the opinion of the "INSTITUTION" seriously jeopardize any person or reputation of "INSTITUTION" its students, or its staff, will be a cause for immediately dismiss
with no warning time for improving the situation will be allotted.
4. "INSTITUTION" or "INSTRUCTOR" may void the contract by giving a minimum of a month advance notice in writing. But reasonable and adequate grounds must be provided.
5. "INSTRUCTOR" voluntarily resigns prior to the termination of the term of this agreement, in the case, "INSTRUCTOR" must have liability for all air flight cost.
Also, "INSTITUTION" will have no duty and will not be obligated to pay the cost of return transportation. (If the institute already buy the return ticket, the "INSTITUTION" has right to keep the return air ticket)

ARTICLES3 : DUTY OF SERECY

1. The "INSTRUCTOR" shall not disclose this contract to anyone including other employees of the "INSTITUTION".
2. "INSTRUCTOR" shall not disclose any information in relation to the contents of lectures as well as the business operations of "INSTITUTION" without permission from the "INSTITUTION" as well as providing the "INSTITUTION" with compensation for all the losses encured from such action.
3. All decisions that cannot be resolved by "INSTRUCTOR" and "INSTITUTION" above will be solved in accordance to KOREAN civil law.
4. "INSTRUCTOR" and "INSTITUTION" have read. understood. and agreed to the above stated terms and conditions on the date above signed.

[wylies99]

That's a lousy deal. You can do better.