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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:27 pm Post subject: Tax and Pension |
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Okay, if this has ben done, please show me link as search isn't working.
I need advice about tax and pension.
I earn 2.3 mil and wrok at a Hogwan.
I pay 5% withholding tax = 115'000 per month
No pension!!!
I have received a letter from the Pension's office regarding paying pension.
Question 1: Should I be paying 5%, I heard 3%?
Question 2: Do I need to pay pension...my boss said no?
Question 3: How much pension?
Please show me links...official lines...I need to confront boss with figures.
Cheers in advance |
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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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Just seen a sticky in the Jobs-related section.
Can't seem to navigate the Korean site, so any help would be appreciated. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Adventurer

Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Listen to Ttompaz, but don't bother with the telephone number. It no longer works. I tried it 3 times on Wed. to no avail and was given another number that didn't do it for me either. I don't see the point in that lady giving me another number if no one was to pick it up.
Go in person to the pension office. The pension is the law. Some bosses in Korea resent having to pay you a salary. They just want to be rich, they don't think you should get a pension.
You're a foreigner, it is an extra business expense they don't want to pay. They are like our business people of the 1930s who want money but no safeguards for their workers. Eventually, our governments intervened. I am waiting for the Korean Government to do the same. Maybe present Lee will do something. I am not banking on it, but I won't rule it out some progress.
Fight for your pension... It's a matter of 1,000 dollars or so a year.
A girl I know is fighting for hers. We back you up, man. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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You can also try calling the main Seoul office at:
02-2240-1114
They can just give you information. You will have to go into an office and file a claim to force enrollment.
If you get a lazy desk clerk, try again with another one or another office.
It IS the law (unless you are from South Africa - they are exempt) and your legal entitlement. |
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Otherside
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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Adventurer wrote: |
Listen to Ttompaz, but don't bother with the telephone number. It no longer works. I tried it 3 times on Wed. to no avail and was given another number that didn't do it for me either. I don't see the point in that lady giving me another number if no one was to pick it up.
Go in person to the pension office.. |
Wednesday was a holiday because of elections, maybe someone will pick up the phone today? |
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Adventurer

Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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I tried the number Ttompaz posted on a Thursday. No one picked up, my man. I did try several times. And definitely, the 1355 number didn't work. I kept getting someone who can't speak English. I will try that number again on Monday that Ttompaz posted, that I have already tried on Thursday. It's better to go in and meet with pension people, and often, as Ttompaz said, and I said before many pension people don't want to do their job, and don't care about helping foreigners, and maybe they don't care about doing much for their own fellow Koreans. Sometimes, you have to talk to several Kims and Parks at the pension offices until someone does something. Just don't give up! Only you can 'fight Hagwon fires from bad bosses by preventing their corruption and fighting it", says Smokey the Bear.
One of the Smokey Bears... |
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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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Really appreciate that.
I will confront the boss with those figures and see what he says.
Is there any organisation that I can contact as back-up/ threat if he takes no action? |
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Adventurer

Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:20 am Post subject: |
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GB wrote: |
Really appreciate that.
I will confront the boss with those figures and see what he says.
Is there any organisation that I can contact as back-up/ threat if he takes no action? |
The pension simply must make him do his job and so must the tax office. If he threatens to fire, talk immediately to the Labour Board.
Take down all the addresses you need. Don't be afraid, be like the proud ANZAC, Allied soldiers who liberated Europe. Your ancestors dealt with worse. Fight the corruption out there without fear. |
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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:52 am Post subject: |
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Believe me, there is NO fear!!!
I want to confront him head-on, but want some hard facts and official statements to back me up. I really want to see his face when I drop this tax bomb!!!
It's just a shame we have to work in these conditions. |
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Adventurer

Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:08 am Post subject: |
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GB wrote: |
Believe me, there is NO fear!!!
I want to confront him head-on, but want some hard facts and official statements to back me up. I really want to see his face when I drop this tax bomb!!!
It's just a shame we have to work in these conditions. |
Hey, pension is supposed to confront him and visit his office. That's their job.
And if you have to talk to several pension people, then do so.
Don't let yourself get frustrated. Korea is less corrupt when compared to the past, but it still has a relatively weak, ineffective government, and you have to go to bat for yourself. Bosses try to count on your ignorance as a foreigner, but that is naivete since there is Dave's ESL. I mean I am helping a friend who is now having a boss investigated who for years has not paid pension to anyone. She may not get her money, but he will still be looked at. Having him humiliated, at least, is a partial victory.
Be thankful, that you have expats who care about you like a union would and that there are some honest Korean public servants. Just focus on those positives no matter what...
God bless.... |
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GB
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:24 am Post subject: |
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Like I said, I really appreciate all the help.
I will certainly be contacting the appropriate offices.
It is hard to not get frustrated when he lies to our face. I just hope he will return the 6+ months of tax that he has overcharged!!!
I am glad that you have offered help and advice...it has really pointed me in the right direction.
I am on the case now and he will not get away with it.
Really, a big thank you. |
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Hycalon
Joined: 24 Jan 2008
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:54 am Post subject: |
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I'm also working at a hagwon - 2.2/mo; approx 70,000 taxes... clearly not right.
No pension withdrawn, and not on national health plan (I know, I should be, but I came with insurance from home and when the boss asked if I needed it, I said no)
Question: I've been here for six months, so...
a) does that mean that I've paid a full year of taxes (it seems I'm paying twice as much as I should)
b) Is the 70,000 actually taxes and pension?
c) Can we backpay into pension? Because I can claim this back at the end, right?
Thanks |
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I-am-me

Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:06 am Post subject: |
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I am going through the same problem. I found out boss was not paying my monthly taxes which are 3.3% instead of 1.7% I am going to tax office tomorrow to see if they have recieved all his paperwork. He had to pay a fine for not filing for 3 years. I still have to clear up the tax rate. I think they have me down as and Independent Contractor. That has to be changed. Pension will be my next stop. Make sure you go to tax office to see if you are registered. Good chance he is pocketing your money or his accountant is.  |
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Adventurer

Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:43 am Post subject: |
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I-am-me wrote: |
I am going through the same problem. I found out boss was not paying my monthly taxes which are 3.3% instead of 1.7% I am going to tax office tomorrow to see if they have recieved all his paperwork. He had to pay a fine for not filing for 3 years. I still have to clear up the tax rate. I think they have me down as and Independent Contractor. That has to be changed. Pension will be my next stop. Make sure you go to tax office to see if you are registered. Good chance he is pocketing your money or his accountant is.  |
Foreigners need to call pension and the tax office after their first paycheck to make sure everything is kosher, and if things are not kosher then they have to throw the pillars of Shamshon (get the law to do something) and stop the Phillistine boss in his tracks... |
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