Korean Job Discussion Forums

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

So the job that I have been offered and would like to take I would be obtained through a contract from via GEPIK. I can't really find a very good explanation of what exactly that means. The contract sounds pretty much like a standard public school contract, and the school itself is a standard public school.

Can anyone clear this up for me?

Also, I noticed this bit in the GEPIK contract:

"Article 17 (Security Deposit)
1.Employee shall be responsible for and protect Employer from any liability or damages arising from or in relation to any negligent, faulty, or illegal activity during the Term of Employment under this contract. Therefore, Employee shall agree in written form to provide 300,000 Korean won per month to school administration office either on or by 26th of every month for the first 3 months of employment until it amounts to a total of 900,000 Korean won. Employee who has their own housing arrangement and married couples who are both employed by GPOE shall also be required to provide the deposit to school respectively.
2. Employer shall check the leased facilities and financial matters arising from the use of them by Employee before the Term of Employment is completed. If any liability or damages are found, these shall be confirmed in written form by Employee, who will be indemnified from the security deposit pursuant to the foregoing 1. In case that housing damages or fees owing exceed the security deposit pursuant to the foregoing 1, Employer is entitled to additional compensation up to the due amount owed and Employee will be refunded their security deposit upon termination of the contract. "

Is this normal?

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

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

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

majolica · Joined: 03 Apr 2008

it's just a different name... gepik, epik and smoe are all public school systems.

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

Yes, it's absolutely normal. It's in every GEPIK contract. Welcome to the club. Best luck on your prospective job.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

GEPIK is not a contract, its the name of the program to place Native English Teachers into the Gyeonggi-do province.

When people say GEPIK, they are generally referring to the Gyeonggi-do Education Office, specifically the department in charge with Native Teachers.

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

You have to pay 300K out of your first 3 pays. This is to cover costs after you leave the accommodation, such as unpaid bills.
It is normal for Gyeonggi schools, and you get it back along with your severance money after you finish. Think of it as forced savings.
I put mine towards a new notebook this year^^.

EDIT: The first months is offset by the 300K settlement allowance your due within 7 days of starting.

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

http://gepik.ken.go.kr/

poet13 · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject:

Since when have deposits become the norm and acceptable? I remember a year ago people crying all kinds of foul over deposits.
Has the law changed? A year ago the standard advice was never pay a deposit, and don't agree to that clasue. Can deposits now be demanded lawfully?

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

There's little correlation between law and contracts for foreigners, at least specifically in the history of GEPIK contracts regarding this clause. It's held up by the board of education.

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

yeremy · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:59 pm Post subject: Housing Deposit

I've never paid the housing deposit even though I worked at a GEPIK school for the last three years from 2005 to 2008. When the issue was brought up two years ago, I convinced my school it wasn't necessary because my wife is Korean and she is very responsible with paying bills. My former school accepted that and that was that.

I am with EPIK now and it is not an issue. My wife and I got our own housing with our own money but we do receive the housing allowance. No one has ever asked me to pay a 900,000 won deposit.

Personally, I understand that the POE's want to hedge and cover themselves and the schools over unpaid bills, which may not be helped because a NET may have to leave the country before they can pay their last utilility or other bills.

I would pay it if I had to, but I definitely would prefer to save or invest that 900,000 into an account or stock which will pay interest or a divident rather than filling up the POE's savings coffers for a school year. Some of us, however, may not have savings or are new to Korea, so forking over a deposit right away may be an inconvenience to them.

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

New question:

I notice the contract says I will be reimbursed for my ticket. I do not have enough money to pay for a plane ticket there *and* have any money when I arrive. Do you think it will be possible to convince them to pay for it themselves?