Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Evanzinho]

I have been applying for jobs in Seoul for the last few weeks, and have now had a few phone interviews. I just got off the phone with a FT at a small hagown in Seocho; she essentially said that if I accepted the job, I would be classified as an "independent contractor", meaning that they neither pay pension, nor into the national health insurance plan. She said if I am sick and go to the doctor, they will pay half of the bill once I show them the receipts. Does this sound right?? I've been looking into teaching in Korea for the last six months or so, and from what I gather, this is not a good deal. What do others think, do people here work as "independent contractors"?

I have to admit, these recruiters and schools I am dealing with seem so shady, I feel like I'm dealing with used car salesmen.

Just to give some background, I hold a BA, a 130-hour TEFL certificate, and have teaching experience in South America. Should I just forget about hagwons and apply to SMOE like everyone else on here?

[mountainous]

Recruiters have a reputation for being huge liars, they literally cannot tell the truth about anything whatsoever. It sounds like the hakwons you are getting turned on to are trying to miscategorize you in order to save them $$$. There are always disputes over hakwon salary.

Which recruiter(s) are you conversing with?

[ED209]

You did right by talking to that teacher. Major red flags! Anyone can do better including newbies. Also you get that pension back plus the employers contribution(you double what you put in) so long as you're from the US or Canada(Brits can transfer the pension). But even if a hagwon does say they'll pay pension many don't and will still make the deductions. I wouldn't trust a hagwon owner to pay my bills, if it was serious they'd just fire you.

Used car salesmen? Try Ukrainian pimp.

[Evanzinho]

[ttompatz]

Independent contractor is a schools way of illegally avoiding paying your benefits, hosing you on the taxes (2-4x more than you should be paying) and leaving you stuck holding the bag if the shit hits the fan.

Do it at your own risk. Any place that is willing to pull that would be willing to screw you in many other ways if it was convenient to them.

Keep looking.

In regards to finding a job and recruiters... be firm in what you want and keep looking. 30, 000 jobs, 10,000 plums and 17,000 applicants every year.

Patience is your friend unless you want to be one of the unfortunate ones who gets royally screwed (and not in a nice way).

.

[Evanzinho]

Thanks for the heads up. Yeah, the way the situation was described to me, it didn't sound right. Thanks to this website I've done my homework and know what I should expect.

The FT also mentioned they have some "part-time" FTs working there. I didn't think that was allowed on an E-2 and when I asked her about it she wasn't sure what kind of visa they're on. Another red flag.

[niandralades]

I would try to steer clear of a small school in Seocho that is trying to be shady. I've had a bad experience in Seocho, at a small school that told me the same things. I would find something else, at a bigger school.

[Tommy]

Check out these threads:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=105605

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=101462

[Evanzinho]