Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fakeplastiktree]

I'm in an extremely sticky situation with my employer. I've only got a couple months left on my contract and they're trying to screw me out of money.

Anyway, without getting into all the details, I'm just wondering -- if I flee the country and get blacklisted, can I still get my pension money back?

[DCJames]

If your employer has been contributing pension benefits as he promised in your contract, you can get your pension by dealing directly with the pension office.

Blacklist? There is no such thing as a blacklist held by immigration. This country can't even enforce basic traffic laws, how the hell is it going to keep a blacklist??

[wylies99]

There's no blacklist except for convicted criminals.

Are you sure your school has been paying into the pension plan? You should visit the pension office with your ARC and check this BEFORE you make any decisions about a runner.

[Big Mac]

In order to apply for the pension refund you need a plane ticket and I think you also need a letter from your school stating your end date. You basically have to prove to the pension office that you are leaving the country and not planning to come back. That's if you plan to apply for the refund before you leave Korea.

You can apply for the refund in your home country. However, the process is much more complicated and can take a very long time. I don't know about the US, but in Canada it can take over a year to get your money.

If you apply for the refund before you leave Korea, you should have the money in your home bank account in about a month.

If I were you, I would call the pension office and ask for their advice on what you should do. They have an English hotline, but I don't have the number handy at the moment.

[Tobias]

[Big Mac]

I wouldn't rely on any information from here anyway.

If you want solid information, call the pension office at 1355. They usually have an English speaking person you can speak to.

[Tobias]

[ChinaBoy]

I went into the office in Yatap, no problem, very fast.

They said they didn't need to see plane tickets or anything, BUT would not release my money until they could confirm that I had indeed left the country. So I guess they've got some kind of check at IMMI to make sure you leave (then you get the money).

I had it deposited into my Korean bank account, took a couple weeks.

If you're planning on coming back anyway, there's no point in taking it out. I had some stuff from 2002 still in there (I guess getting some interest).

[Tobias]

[T-J]

[Tobias]

[ttompatz]

IF your employer has been paying into your pension plan you can apply within 30 days of your departure.

You need your ARC, passport and plane ticket.
You need the bank info for them to send the money to.

It will show up in your account about 30 days after your departure.

I even got a confirmation letter from them a few days after my application to confirm the golden handshake, date and amount.

Now I just sit and watch the coconuts growing... hard work but someone has to do it.

Yes, you can get it if you leave early and/or if you do a runner.

.

[Tobias]

Double T, I'll take your post as gospel. I'll take all those things to the big NPO in Seoul when I do go. I've heard I MUST go to my local office, but I'll treat that as rumour-only.

Now, for one of the biggest questions I've had since I got into TESOL, and I hope you can give me the straight answer, TT...

When a country says "Foreign teachers work their first two years tax-free" does this mean two calendar years free or two tax years free? If I come to Korea for the first time in July and go to work at a PS, when do I start paying taxes? 18 months later or 24 months later?

Thanks.

[gangpae]

If it's a hagwon, and the 9 month screw is on, best thing to do is pull a runner. You can check to see if they have been contributing to pension; it'll probably confirm what shite your school is. I hate to say it but I have to agree with Brendan Carr, save up 3 grand and split. Your lifestyle will be so much better in China or Japan.

The thing about the Korea meat-grinder is that it's all based on the free airfare, but I'll tell you right now it's just a cheesy loss-leader. A way to hook you in and drag you onto the boat. Nothing is free and they'll gouge it back what ever way they can.

Go to Taiwan and camp out at a hostel in Taipei. You'll find a comparable job with guaranteed Health insurance and a much warmer climate.

[ttompatz]