Korean Job Discussion Forums

[winterwawa]

It's my understanding that there are study rooms called kyosupso (one man hagwon) Does anyone know anything about the regulations for opening one of these?

If I have 50,000,000 won, can I open a kyosupso, get a business license and change my VISA to a business VISA? Can the kyosupso address and my resident address be the same, or do I have to have a separate address for each?

Any information would be helpful. BTW, I am in Daejeon, the center of bureaucratic stupidity.

[skindleshanks]

A 공부방 is in your own home, a 교습소 is in another building. I doubt if you would be able to find a place that is small enough for a 교습소 that would take a 50mil investment to start up. Our hagwon cost far less than that.
If you want to go into business, go the hagwon route. You will need a korean partner, though.

[meangradin]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[BigBuds]

[BigBuds]

[BigBuds]

[winterwawa]

Thanks for the replies. I have an F2 VISA, but my wife and I are getting divorced, so I don't know how that will affect what I can or can't do. I was told that with 50mil in the bank that one can get a business VISA, maybe I was misinformed. But I do know from the MOJ homepage that there is a D8 VISA for a foreign direct investment of 50mil. That is what I am hoping to get since immi will more than likely force me back on an E1 even though the divorce is her fault.

I would go with a hagwon but I don't think 50mil is enough to start a hagwon. That would barely cover the rent on the building. Never-the-less, I am curious as to what the requirements are. Why do I need a Korean partner?

BigBuds, what kind of businesses did you open? What was required? Did you have to have your wife with you? Any information would be appreciated.

Cheers

[skindleshanks]

I think you can get the investors visa, but only if you have a Korean partner. I have heard of people starting hagwons in Korea this way.

Success in a hagwon is not only dependent in good teaching, but on good counseling of Korean mothers. They are your customers, and if they aren't happy, your business will fail. If you don't have a talented Korean wife, or a Korean partner whom you trust completely, don't bother.

[Hyeon Een]

[Juregen]

[Juregen]

[T-J]

[winterwawa]

I talked to a real estate agent in shintanjin yesterday and he showed me a kyosupso that is already set up and ready to move into. The business is, in fact, part of your home, but separate from it. The office is in the front of the unit and a one room apartment is in the back. The two are separated by a wall and a sliding door. So it isn't exactly like a room in your apartment, but a living space is provided, thus I do not have to rent two separate places.

The big question is whether

1.) the MOE will allow me to register a business on a F2 that has to be renewed every three months?

2.) Will immigration count this as a real business and give me a business VISA or at least let me keep my F2 after my divorce?

I have the 50million won required so I shouldn't need a Korean partner. If I need to, I can hire a part time secretary to help me deal with the parents and do administrative stuff. But I would rather not have a Korean partner.

[skindleshanks]

I may be way off here, but i was under the impression that the Korean partner is a requirement IN ADDITION to the 50 million won investment--the idea being that you won't just make your money and get out, but make a significant contribution to the local economy.
Can't remember where, but I read somewhere that this is the reason IKEA won't open in Korea--their company policy forbids taking on a local partner (as, say Toys-R-Us did).

If you could get your wife to wait until you got the F-5 and became your own sponsor, then things would be different.