Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chachee99]

I went in for an interview today about an after school postion. Apparently there are two contract. One withthe school who sponsers you and one with the recuiting company who places you. However, there was third document that stated I have two options

Option 1: Give them a deposit of 2 million won to use their teaching materials. Also forward any extra funds deposited in my bank account to the agency. upon completion of the contract I will get my deposit back.

Option 2: No desposit but I have to open up a second bank account in my name and hand the bank card and and book to the agency. The school will deposit all funds in that account and the school will transfer my salary in my primary bank account.


Also, how does pay day work. The contract says I will be paid after I have taught twenty hours. 4 hours a day x 5 days over 4 weeks was what the agency told me. I asked about school holidays and field trips. I was told that if such a case occurs I will have to make up extra time by extending my class hours to 60 minutes per class instead of 50 minutes.
This seems confusing because I don't know the exact date I am supposed to get paid.

It also stated that no pension or medical insurance will be provided. Is this standard for after school programs? Sick says are limited to 3 per year and holidays are only 5 days in the summer.

The recruiter told me that this is the standard contract for all after school programs in Seoul. For those who work in an after school program please let me know what your terms and conditions are.

[DC in Suwon]

I'm after school. Nothing that you are currently looking at is similar to what my situation was/is.

My contract was very similar to the ones you'll see for public. No crazy deposits or anything like that. We have books and all that, but the parents pay for them. Maybe every after school program is different. PM me if you have any detailed questions.

[alphakennyone]

I've heard of this scam before, and I generally don't think it's standard for all "After school" positions. You seem like you've been here long enough to know better than to fall for this.

[chachee99]

[lifeinkorea]

Those are the dumbest offers I ever heard of. You don't have to have been here to reject them. Either they deposit 100% of what they owe into your bank account at the agreed time or you don't work. If they don't do this after agreeing to it, then just go to the bank and call them up. Don't move until they deposit the money into your account.

None of this working with 2 contracts bull crap either. I can't believe anyone in their right mind would sign a contract with a recruiter LOL.

[ahsieee]

that's awful..
when you say 'after school' you're referring to hakgwon right?
i work for one, and my deal is the same as ps
i get more vacay days, pension, health insurance.

a lot of hakgwons offer the same deal as ps and sometimes even more pay.

how did you find a job like this??

[cruisemonkey]

Run away! What they are doing is illegal... and you will be ripped-off.

[chachee99]

[dannylelievre]

Ok, let's clear this up now. The OP is not referring to a hakwon job or a public school job, he is referring to an after-school program run by a separate agency. The contracted teacher doesn't teach normal elementary classes and additional after-school ones, he/she only teaches an after-school program run in an elementary school by an outside agency. There is a major difference. The exact position you are talking about is offered by a company called EDUBest out of Daecheong. They offer two payment options like you listed. They have two bank accounts in your name because all of the tuition goes directly to you from the Korean co-teacher or directly from the parents. I've seen it, I know. The parents either get your bank # and directly deposit school fees into it, or get your co-teacher's account. The money is then transferred to the agency that runs the program who shuffles money to the principal and school, you (for salary),and themselves. The major issue of debate here is whether or not the foreign teacher is on the hook for tax. If you are receiving 10,000,000 a month but never see it, you might still have to pay tax on all the student fees that were directly deposited into your account. Still looking for this answer. More than likely you won't get stung for taxes, the agency is simply using you to avoid their own taxes, because they are officially registered and watched by the government.

The companies that run this program do everything, they get the books, rent the classrooms, make test, etc. They sell this service to the school in a nice package, get free classrooms, and throw a little cash to the principal in return. There is some sort of contract that foreign teachers are required to sign with the principal and agency that is separate from the contract with the recruiter. It's all in Korean and I didn't have time to translate.

So....it IS a scam. What we don't know is if you are at all affected by this scam. If you don't get hooked for taxes, this is a sweet job. Smaller classes (max. 10) and only 4 a day. No prep time, etc.

[harlowethrombey]

That sounds too bizarre to be of any real benefit. Once you have these seperate contracts and bank accounts and money being swapped around it will be a little hard to pinpoint just how they're screwing you.

Dont take it.

There are after school jobs that are simple, pay well (enough) and you still dont have to do an acre of prep work.

[chachee99]

I got another after school position with basically the same proposal. No pension. No medical. No set pay date. Company wants me to give them a bank account in my name. Is this even legal?


I asked about tax thing. They said they would not deduct any tax. They would pay me the amount one week after the twentyth teaching day. I asked who paid the taxes on the money coming the account I gave them. The story I was told was the company would take care of the tax. Then I asked why the school cannot put the money in their bank account then transfer it to my account? I was told that me having two accounts is the easiest method because the bank they want me to use is conveniently located on the 1st floor of their building.


Seriously, is this even legal? It sounds like the school has no financial record of income and it is all pinned on the teacher. Meaning , I think it looks like the teacher is making a lot of money and will be taxed on it, but in really is only getting a fraction. Has anyone ever been in a situation like this?

[Looney]

[Scamps]

This is absolutely wrong. Which company is this?
If it's EdUp aka Win Education run the other way!