Korean Job Discussion Forums

tittletattle · Joined: 27 May 2009

So I just received something in my mail which says this...

Foreign nationals aged between 18 and 60 residing in Korea are subject to compulsory coverage of the National Pension Scheme, the same as Korean nationals
However in the case where any relevant Act of those foreign nationals' home country doesn't apply to Korean citizens based on the reciprocity with respect to a pension scheme equivalent to the National Pension, the person is exempt from coverage (??)
Here we ask for your declaration of Insured Status because of your sjourn in Korea. Therefore, after filling the blanks in the "Declaration of the Foreign Insured Status" form referring to the tips, submit it to an appropriate office no later than 25/06/09
If you are employed in a workplace which is covered under the National Pension Act, you have to be subscribed as a Workplace-based Insured Person. In that case, please ask your employer to submit "A Declaration of the Insured Status in the Workplace" for to a relevant regional office of the National Pension Service.

Am I right in thinking that this is my school's duty to pay this? It should not come from my bank account? I haven't been told anything about pension at all so far, but I assume it's the same across the board? it is the responsibility of the hagwon to be paying it?

I have pushed and pushed about getting healthcare (havingbeen here for 3 months) and they just don't "understand me", even when I took a friend's insurance papers with me, to try and make them see what I was getting at and that I knew I was being had over...

So I have no pension and no health insurance it would seem, and my KTs apparently don't speak enough to English to understand me. I haven't shown them this pension letter yet, as I only got it tonight, but am I right in thinking that they should be dealing with this and not me?

tenchu77491 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009

For pension, you should pay 4.5% every month and your job should also pay 4.5%.

tittletattle · Joined: 27 May 2009

Thanks Tenchu, so re: the pension letter I received... I should NOT fill this in with my bank account details but rather take it to the school and have them sort this out right?

tenchu77491 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009

I would take it to the school, but be sure to photo copy everything... keep a copy of every single document you get. Also date it if you can and also talk to the pension office or the labor board about it...

It sounds like your school didn't enroll you in the pension program which they should have... if you bring this directly to the school without telling any one it may be possible the school will try an cover it up with more lies or what not, so at least keep copies of everything and most importantly-- after giving your school the papers, FOLLOW UP on everything. Make sure you put some phone calls in to the pension office to make sure you are enrolled in it and your school is paying half and you are set up to pay half...

You may end up paying half for the 3 months you been working, which will be something around 400,00-500,000 won I guess. ((4.5% of your salary)*3)

That much you may have to pay with your bank account, but you better be damn sure your company is paying the other half and not putting it all on you.

tittletattle · Joined: 27 May 2009

Just out of curiosity, if I didn't react to this letter, what happens? I mean, what with one and another with this hagwon, I am not planning on staying out a full year, so wouldn't be collecting the pension back at the end...

But what are the consequences of feigning ignorance in all this?

tenchu77491 · Joined: 16 Mar 2009

Even if you pull a runner, it's best to collect your pension... even if you collect it after you leave the country. The good part about the pension is... you pay 4.5% and the school pays the other half... so in the end although you paid 4.5% a month you are also having the additional 4.5% a month from your school. You will be losing money if you don't collect it.

I have no idea what will happen if you don't pay your taxes. It probably depends how long you will stay here and if you ever plan on working in Korea again.

EDIT:

I pulled a runner after working for 6 months in a private school, and I didn't collect my pension. My new job here is much better and I made sure my new pension is being added to my old pension fund... now I can't wait to finish the year and collect my pension because it will have another 6 months of pension in it! Very Happy

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

tittletattle · Joined: 27 May 2009

Sorry BlackJack, this is a typed up letter which I received in the mail... not even a website address on the letter, but if you phone 1355 from anywhere in Korea I'm sure you can get the number for your pension office for more info...

Tencho, your help and advice is very much appreciated. I feel that my running date may be getting closer and closer than I orginally planned...

Kikomom · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

ontheway · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:04 pm Post subject:

tittletattle,

If this is a "typed up letter" as you say, are you sure it is even official or from the pension office at all? Sounds like a good way to get the bank info from some foreigner and clean out their account.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

tittletattle · Joined: 27 May 2009

On the way,

Do you really think that the school would go that far? I mean yeah it's not officially headed paper or anything, but it states its frm the Regional Head Office, has a phone number hand written onto it. My school don't speak enough English for them to have personally written it, but I guess they have acquaintances...

Man I am sick of this place.