Korean Job Discussion Forums

[macattack123]

Urban Myth, THANK YOU!!!

You know your one of the first people to give me a proper answer. I think i get it all now, okay, i now have a proper understanding so i cant face my recruiter with proper facts. Before it was all a little mix matched in answers.

Thanks again.

[NMonk]

so my colleagues at work said they pay around 3% tax. My wage is 2.3mil, they said around 2160000 should be paid into my bank account. Hope that helps mate.

apart from that had an awesome first day, colleagues are awesome and all said the director is also great, and i believe them as 2 of the 3 have been there 2 years now. the kids were funny, some i can tell will be hard work but should be good, and so far korean food seems o.k, though ive not plucked up the courage to try and order anything in a restaurant yet as have no idea what to say!! gonna try and work on it tomorrow!!!

also been invited to a halloween rock party tomoz, so all good in the hood

[macattack123]

Oh um so glad your first day went well. How old are your kids again, kinder right??? So how does it all work. Like how many classes do you do and stuff. My working hours are 10am-6pm but thats not all teaching. The school said i may be able to shorten the hours depending on my prep skills. So wot did you do with you classes today???

I think the worst thing would be to hate your co-teachers and feel uncomfortable so at least your going in the right direction. Woop woop!!!!

I managed to get the tax office to email me over a general thing about what i should be paying, the guy was really nice. A post was put on here too which said similar.....im going with it.

He said 1.5-3% tax, 4.5% pension and 2.5% medical should be deducted. If thats right them my outgoings should be approx 170,000 won a month. That seems okay???? He said your total in percentage should never go over 9%.

So maybe one day we could all meet up someone and have some beers? Your in Jeonju right? Hmmmm not THAT far away. If you ever pop over to Daegu give me a shout.

[macattack123]

P.S do what we did in china, just point to something and keep everything crossed. We ended up with some amazing meals. Although pig intestine was the first shot in the dark. Good however, huh. And have a great time at the party, dressing up????

[NMonk]

ye one of my colleagues is taking me to the fancy dress shop today, so that should be fun!

i start off at 11.30 with the younger ones til 12.30. then i have a 2hour break and on mon weds fri do 40 minute classes til 8, on tues thurs im only in til 3ish. so the hours seems pretty fair really.

ye the kids all seem o.k, the present teacher showed me who the troublesome ones are, but i have a feeling troublesome here is a whole different concept to troublesome in the uk, we'l see, i could be wrong!!

the kinder lessons basically consist of teaching them sounds and reading stories, yesterday was a halloween party for them so i didnt get to see that, so i'l be learning the ropes the hard way on monday!!

the elementary kids all have a curriculum set by the school and within that have books to follow, i teach the speaking section of the books and a korean teacher who i work with teachers the written sections. It all seems quite straight forward though im sure when im on my own with them on monday it might not do!!!

Ye am defo up for a beer mate, when did u say u were planning on getting here? how far through the visa process are you? you got your apostille on your basic disclosure yet? if you want to hurry that up i really advice going to milton keynes to get it, saves 5 days and is really easy to do.

All the best.

[youtuber]

OP,

Contact your school directly and discuss these issues with them. Try and talk to another teacher at the school. You need to step around the recruiter since they don't have your best interests in mind.

[macattack123]

Thanks Youtuber, i think i will. I have the email address and a phone number, i've already spoken with her about my documents. Do you think it's rude to email her directly and tell her i need my tax changed??? Obviously i'd do it with a little decorum but........ I basically want her to put in writing how much Tax, pension and medical she will take off every month. Then for both parties to sign it and for that to be attached to my contract. What you think??

********

Hey Nmonk, i tell you what, as soon as i can't private message you (gotta have posted 25 msgs) I'll give you my email, cool? In fact if your on facebook just look up Alison Macmillan.

You seem to be enjoying your school, thats great. Im really excited about coming over now, just want to be there. My paperwork is done done done and in the middle of being processed. Yeah i went to Milton of the Keynes. Lived in London since i was 18. I've been looking for a job since June(ish) and due to a whole bunch of reasons i didnt find one till 2 weeks ago. Two main issues were theres 3 of us finding working in the same area (harder than you may think) and we had an old recruiter mess us about AND hold our documents hostage for money, PETER JUNG!!!!!. In total, from door to door, bout 5 weeks wasted!!!!!! URGH!

Anyways, have fun at your partaaaay....... i'll be here, wishing i was there.

p.s Do you think i should pre-prepare some kinder stuff???? Whats your deal with lesson plans etc etc?

[macattack123]

Oh and Youtuber, what do you mean the recruiters dont have our best interests at heart? I know from experience most recruiters are B.!.S.*A*D.S. But exactly what do you mean?


THANK YOU!!

[NMonk]

it seems there is quite a few of you, whats your email address? i'l search for you that way.

[macattack123]

Hi there, yeah it's:

[email protected]

The picture is of me with a chopstick as a tash........ i dont know why?

[PRagic]

"...I have travelled a lot and it's not the new culture that's the problem, far from it. It's the job and what to expect."

Actually, success in one, two or more cultures doesn't indicate that someone will adjust and thrive in the next culture. Doesn't work that way. However, it can mean that someone has learned how to learn to adjust, and that can come in handy.

Good luck to you, OP. Hope you get that tax thing straightened out. Odds are the 'paperwork people' are far divorced from the 'hiring people.' They may just not know what they're doing. Don't go in there with a head of steam, but do present on paper what you've found out to be the correct rate and present it to someone in charge. Probably best not to make the desk jocky lose too much face.

[macattack123]

".......two or more cultures doesn't indicate that someone will adjust and thrive in the next culture."

Your right Pragic, just because you've seen some of the world doesn't mean you will happily slot yourself into a new culture with ease. Im sure there are many people who struggle. HOWEVER, i believe i can. It just takes a little effort.

I've noticed a LOT of complaining on this forum. Don't get me wrong, some wonderful advice, topic's and stories. A hell of a lot of complaining too and about Korea and the way of life, the people etc etc...

Wherever new i go the first thing i do is try to adapt to their way of life. Of course i don't 100% change myself but i make a serious effort. I have come into their country so it's only polite and right to embrace the way they do things. Even if it's so weird you want to cry. None of this "MacDonald's isn't the same here" or "They are very rude, they don't do things the same as we do".....Of course they don't. They aren't the same as us!!! Funny that, being a different country and all.

Im just shocked. Im new at this game so maybe i have no right to comment. However from my point of view i see so many people who can't be bothered even trying to embrace the culture and that really F's me off. Why do people continue to stay in the country and take the same jobs they seem to hate so much???? I don't get it!!

I may feel differently next year?!?!?

Thanks for the luck and the advice, much appreciated. The tax man's a bast*rd in all countries, it's just in this instance the tax man is also my boss, hahaha.

Rant over.

[Jordan1788]

Your threads are exactly the type of questions i've been looking for answers too macattack! I'm from the UK, heading to Korea in a couple weeks too!

[macattack123]

Hey Jordan1788, i found it really hard to find solid info for UK nationals. The forums seems to be teaming with US/Canadian information but there's always a lack of british stuff. I've found out load's however. Where you going to teach?? If you need to know anything i might be able to help??