Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jaemaej]

My husband and I would really like to work in Korea next year. We'd also really like to start our family.

What happens if a woman has a baby while teaching on a contract?

I've read about giving birth, maternity, etc in Korea, but am wondering if having a baby could jeopardize a contract? Or the hiring process?

Do many women return to work after maternity leave? If so, are there childcare options for infants, or does a parent/grandparent generally stay home?

Thanks for your feedback!

[Chaucer]

I was a new-ish international school when something like this happened. Luckily for the woman involved, the school hired through a company in the US, which said that the school HAD to give paid maternity leave; also, the teachers said they would all quit in support if the school didn't. Still, the resistance was fierce, desire to fire high.
And that was an int'l school! A hagwon would be much worse.
That said, SMOE might have a policy on this, is it possible to check that, I wonder?
And, if you're certified, a good school like Seoul Foreign School would have a positive policy, I'm sure. Those jobs can be tough to get, though.

[Faunaki]

You can hire a Korean or Filipino woman for about 1,000,000 a month. Go through the local YWCAs or there are websites for it (sorry I don't have any links). I've heard you can hire hourly as well for quite cheap.

[Cerulean]

Hello,

It would not be looked kindly on if you start with a new school and require 3 months mat leave that same year.

Your post leads to the assumption that you have never taught here before, you are both non-Korean speaking and this will be your first birth. Something to think about is holding off your pregnancy plans for a short while until you are more comfortable with your surroundings.

You are entitled to time off and there are childcare options. Some expat moms decide not to work outside the home.

As wonderful as Korea is, please take into consideration the absence of family and old friends in a new baby situation. Yes, family may come and help but it's not the same as being home. As well, being surrounded by your own culture needs to be considered.

Lots of women do it. There's just a lot more to think about when you are looking into doing it here. No pun intended.

This board and others can help you out with lots of the logistics. You just have to post.

[schwa]

If it feels right to make a baby just do it.

Logistics are temporary but a child is a gift forever.

[guava]

here's a link
http://www.nannyjob.co.kr/

[storysinger81]

If you plan to stay in Korea more than one year, I'd put in a year with your school for good reputation building before getting pregnant. The government has legal regulations for maternity leave, so PS have two months paid with an option for a third month unpaid. That's not much time off, though.

You could time it towards the end of your contract and stay on a dependant visa and take as much time off as you want and then go back to work.

This couple did it in Gwangju: http://www.teacheslkorea.com/ (they run a recruitment biz now, too). They have a lot of info about it on their site and are pretty positive about the pros/cons.

Either way, if you want to raise/start a family here, I'd spend a year here with both of you working to see if you could swing it and save as much as you can and network as much as you can so that you won't be in it alone. I also wouldn't choose Seoul--I would choose a smaller, livable city with a strong expat community but large enough to have good medical resources. Or Jeju.

[Lolimahro]

You are entitled to 90 days paid maternity leave in Korea. Not all women get this leave, as we are all ultimately in a relationship of trust with our employers, and since we don't know them that well (especially when we are hired without meeting them first), we really don't know how much we can trust them.

This question has been asked by a number of people and there is a lot of information on the Expat Parents Forum about it.

http://expatparents.50.forumer.com/ is a good resource for questions like this, and obtaining knowledge in general about having a baby in Korea. Many women have done it from all walks - those with and without Korean husbands, single mothers, working mothers, stay-at-home mothers, first-timers, mothers from Seoul, mothers from outside of Seoul, and so on. I highly recommend paying a visit.

My husband and I are both Americans and we have a 14-month-old son. We have lived in Korea for 3 months. We put him in a public daycare in Seoul and it costs 383,000 won per month. They are generally open from 7:30am-7:30pm Monday through Friday. The caregivers at the one my son attends are very kind and loving. There are many public daycares around so it's really a matter of shopping around and finding one with people and a setting you trust (keeping in mind that the requirements are different for daycare centers in Korea than they are where you are from).

I think we'd all like to think that our chances of getting fired while pregnant at home is lower than Korea, and perhaps it might be, but there is still always a risk. If you have ever tried to find a job in (let alone in an economy like the current one) while pregnant, you will know what I mean. The big thing that makes Korea different is that getting legal justice is more difficult as you are a foreigner.

My personal recommendation would be to apply to universities or reputable public institutions as they have more to risk by possibly abusing the law. Also, you will be able to gauge your bosses a little better once you meet them and have worked for them a little while.

[cruisemonkey]

As has been pointed out, legislation re: maternity leave in K-land is not as 'liberal' as in most 'western' jurisdictions. Also know the Labor Standards Act states -

Article 68 (Restriction on Night Work and Holiday Work)

(2) An employer shall not have a pregnant female and one aged less than 18 work from 10 P.M to 6 A.M. and on holiday, provided however, that if the employer obtains permission from the Minister of Labor for the cases in the following subparagraphs, this provision shall not apply.

2. In case there is a consent from a female with less than one year after childbirth

3. In case a female in pregnancy requests (3) An employer, before obtaining permission from the Minister of Labor as stipulated in paragraph (2), shall consult in earnest with a workers representative of the business or workplace concerned as to whether there will be night work or holiday work and its implementation methods for workers� health and maternity protection. <Whole Article Amended by Act No. 6507, Aug. 14, 2001>

[youtuber]

[tatu]

[jaemaej]

Thanks for all of the feedback. This was all so helpful!

This http://expatparents.50.forumer.com was like hitting the jackpot for all of our questions/concerns!

Thanks again!