Korean Job Discussion Forums

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

I've been reading up on this but Im confused because some of the posts are quite old. I am the only foreign teacher at my hagwon and Ive been there for a month and a half. As of right now, my employer has not paid into the pension fund(only one partial paycheck so far). Is it still illegal for him not to pay pension if I'm the only foreign teacher? If so, what should I do about it? Is it a good idea to set up the pension plan myself or should I do nothing? I dont want to get stuck with a pension bill when I leave Korea.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

There are definitely more than 5 people. I have my arc card and I've been trying to get health insurance started but they've been resistant so far(later, later, blah blah blah). Is it wise to tell the labor board about this or can that make things worse?

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

also, what is this independent contractor thing? is that why they're not paying pension? if so, am i screwed?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

my suspicions are confirmed....

Mister · Joined: 05 Jan 2007

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

+1, if I get fired, how do I get a new job? I want to stay in Korea, just not at ths school.

Goon-Yang · Joined: 28 May 2009 Location: Duh

It's easier to get job if you get fired right? If something happens to you and you have to pay a load of $$ in hospital bills do you think your boss is going to have your back? You'll be screwed.

Go to work, but refuse to work/teach until you have insurance and pension. Tell them you might get injured working with the kids and have to sue them.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

chojieun · Joined: 23 Jun 2010

what does it say in your contract?

if a pension is not mentioned in your contract, your employer probably doesn't have to and will not pay into the pension fund.

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

As was said before, this person works in a school with more than 5 employees. The employer must enroll the teacher in the pension and health insurance programs whether it is mentioned in the contract or not. It is the law. It is not a choice for the employer.

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

There is no mention of the pension fund in my contract and the part about health insurance did not specify what type of health insurance.

If I get fired, will that make it difficult to get a new job? Do I need a letter of release to get a new job?

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

Health and pension DO NOT need to be mentioned in your contract. Your employer is REQUIRED to provide them to you.

The organizations that control the two plans are the National Pension Service and the National Health Insurance Corporation. Their websites are here:

http://www.nps.or.kr/jsppage/english/main.jsp
http://www.nhic.or.kr/portal/site/eng/

They are the government administered programs that you MUST be enrolled in. Other health/pension plans can be added as supplemental coverage, but the two national programs are REQUIRED as a minimum.

You may have some trouble, but as long as you make sure that all your recruiters/prospective employers are made aware at the start that you quit because they were not providing pension/health insurance, it won't be too difficult to find a new job.

There probably a hundred or more threads about letter of release or changing jobs early. Look for them.

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

I just called national health insurance, they told me that employers of E-2 visa holders are not required to sign up for NHIC. She mentioned something after that about providing comparable insurance coverage, but I was a little confused abut how she explained it.