Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thatgirl1985]

I'm almost to the end of my year contract. I'll be leaving in the middle of April. The hagwon where I work is struggling at the moment. We're losing Korean staff left and right to lay offs, or workers "quitting." We had two teachers complete contracts in January. Both of the teachers left with only 150,000 won in tax refunds. The school said this was due to a change in tax policy. The school had not paid either teacher's last three months worth of pension to the pension office. They received only 2 million in severance pay even though they made at least 2.6 wages per month.

I'm terrified that my school is going to rip me off when it's time for me to leave. I work from 9:30am until 7:30pm five days per week. It's impossible for me to visit the pension office, tax office, etc. during their regular business hours. I will have to ask for unpaid time off to take care of my business at these places. The school pays everyone their final paychecks and severance money the day before you leave.

None of the teachers who left before me has had the 600,000 won security deposit returned to them.

I'm not going to sit idly by while the school tries to pull one over on me.

I need to let them know that in a polite and straight-forward manner.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[RMNC]

The severance pay sounds normal. 2.6million pay + 2.6million severance = 5.2 million, which about 600,000 would be taxed, and most employers take it out of the severance instead of the paycheck.

[hagwonnewbie]

Write them a letter telling them exactly how much money you expect. I say forget the tax and focus on the full severance. You can get the pension later after he is forced to contribute the full amount.

[InDaGu]

Is this Poly School by chance? I ask because the schedule sounds like them. If so, I believe only part of what you are paid each month is considered your "salary," and the rest is a "bonus." They do this because they only have to pay severance on your official salary.