Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kraggy]

..when you start working for them?

If so how much is it usually? The reason I ask is that I may look for a hagwon job but will not be able to do the whole 12 months and I'm worried about them keeping my deposit.

[Skipperoo]

As far as I know this is far from the norm, I wouldn't work for a hagwon that practiced this.

[bbunce]

Your contract will state whether or not a deposit is required. Don't sign with anyone that requires it. If you come here and then they try to drop that bombshell on you, tell them "no" not in the contract.

[ttompatz]

[kraggy]

Ok.

So my situation is that I may start a new job in a hagwon in March but I may not be able to continue beyond 2 months of the contract. But I might.

In the meantime I need an income. Yes it would be bad to leave after 2 months, but like I said I may end up staying much longer. But I can't afford to leave Korea and I need an income.

So assuming that the contact doesn't stiupluate that I have to pay a deposit, everything should be grand (apart from my own guilt at having to leave so early)?

Anything else that could prove difficult SHOULD i HAVE TO LEAVE EARLY THAT IS.

[12ax7]

[3DR]

My hagwon wasn't the best, and they had me give them a deposit for the apartment. I actually got it back at the end of my contract lol. Pension...that's another story haha.

[halophex]

I work at a hagwon - one of the larger chains in Korea. For the past 2 years they have required all new teachers to pay a 600,000won deposit (200,000 taken out of first three paychecks).

Standard procedure has been for the school to give back 400,000 when you finish your contract if you want the money before you leave Korea. If you want the school to give you the actual amount left over after paying for any of your outstanding bills, they claim they will wait one month and then wire the money to you in the States.

So far everyone who has finished their contract has taken the 400,000. And those who didn't finish their contract didn't get any of the deposit back - the school used it to pay for the airline ticket to Korea.

Here's the clause straight from the contract:

200,000won will be deducted from each of the Employee's first three paychecks for a total of 600,000won to be used as a security deposit.
This deposit will cover any unpaid services, bills, damage and airfare in the event that the Employee fails to pay or fails to fulfill 6 month of the Employee's contract. The Employer will hold the full amount of the security deposit until all bills are paid. The remaining amount will be returned to the Employee after all bills have been paid at the end of the contract. However, any Employee who renews the contract and has already paid the security deposit will not be required to pay the security deposit again.

[12ax7]

[ayahyaha]

All four schools that I have worked for took out a deposit, ranging from 300,000KRW to 700,000KRW, and all returned the deposit in full. Every school paid my final bills (gas & electric, internet) for me and refunded the difference. One wired me the money later; the others gave it to me in cash.

I thought this was standard. I never had a problem getting my money back; at the same time, I would be careful which school I signed with. All my schools were pretty legit. Legit-ish.

[bbunce]

Like I posted before, you need to check the contract. If they pay your airfare, you need to pay that back. If you went through a recruiter, you might have to pay them the recruitment fees. (around $1,700) which is more than a "grand". Ask yourself what could happen if you "breach a contract" in the US? Things that aren't in your contract like other damages. In other words, they could sue you but that is highly unlikely. Check your contract. What do you mean, "in the meantime"? After you quit? The hagwon will cancel your visa and you will have to go home on your dime. I suggest you stay home and wait until you can commit and fulfill your responsibilities. Or at least, did I write this before? Check your contact.

[ayahyaha]

OP, you are getting some good advice here.

It's probably good advice not to come to Korea unless you plan to stay the year, but if you want to come and quit in the proper way (giving contractually-obligated notice) you will *probably* still get an apartment deposit back.

The rest is according to contract, but even if your contract *doesn't* say that your school will not pay for airfare and/or demand payment for the recruiter's fee, they will probably take that money anyway, because they're annoyed that you're leaving.

So -- by not finishing a contract, you are risking eating a lot of money, no matter what your contract says.

[kraggy]

I'm in Seoul already.

I'm in a public job at the moment but if I don't leave Korea at the end of February I'll want to work in a hagwon for a while.

[bbunce]

That makes sense. No matter what though, the hagwon will try to "get back" at you by leaving early and that means charging you something...They can be creative as to what fees you owe them...Perhaps that's why most pay on the 10th and want you to start on the 1st. You lose at least 4-5 days of pay if you leave right after payday. If you just want to stay a few more months, can't you just extend? The visa process is a lot easier too.

[Troglodyte]

I wouldn't work anywhere that asks for some kind of deposit or pays any later than the 5th of the month. Places that either take a deposit for something or pay on the 10th of the month (for the previous month's work) are doing it because they don't trust you. They're doing it so that they can hold that over your head if you think about running. "Hmmm. I want to run, but I'll lose all that money. Ok. I'd better not run." That's what they think goes through your head. And any school that will try that, has a good chance of trying other dirty tricks to serve themselves. e.g. not paying your pension or national health insurance, or simply firing you to save money.