Korean Job Discussion Forums

[matty022]

Tried searching, but let's be honest the search function here is awful.

What is the legality of trading lessons on an E2 visa? For example, if I were to offer English lessons in exchange for lessons on learning a musical instrument or for Korean lessons?

No money changing hands, just teaching each other?

Seems like it would be no big deal, but just thought that could be considered 'teaching outside of contract' if someone really wanted to nail me on it.

[tardisrider]

If you're talking about teaching English to a piano instructor's kids for free piano lessons, it probably wouldn't be a big deal unless maybe you were working at a hagwon and the hagwon manager saw the lessons as taking a student out of his school or something like that. This in itself is probably only likely to happen if the manager dislikes you anyway or there is some other mitigating reason to make him want to get rid of you.

Technically, the trades you're discussing might be beyond the scope of your visa, but realistically there is very little chance for problems unless you're in a situation like the one I described above. If you frame it like a language exchange ("I'll teach you English as you're teaching me piano.") then I doubt you'll have any problems. Just make sure that it doesn't cause any conflicts with your workplace and I think you'll be fine.

[Troglodyte]

I'm not sure whether or not it's legal but language exchange is very popular here. There are even websites and cafes for it. I've never heard of a teacher getting in trouble (or even threatened) for doing language exchange.

Just don't do it with students from your hogwon (if you're even at a hogwon). Don't put it on your resume either (immigration and employers don't need to know about it).

It brings up an interesting question though. In Korea, is bartering considered a taxable transaction? In some countries (e.g. the USA), if you barter you still have to pay tax on what produce or service you received or at least on profits made. e.g. a mechanic offers to tune up someone's car in exchange for a heap of scrap metal the guy has in his garage; farmer offers eggs in exchange for apples from a guy with an orchard; etc. --> you're obligated to declare the monetary value of what you received (or the tax man does it for you) and you need to pay tax on it.

[chungbukdo]

I remember some people getting in trouble for volunteering to clean up with an oil spill a few years back. Because the work they were doing was not registered with the government.

If you are providing someone an English lesson, that is work benefiting someone else.

Heck, if you do anything kind or generous for someone that could be considered volunteer work.

My suggestion on not breaking the laws is to curl up into a ball and die, that way you can't break the laws in a society where everything is illegal. Or you could try and live your life, because the enforcement of the rule of law here is laughable. Basically, it depends on whether authorities are mad at you or not.

[sojusucks]

[Yaya]

[eventually]

we're not allowed to do volunteerwork in korea?!?! i was actually thinking about seeking out and signing up for some volunteerwork. that's super lame.

[Troglodyte]

You can do volunteer work. If you want to be totally legal about it, you need to declare it. I don't remember if you need permission from your employer or not but I think that you don't. If you call immigration, you can find out the details in about 2 minutes. Anyway, it's not a difficult procedure.