Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Blanca]

Hi everybody,

So after a few weeks of going backwards and forwards with hagwons, the missus and I are probably, all being well, about to take a pair of after-school positions in Seoul - one beginning next week, the other on the 1st of August. Now we've recently been used to vetting the bejesus out of hagwons (for things like NHIC, paying on time, boss not being a psychopath etc), so with regards to after-school, we're a little out of the loop and not sure what to do.

How careful should you be with these organisations? Presumably, as a government-run scheme, things like NHIC and pension should be completely kosher and the jobs fairly cushy? Are there any important things you recommend checking out before we book fights in a couple of days?

[ontheway]

[wanderkind]

Isn't there some big chance coming down the pipe for after-school positions?

I thought in the last 6 months we were discussing them all being canned in the near future or something...did that get nixed?

[furtakk]

As far as I know, they are not government run. Most are contracted out to companies who provide their own curriculum and teachers.

They can be just as shady as hagwons, but there are a few good companies.

Some will pay NHIC/pension, some only NHIC, and others won't pay either.

What you need to look out for is tax-dodging companies who ask you to setup a new bank account. It is an old scheme, and most companies don't really do it anymore, but there are a couple who continue to do so.

One of the bigger companies who still runs the scheme is edubest. They advertise a lot, and have quite a few contracts in Seoul, but I would avoid them (or any other company) that asks you to setup a secondary account.

[ttompatz]

[RangerMcGreggor]

[pattinsons]

After school jobs are like a lot of other jobs in Korea. There are some good and some bad. It's not a government job. So sometimes people play games.

I've been working for an after school program for four months. I really enjoy it. It's a lot less rigid than hagwon work. I am pretty much left alone to teach. My Korean coworkers are wonderful. Always giving me food when I go into the office. Money is pretty good and paid on time. I leave when my last class is finished regardless of what time it is. Vacation isn't great, but still better than most chain hagwons. So in my case there is much more freedom.

However like most people have posted do your homework. Search here and waygook.org with the company name. See if you can get some contact information from others that work for the company. Be ware of the scams. Like people mentioned two bank accounts. Always stay up on your deductions. Call pension and tax office. Get pay stubs.

[Troglodyte]

I don't have any stats but it seems to me that I've heard more complaints about after-school jobs than hagwons. There seem to be a lot more fly-by-night places. Perhaps it's easier to set up and close up an after-school than a regular hagwon. Less overhead. Like others have said, they are private companies that are simply contracted by the school.

Definitely check into them the same way you'd check out any other employer. Sometimes if you mention the neighborhood, you can find someone who lives nearby who will go check out the school (or at least meet the boss) in person.

That said, I think that the majority of jobs here aren't really as bad as they look on these forums. Remember that the vast majority of teachers do not use these forums. Most first time posters will either be asking for info prior to finding a job (and then never post again) or they will post to ask for advice when things go south. But still, hedge your bets by checking out the place.

[DaeguNL]

You might not get NHIC, or pension, but it's probably worth it to work 4-5 hour days instead of 8-9 hour days

[jammo]

I would recommend jumpenglish. The manager is very personable