Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ptcjstc1984]

I was just offered a position through Travel and Teach with an after-school organization called Little Fox. Everything about it is rubbing me the wrong way, and I thought I'd voice my concerns here, in case anyone else has any solid feedback to share. The recruiter is ridiculously hands-off. He spoke with me for 5 minutes on the phone and seemed distracted/disinterested. It took him nearly a month to arrange a single interview and 4 days after that to ask how it went. I'm half-convinced he only responded because I wrote to inform him that the interviewer didn't even show up! I'm not sure what prompted me to go through with the interview when it was rescheduled for a few days later. I did-now today, the news that I've been offered a position. It came as a surprise to be honest. The man interviewing me spoke almost no English. Apparently I would be working in a rural area.

The pay is pretty average for a beginning teacher's salary-2,200,000 won. The school reimburses my flight there and pays out a pension if I complete my contract. I get 10 vacation days for the whole year (which doesn't sound very generous). My total number of sick days would be 2.

Add to this situation the fact that this recruiter is trying to sell me things nonstop...a language program...travel insurance...He also claims that he can't give me information on any of the schools in advance of interviewing. That's strange because I am also working with another recruiter who spent an hour on the phone with me initially, really getting a good idea about what I wanted. Furthermore she has shared very good information on each school I've interviewed with and given me an interview time at least 2 or 3 days in advance. I find it hard to believe that all of the things this other guy says are true about Korea in general are accurate. Something about the whole things makes me uncomfortable.

I don't have any solid evidence that Travel and Teach is a bad recruitment company to go through, but something feels off.

Does anyone have any experience working with them? What were your thoughts?

[ttompatz]

Prepare to get burned.

The "pension" is your severance (a legal requirement for anyone who works for an employer for more than 1 year).

You probably won't get "pension" from the NPS since you won't be enrolled (illegal).

You can expect a 3.3% tax rate (about double what it should be for an employee on 2.2M KRW.

If that is the case then you can also expect to be screwed on your medical insurance (also a legal requirement and often ignored by A/S programs.)

Caveat Emptor.

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[ptcjstc1984]

[PRagic]

The A/S programs are sketchy because 'officially', the actual school will be your sponsor. THEY, however, have a contract with the middle-man company, and THAT company is the one who actually pays you (and should be paying into your health and pension schemes).

There's a very good reason that those on permanent residency status are the only ones who take chances on these jobs; they don't have any hoops to jump through should immigration smell something off.

Best advice is to take ttompatz's advice and avoid. There are tons of regular public school jobs and private institute jobs available. Do your homework and find a less potentially devastating employment scenario.

[ttompatz]

Recruiters are just outside parties who match bodies with jobs.
Once you sign the contract they are out of the picture and have nothing more to do with you. They are the used car salesmen of employment.

A/S programs are dodgy at best and I have never met anyone who didn't get burned by one. The employer holds the visa but does not make the payroll so there are lots of ways for you to get screwed.

Your best bet is to work with a public school directly. You will be assured of your pay, holiday time as per the contract, medical, pension and severance.

The next option is to work for a hagwon (private language academy). The most common of these are the kiddy hagwons where you work a kindergarten class in the morning and elementary school classes from 3-6pm.
Most of these have their issues (screwed on medical and NPS) but they usually cover airfare (often prepaid), housing and severance. Taxes can be an issue (3.3% as an "independent" is the most common so they can dodge around NPS and NHIC).

Adult hagwons are usually UGLY split shifts (you work when workers are not at work). Other than the splits the other hagwon issues are also common features here.

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[Guajiro]