Korean Job Discussion Forums

[marista99]

What is the reasoning behind not allowing foreigners to teach privates? Is there any?

[Real Reality]

College Tutors
Part-time tutors are being offered a handsome 60,000-100,000 won per hour, making those jobs very appealing. Last summer vacation alone, Jung tutored students for one month and made 15 million won. Even though college students are not required to declare their tutoring incomes, outrageously high tutoring rates are illegal and the Ministry of Education can either fine or shut down such operations.
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2004080497078

According to regulations, private tutors have to report their activities to the authorities and pay taxes. Hagwon, or private cram schools, are not allowed to operate after 10 p.m. Flaunting the law, most hagwon run well pass 10 p.m., and few private tutors report their activities to the authorities.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200311/24/200311240110215839900090409041.html

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
Overall living conditions, including education, housing, medical care, transportation, immigration, and access to the Internet are pointed to as inconveniences. Not only inconveniences caused by different systems and customs in Korea, but also special discriminating practices, such as the practice of submitting two years of monthly rent in advance like a deposit, which is required of foreigners just because they are foreigners, are ubiquitous.
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

[Demophobe]

Well, I think it would be the fact that the Korean gov't would have no way to kkep track of the cash flow. They would want to tax the income and it would be near impossible...they would be relying solely on the parties involved to produce all documentation, etc... pertaining to the exchange of money.

Private work is probably forbidden by visitors on most countries as it's impossible to monitor. People on a work visa in Canada probably face the same restrictions....they can't just do whatever work they want. If they allow us to do privates, it would lead to anarchy, in a sense.

It would also end a lucrative money source for college students who tutor.

I dunno exactly, but it seems to make sense to me. I would like to do privates, but I really don't expect the gov't to give the nod to it.

[marista99]

[Demophobe]

We aren't Korean.

Their (Korean tutors) money stays in the country...at least the gov't sees it that way. That and they don't have jobs besides the tutoring....the gov't sees it as a kind of part-time work...and student's don't pay tax anyways, even if they did declare their earnings....it would just be a redundant expenditure for the government here. Yes, in Canada, a student must declare their wages, but they always get money back at tax time or break even. There is something to be said about bloated bureaucracy there. Why bother with the paperwork and man hours if it always comes to the gov't paying or zero?

Anyways, it's the way it is everywhere...foreign workers are bound to their contracts and/or place of employ.....in every country, so what's the point of asking it here, like it's a "Korean" thing?

A Korean guy working for some engineering company in the US can't teach private Korean classes for money. I don't know this as a fact, but I would bet my bottom dollar on it being so.

Making money in a foreign country that has no record following it (cash transactions) is a no-no on the basis of taxation alone. If you are on a tourist visa, work visa, student visa....they all have their restrictions.

Then "Why can't I work at Brger King?"...well, because that's not your place of employment...the place that sponsored you being here for a year. The same with private classes....it's employment outside of the place that sponsored you.

This is really a silly, non-issue. It's government regulation...it's the way it is in every country in the world.

[Real Reality]

Demophobe wrote,
"A Korean guy working for some engineering company in the US can't teach private Korean classes for money. I don't know this as a fact, but I would bet my bottom dollar on it being so."

Korean engineer's salary in US = foreign teacher's salary in Korea?
There is a high demand to have Korean classes in the US?



According to regulations, private tutors have to report their activities to the authorities and pay taxes. Hagwon, or private cram schools, are not allowed to operate after 10 p.m. Flaunting the law, most hagwon run well pass 10 p.m., and few private tutors report their activities to the authorities.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200311/24/200311240110215839900090409041.html

Transparency International's "Corruption Perceptions Index 2003" lists Korea 10 places lower than what it was last year, meaning the country ranked 50th. According to a recent survey, as many as 90 percent of Korea's youth think they live in a country that's corrupt, and a considerable number of them say they're ready to join the club if the occasions calls for it later in life.
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200310/200310080034.html

[Demophobe]

RR....yes....wages....blah, blah....I think you missed my point. YOu are TOO real...I shouldn't have used that example.

Wow...they don't declare their earnings?!? Sounds pretty human to me.

[bellum99]

Korean tutors do declare their income...well at least they are expected to declare it.

[jazblanc77]

[jazblanc77]

[marista99]

Ok....I gues it makes a little more sense now. I guess what it comes down to is, we can work only for the school that brought us here. No working outside the school. No dog walking, lawn mowing or private lessons.

And you're right, in the US a teenage babysitter, or dog walker, or whatever technically is supposed to declare their income for tax purposes, but no one does it. On the other hand being paid "under the table" as an adult and especially as an immigrant could invite problems. Of course I've never heard of anyone being deported for it in the States, but I'm sure it happens.

[ladyandthetramp]

[batman]

[mishlert]

[stevencollins]

If you are married to a Korean and not being sponsored by a school, can you work privates legally?