Korean Job Discussion Forums

magnumface · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Location: itaewon, seoul

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum-hope life is good. Having a few seemingly typical teething problems with the recruiter - even at this early stage imagining horrific forms of torture is a stress reliever.
One thing is he got me and my girlfriend too open two bank accounts, one he can access which the school pays into and the other we can access which he then pays us into.
He gave us the "why do you care-its nothing to do with you" routine but it just seems a bit strange-maybe later for tax reprocussions. Any thoughts?

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

Ohhh seems a little dodgy from what I can understand through your post.

So, if I am reading and understanding correctly -

The school pays into Account A. The recruiter withdraws from this account. The recruiter then pays into Account B. You can have the money in Account B. You can not withdraw any of the money in Account A, correct?

If the above is true, I would think you're being set-up for a potential screw over! Especially as the recruiter gave you a snarky answer when you questioned him.

It should work simply. You have ONE bank account. Your school can make salary payments into the account. (Actually, anyone can deposit INTO your account). YOU and YOU ONLY can withdraw from your account.

If the school owes the recruiter money, the school should pay the recruiter without involving you. The school pays you. The school pays the recruiter. No need for you to be a middle man for their transactions.

I would discuss this with the director ASAP and tell the director you want to be paid by the school and not have the recruiter involved AT ALL. If the school doesn't agree to this.....methinks sometin's fishy.

batman · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:01 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a screw over to me.
I would like to add that Korean laws limit non-Koreans to one bank account each.
By having you open two each the recruiter is having you break the law.
What you can try to do is to cancel the one he has access to and simply have your school deposit your pay into the other account.

magnumface · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Location: itaewon, seoul

Cheers guys. Just to fully explain. We are working at a public elementary school in an English program that the recruiter has set up with them. I think basically the school is paying a lot more and he is taking money off the top. However we signed the contract for 2 million and he is providing an apartment.
He says that the school wants it done this way that they pay into our bank accounts. Oh and he slipped in something about us signing another contract with the school-just to do with conduct and stuff.. he said.

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Considering that the school wants to make it look like they are paying you directly, and want to have their own "contract" with you, it sounds to me like you are supposed to be getting more than you are. Why else would the school and recruiter go to such lengths to make it look like there's no middle-man? And are you sure that this is what the school wants as well? Have you talked to the school about this arrangement? Maybe the recruiter is pulling a fast one on both you and the school.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

You're opening yourself up for a big screwover. Don't trust those *beeps*.

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

I agree with everyone else. This is way dodgy.

I'm friends with my recruiter's brother and both belong to my church and I still wouldn't accept this set-up.

Change it or get out of it before you get screwed.

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Never heard of a setup like this in my 4 years here. Sounds very suspicious. As a previous poster stated, talk to the school. Your contract is with the school, not the recruiter. Who sponsored your E2? Be wary guys. Smile

ladyandthetramp · Joined: 21 Nov 2003

Actually, lots of recruiters are doing this nowadays. They are the ones providing jobs for public schools.

oneiros · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Location: Villa Straylight

batman · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 8:13 am Post subject:

[quote="oneiros

Really? I have four accounts. I didn't know I was breaking the law....oops:lol:[/quote]

I found out about the one non-korean one account rule a couple of years back. I was at my usual branch of an unique and traditional Korean bank trying to send money home. Turned out that immigration had me registered at another bank (which I did not even have an account with). Spent some time on the phone with immigration and the other bank trying to clear up the mess. (me: "I don't have another account. I only deal with KB." them: "you are a foriegner and obviously don't know what you are talking about")
A few months later my wife went through the same thing. She has an account with one bank but immigration had her as registered with another.
Same phone calls were made. Same conversations took place.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

That is illegal, whether lots of recruiters do it or not. You can't get an E2 if you work for a recruiter. What does your E2 visa say? I bet his name is nowhere to be seen. Don't waste your time talking to him about it. Have someone call the labor board for you. But first, make sure you notify the bank that you don't want to give him access to your bank account anymore. I bet you aren't legally bound by the contract you have with him since you don't work for him according to your visa.

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

The Cube · Joined: 01 Feb 2003