Korean Job Discussion Forums

periwinkle · Joined: 08 Feb 2003

I worked at a public university for 2 years, and I was suppossed to receive around 4 million won. Well, I only received 2.8 mil, and I'm not receiving an answer to my e-mails as to why the amount was so low. What can I do about this? Thanks for your help!

prosodic · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Location: ��

Are you still in country? Then.... Labor Board.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Isn't severence paid yearly? Maybe they don't have to pay it retroactive if they didn't pay you the first year? Not sure.

Also, did you work two complete contract years?

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

It is not paid yearly unless you change jobs. If you keep a job, it is to your advantage to get paid when you leave the job if your salary is higher. Someone making 2.5 one year then 2.7 the next, would receive 5.4 severence (minus tax).

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

i know someone who got screwed at a hagwon in dongnimun because he didn't take his severance every year. they changed owners and the new owners fired him before he could finish his last year (of three) and he took them to the labour board and they said that he was supposed to get his severance every year. call the labour board at 1350 and ask.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Your year end severance is supposed to be paid at the end of the contract. It should be paid every year.

Pension is only paid when you leave.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Severance pay is paid pursuant to Korean Labor law after the completion of 12 months work, or at the end of your contract if of a longer duration, (note under Article 34 Labor Standards Act, you can request the employer to pay your severance pay at an earlier time than the conclusion of contract, but the Act clearly states it is at the employer's discretion in this circumstance.) It is one month's pay based on an average of your last three months' wage. Prior to their recently announced revised contract, EPIK did not pay it in the first year as they offered a 50 week contract, (though this changed from August 2003,) and some hogwons will simply refuse to pay it. You must then go to the Korean Labor Office with proof of your contract and Alien registration certificate to show you have worked legally, (see Labor Office protocols page.) The severance pay is calculated on a pro rata basis; e.g. if you work 100 weeks continuously you will get the full month's pay for the first year and a prorated amount for the second year.

Konundrum · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Boston

Yeah...my wife worked Uni for 3 years and got her pension at the end of each year. Did you re-do your contract at the end of year one or was it a single contract ? If you signed a second contract, you got screwed a year ago,

prosodic · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Location: ��

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Damn. You're right. I knew that.

superhal · Joined: 25 Feb 2005

[quote="periwinkle"]I worked at a public university for 2 years, and I was suppossed to receive around 4 million won. Well, I only received 2.8 mil, and I'm not receiving an answer to my e-mails as to why the amount was so low. What can I do about this? Thanks for your help![/quote]

it sounds like an ELP screwed you. Basically, an ELP is a college's version of a bad hagwon, but usually you're treated worse. From what you are saying, you are getting a base 2 mil/year (dead giveaway for an ELP) so you are expecting 4 mil. However, i think that your base pay was 1.4 mil, but you got 2 mil for working during vacations (as most ELP teachers do.) so, 2.8 is 2X your base salary, not your average salary.

the advice you got here, i think, is for hagwons which have different rules.