Korean Job Discussion Forums

[K-in-C]

Hi, all,

Is anyone familiar with World Prep English School in Jinju? I just received an email from the director there.

Thanks ahead of time.

K-in-C

edited once

[senorvivo]

I know one of the other teachers there- she started in October and seems happy enough with it - I will get a phone number[along with the code for cheapie rates- 20 mins for under 2 bucks from Canada] or her email address, so you can talk directly with her. Her only problem was with the apartment she first had, but the school has since moved her to a newer place. My son is in Jinju, and loving it. Anyway, will get back to you with some direct contact info, and Jen can give you the scoop. BTW, the ECC,
Wonderland school in Jinju seem to be places to avoid.

[K-in-C]

Hi, all,

I know the salary is low, but it seems the usual for smaller cities , the holidays need to be discussed, and the shared housing is a definate no but if I could get some feed back on the rest I would truly appreciate it.

Thanks,

K-in-C

And thanks senorvivo. I would appreciate a pm or email from Jen.



This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made by and between

World Prep English Schoolat #193-1, PyungGeo-Dong, Jinju City, South Korea(herein after called �Employer�) (hereinafter referred to as �Employee�)
Period of Contract : Jan/25/2006-Jan/24/2007(for one year after obtaining E-2 visa)
All proprietorship organised and existing under the laws of Republic of Korea.
Employee has been selected and approved by Employer, to teach the English language; therefore, Employer and Employee, in consideration of the mutual promised and covenants contained herein, agree as follows:

EMPLOYMENT OF EMPLOYEE
Employer hereby employs Employee to teach the English language in form and manner and under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee hereby accepts employment from Employer to teach the English language in the form and manner and under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

PLACE OF EMPLOYEMNT
Employee will be employed to teach the English language at the address of the principal office as above (hereinafter referred to as �Institute�). As further provided herein below,

Employee may be required or requested to teach the English language outside and apart from Institute.

In such case Employee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred beyond those expenses normally incurred in travel from the Employee�s home to the Place of Employment.

TERM OF RENEWAL
The term of this Agreement shall be twelve(12) full and consecutive months from the next day of arrival in Korea, specified in Section 4 of this contract.

No later than four(4) full months before the date of termination of this Agreement Employer and Employee shall consult together and shall agree either to an extension or termination of it. In the event the parties agree upon a termination, this Agreement shall end as of the date of termination set forth herein above.

DUTIES OF EMPLOYEE
During the term of this Agreement the Employee shall accept, obey, and strictly comply with the instructions, supervision, training, and discipline of the Academic Director and shall carry out such assignments as directed by the Academic Director. These duties shall include instruction in all phases of the program, administrative duties related to the Employee, classroom duties, administrative at scheduled staff meetings, workshops, and school sponsored outings, and any other duties as may be assigned by the Academic Director. The Academic Director is responsible for establishing standards of performance relative to the Employee and empowered to take necessary steps to assure that those standards are met.

During the term of this Agreement, the Employee will be required to perform work assigned to him/her by the Employer for 30 hours(60minutes) each week.
The Academic Director can request the Employee to work overtime ever though the Employee has 30 hours(60minutes) a week. The Academic Director shall not have the power or authority to require Employee to work more than 40 hours in total in any one week, unless Employee consents there to in addition and beyond the salary set forth herein below. (1 overtime hour, 16,000 won )
So, monthly working time is 110hours(1hour is 60minutes)

In order to maintain the quality of lessons, one hour of preparation time prior and 30 minutes meeting time prior to classes each day is required from the Employee. This preparation time is not included in the calculation of any overtime hours which the employee may be required to work.
Employee shall not be permitted and shall not have the right to work outside of Institute. Since Institute employees are full-time employees, such approval will normally be denied.
But employer will be able to request outside working at added designated place

and employee should work at working place added by the employer

Employee understands and agrees that at all times during the term of this Agreement, Employee shall strictly obey all laws, regulations, provisions, instructions, and guidance from the Government of Korea or any local government or officials thereof.
COMPENSATION AND OTHER TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEE
Salary
Institute shall pay Employee as compensation for all services rendered the total aggregate monthly salary of 1,900,000 won for each month of the contract period with Institute. Payment of the salary shall be made in won. This salary will be paid monthly, 7 days after the completion of each working month. Korean income and resident taxes will be withheld.

Severance Payment
Employee will be given an additional one/twelfth of annual salary for completing the contract period. This amount will be paid at the time of, and is dependent on, completion of the full contract term. This amount is also subject to Korean income and resident taxes. Should an Employee renew for another term, payment of the additional one/twelfth of annual salary shall be carried over until the Employee severs ties with Institute.

Paid Vacation and Paid Sick Leave
Employee will receive ten (10) paid vacation days including Chuseok and Seol during the contract year in addition of Korean national holidays. And Employee should discuss the vacation period before at least 7days and receive the written permission from employer before vacation. Consecutive 2 days vacation shall not permit. The employee may take up to two(2) days of sick leave. Unused sick leave may not be taken as vacation leave

.

Emergency Leave
Employee shall be eligible to receive up to five(5) days of paid emergency leave in any year of employment at Institute in the event of death or serious illness in Employee�s immediate family. The immediate family of Employee for the purpose of this paragraph shall only be applicable to parents, grandparents, grandchildren, spouse and children, brothers, and sisters. Such emergency leave shall be granted at the sole discretion of Institute after close consultation with the Academic Director. Only under special circumstances will more than five(5) days be approved for purposes of paid emergency leave.

Housing
Institute shall select and provide an apartment, or a house, to be shared by two or more employee, with a private bedroom for each employee. Institute shall provide furnishings for the selected location. Institute shall make selection of an apartment in consultation with the Academic Director.

Transportation
Employer will purchase for Employee an economy class ticket from the point of hire for passage on a regularly scheduled airline to Korea. In the event Employee completes the full contract period, Employer will purchase for the Employee an economy class ticket for passage on a regularly scheduled airline to the point of hire from Korea. The return air ticket will be provided at the time of the termination of employment. In the event that the extension of the Employment Agreement between the Employer and the Employee is met, the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period(s). In the case of the Employee resigns voluntarily or recalls employment agreement within 7 months, Employer will deduct the equal amount of airfare to Korea from Employee�s salary.

Maintenance
The cost of monthly service, utility charges for accommodation will be deducted from Employee�s monthly salary. Employee agrees to the withholding from salary payment of a security deposit to cover unpaid monthly service, utility, and telephone charges, or cover penalty payments for Employee�s default on contract agreements. Such deposit amounting to 500,000 won and being deductible from Employee�s salary during the first four(4) months of employment with Employer. Employer will hold the full amount of the security deposit until all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid. In the event that Employer makes payments covering monthly service, utility, and telephone charges on behalf of Employee, the amount of such payments will be deducted from the security deposit and the remainder of security deposit returned to Employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of security deposit will be made to Employee within ten(10) days after all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid.

Medical Insurance
Employee will be covered by medical. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by Employer and half by Employee. Payment will be made by monthly deduction from Employee�s salary. But dental care is not included.




DRESS CODE
Teachers at all institutes are expected to dress somewhat formally while teaching and while on the Institute premises. Men are required to wear a tie and women to wear a dress or pantsuits. Blue jeans, T-shirts, shorts, sandals and sneakers are not considered appropriate dress. All clothes worn are to be clean and neatly pressed. Koreans generally dress conservatively.

DISMISSAL BY INSTITUTE
Institute shall have the right at its sole discretion to dismiss Employee for clear and frequent neglect of duties under this Agreement. Including, but not limited to frequent absences from Institute without approval of the Academic Director, or good reason thereof, or for manifest inability to perform duties under this Agreement. Provided, however, before any such dismissal, Employee shall be warned of dissatisfaction with performance and shall be afforded at least twenty(20) working days in which to remedy the situation. Criminal or other conduct inside of outside Institute that would in the opinion of the Academic Director and owner seriously jeopardise any person or the reputation of its students, or its staff, will be cause for immediate dismissal and no warning or time for remedy will be allotted.
In the event Employee is dismissed for any of the reasons set forth in 7.1 herein above or for any of the reasons set forth herein below, Institute shall have no duty and shall not be obligated to pay the cost of return transportation to the point of hire for Employee. Also in the event Employee is dismissed within 3 months of starting date of the employment; Institute may require Employee to reimburse the employer for costs of airfare from Employee�s point of origin to Korea.
COVENANTS
Employee here by agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organisation other than Employer without prior written approval from Employer of the specific employment contemplated by employee. Failure to comply with this article is cause for immediate dismissal.
Employee here by agrees, covenants and undertakes that he/she will not disclose teaching materials, syllabus details, or any other information relating to the academic program, whether verbally or in written form, to individuals or corporate entities not employed by Employer.
MERGER CLAUSE
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter here of, and supersedes all previous negotiations, commitments, and writings with respect here to. No modification of this Agreement will be binding or have any legal effect unless set forth in a written agreement amending this agreement and signed by both parties here to. Furthermore, this contract nullifies and voids any previous contract between the two parties.

Employer and Employee have executed this Agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound here to, and In Witness Whereof, and Employee have appended their signature.

POINT OF HIRE:

Witness (Recruiter) Employee Signature Employer Signature


Shannon Mellon Lee Jin-Hwe

Witness Name Employee Name Employer Name

[K-in-C]

[quote="K-in-C"]

(Jinju contract)

Medical Insurance
Employee will be covered by medical. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by Employer and half by Employee. Payment will be made by monthly deduction from Employee�s salary. But dental care is not included.
quote]

I thought the medical plan covered dental as well. Does anyone have info on that?

I really would like some feedback on this whole contract. I am a wee bit leary, well more than a wee bit, of going back to the ROK and getting into another sticky wicket.

Ahh, student loans and little out there as far as employment This is election year. This should have been an issue brought up by us Canadian ESL ers doing time in the ROK.

[margaret]

I'm covered just by the regular medical and it does cover the dentist as well.
Margaret

[Yu_Bum_suk]

What ages are you teaching? A dress code like that would seem a bit odd for a kiddie hogwan, but it could also be a very good sign (that they want a real teacher, not an English clown).

[K-in-C]

[Son Deureo!]

Overall, I'd say this is a pretty crappy contract. I wouldn't sign it. These are the most serioius problems with this contract that stick out in my mind:

[TheUrbanMyth]

Terrible contract

Shared housing? NO WAY! You could get lucky and meet a new friend....then again you could be stuck with a pyscho.

Working outside the institute? Illegal without Immigration's permission. And if you work at two or more places outside the school, Immigration may raise some eyebrows.

1 hr and 30 minutes before class time? No way. Not unless you get paid.

No consecutive vacation time? Chusok and Seol are included in vacation time? Laughable.

There are other issues, but these are the major ones.

Don't sign this contract, you will be shafted six ways to Sunday.
You can do much better.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[K-in-C]

Thanks!

I knew from the beginning that is was a contract for concern. To top things off the guy passed on my email address to his buddy at Jinju WONDERLAND without my permission. When I asked him why, he wrote saying he thought if I wouldn't /couldn't accept his offer I might accept one from the his buddy. That made me wonder, based on the one clause in the contract, if he was going to try and farm me out to WDL. What a jerk.

One edit by sleepy me.

[Grotto]

World Prep English Schoolat #193-1, PyungGeo-Dong, Jinju City, South Korea(herein after called �Employer�) (hereinafter referred to as �Employee�)
Period of Contract : Jan/25/2006-Jan/24/2007(for one year after obtaining E-2 visa)
All proprietorship organised and existing under the laws of Republic of Korea.
Employee has been selected and approved by Employer, to teach the English language; therefore, Employer and Employee, in consideration of the mutual promised and covenants contained herein, agree as follows:

EMPLOYMENT OF EMPLOYEE
Employer hereby employs Employee to teach the English language in form and manner and under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee hereby accepts employment from Employer to teach the English language in the form and manner and under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

PLACE OF EMPLOYEMNT
Employee will be employed to teach the English language at the address of the principal office as above (hereinafter referred to as �Institute�). As further provided herein below,

Employee may be required or requested to teach the English language outside and apart from Institute.

Dont do it without permission from immigration!

In such case Employee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred beyond those expenses normally incurred in travel from the Employee�s home to the Place of Employment.

TERM OF RENEWAL
The term of this Agreement shall be twelve(12) full and consecutive months from the next day of arrival in Korea, specified in Section 4 of this contract.

I dont like this as, if you come in partway into a month it does not count. This may cause some problems with your E2 visa

No later than four(4) full months before the date of termination of this Agreement Employer and Employee shall consult together and shall agree either to an extension or termination of it. In the event the parties agree upon a termination, this Agreement shall end as of the date of termination set forth herein above.

You dont extend contracts here. You would have to sign a new contract

DUTIES OF EMPLOYEE
During the term of this Agreement the Employee shall accept, obey, and strictly comply with the instructions, supervision, training, and discipline of the Academic Director and shall carry out such assignments as directed by the Academic Director. These duties shall include instruction in all phases of the program, administrative duties related to the Employee, classroom duties, administrative at scheduled staff meetings, workshops, and school sponsored outings, and any other duties as may be assigned by the Academic Director. The Academic Director is responsible for establishing standards of performance relative to the Employee and empowered to take necessary steps to assure that those standards are met.

As long as any of these duties or outings are during regular class hours!

During the term of this Agreement, the Employee will be required to perform work assigned to him/her by the Employer for 30 hours(60minutes) each week.
The Academic Director can request the Employee to work overtime ever though the Employee has 30 hours(60minutes) a week. The Academic Director shall not have the power or authority to require Employee to work more than 40 hours in total in any one week, unless Employee consents there to in addition and beyond the salary set forth herein below. (1 overtime hour, 16,000 won )
So, monthly working time is 110hours(1hour is 60minutes)

I dont like the wording here....the request looks more like a demand! That they are defining a working hour as 60 minutes does not bode well. Also the overtime rate is a freakin joke!

In order to maintain the quality of lessons, one hour of preparation time prior and 30 minutes meeting time prior to classes each day is required from the Employee. This preparation time is not included in the calculation of any overtime hours which the employee may be required to work.
Employee shall not be permitted and shall not have the right to work outside of Institute. Since Institute employees are full-time employees, such approval will normally be denied.
But employer will be able to request outside working at added designated place

ONE HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES EVERY FREAKING DAY Not a chance!

and employee should work at working place added by the employer

Employee understands and agrees that at all times during the term of this Agreement, Employee shall strictly obey all laws, regulations, provisions, instructions, and guidance from the Government of Korea or any local government or officials thereof.
COMPENSATION AND OTHER TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEE
Salary
Institute shall pay Employee as compensation for all services rendered the total aggregate monthly salary of 1,900,000 won for each month of the contract period with Institute. Payment of the salary shall be made in won. This salary will be paid monthly, 7 days after the completion of each working month. Korean income and resident taxes will be withheld.

1.9mil is too low. there is also no mention here of pension or health

Severance Payment
Employee will be given an additional one/twelfth of annual salary for completing the contract period. This amount will be paid at the time of, and is dependent on, completion of the full contract term. This amount is also subject to Korean income and resident taxes. Should an Employee renew for another term, payment of the additional one/twelfth of annual salary shall be carried over until the Employee severs ties with Institute.

You are entitled to that payment at the end of your contract. If you renew and stay another year you would be eligible for 2 months pay. This looks very fishy to me!

Paid Vacation and Paid Sick Leave
Employee will receive ten (10) paid vacation days including Chuseok and Seol during the contract year in addition of Korean national holidays. And Employee should discuss the vacation period before at least 7days and receive the written permission from employer before vacation. Consecutive 2 days vacation shall not permit. The employee may take up to two(2) days of sick leave. Unused sick leave may not be taken as vacation leave

Not a snowballs chance in hell! National holidays are seperate from vacation time! Only being able to schedule the occasional one day vacation RUN! And dont look back!

Emergency Leave
Employee shall be eligible to receive up to five(5) days of paid emergency leave in any year of employment at Institute in the event of death or serious illness in Employee�s immediate family. The immediate family of Employee for the purpose of this paragraph shall only be applicable to parents, grandparents, grandchildren, spouse and children, brothers, and sisters. Such emergency leave shall be granted at the sole discretion of Institute after close consultation with the Academic Director. Only under special circumstances will more than five(5) days be approved for purposes of paid emergency leave.

Housing
Institute shall select and provide an apartment, or a house, to be shared by two or more employee, with a private bedroom for each employee. Institute shall provide furnishings for the selected location. Institute shall make selection of an apartment in consultation with the Academic Director.

Shared accomodations suck! Nuff said! What furnishings are included?

Transportation
Employer will purchase for Employee an economy class ticket from the point of hire for passage on a regularly scheduled airline to Korea. In the event Employee completes the full contract period, Employer will purchase for the Employee an economy class ticket for passage on a regularly scheduled airline to the point of hire from Korea. The return air ticket will be provided at the time of the termination of employment. In the event that the extension of the Employment Agreement between the Employer and the Employee is met, the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period(s). In the case of the Employee resigns voluntarily or recalls employment agreement within 7 months, Employer will deduct the equal amount of airfare to Korea from Employee�s salary.

Should only be 6 months!

Maintenance
The cost of monthly service, utility charges for accommodation will be deducted from Employee�s monthly salary.

No way! Be responsible for your own bills or they will rob you blind!

Employee agrees to the withholding from salary payment of a security deposit to cover unpaid monthly service, utility, and telephone charges, or cover penalty payments for Employee�s default on contract agreements. Such deposit amounting to 500,000 won and being deductible from Employee�s salary during the first four(4) months of employment with Employer. Employer will hold the full amount of the security deposit until all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid. In the event that Employer makes payments covering monthly service, utility, and telephone charges on behalf of Employee, the amount of such payments will be deducted from the security deposit and the remainder of security deposit returned to Employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of security deposit will be made to Employee within ten(10) days after all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid.

Riigghhhttt why on earth would they need a deposit of 500,000 if they are the ones paying your bills Dont agree to a deposit..they are illegal!

Medical Insurance
Employee will be covered by medical. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by Employer and half by Employee. Payment will be made by monthly deduction from Employee�s salary. But dental care is not included.




DRESS CODE
Teachers at all institutes are expected to dress somewhat formally while teaching and while on the Institute premises. Men are required to wear a tie and women to wear a dress or pantsuits. Blue jeans, T-shirts, shorts, sandals and sneakers are not considered appropriate dress. All clothes worn are to be clean and neatly pressed. Koreans generally dress conservatively.

Yet another reason not to sign.....if you are teaching businessmen classes then fine...teaching a bunch of rowdy kids...no way!
DISMISSAL BY INSTITUTE
Institute shall have the right at its sole discretion to dismiss Employee for clear and frequent neglect of duties under this Agreement. Including, but not limited to frequent absences from Institute without approval of the Academic Director, or good reason thereof, or for manifest inability to perform duties under this Agreement. Provided, however, before any such dismissal, Employee shall be warned of dissatisfaction with performance and shall be afforded at least twenty(20) working days in which to remedy the situation. Criminal or other conduct inside of outside Institute that would in the opinion of the Academic Director and owner seriously jeopardise any person or the reputation of its students, or its staff, will be cause for immediate dismissal and no warning or time for remedy will be allotted.
In the event Employee is dismissed for any of the reasons set forth in 7.1 herein above or for any of the reasons set forth herein below, Institute shall have no duty and shall not be obligated to pay the cost of return transportation to the point of hire for Employee. Also in the event Employee is dismissed within 3 months of starting date of the employment; Institute may require Employee to reimburse the employer for costs of airfare from Employee�s point of origin to Korea.

There should be mention of 30 days notice of termination.

COVENANTS
Employee here by agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organisation other than Employer without prior written approval from Employer of the specific employment contemplated by employee. Failure to comply with this article is cause for immediate dismissal.
Employee here by agrees, covenants and undertakes that he/she will not disclose teaching materials, syllabus details, or any other information relating to the academic program, whether verbally or in written form, to individuals or corporate entities not employed by Employer.
MERGER CLAUSE
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter here of, and supersedes all previous negotiations, commitments, and writings with respect here to. No modification of this Agreement will be binding or have any legal effect unless set forth in a written agreement amending this agreement and signed by both parties here to. Furthermore, this contract nullifies and voids any previous contract between the two parties.

Is this legal?

Employer and Employee have executed this Agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound here to, and In Witness Whereof, and Employee have appended their signature.


Crapfest! Keep looking!

[Big Mac]