Korean Job Discussion Forums

[S3raph1m]

Hi!

You guys probably get this a lot, but I just finished up my bachelor's degree and I'm planning on teaching English in South Korea. I have very little experience, but I'm currently volunteering for the ESL class being taught at my local public library to get some experience. Of course, that's going to be very minimal compared to actual teaching experience. I'm going through a recruiter and I just finished up a Skype interview with a school. (I'm not sure what's normal for pay/working hours). I've heard some horror stories about working in South Korea from a friend of mine that is currently there, so I want to be careful. The woman I talked to seemed nice and I'm currently talking with another teacher who works at the school to try and get some more information. The contract hours are Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 6:30 teaching elementary school kids. I get a furnished apartment as part of the contract (bed, stove, tv, etc.). I was told there's very little lesson planning and I told them straight up I have no experience in that. Pay is 2.2 million won per month and 20,000 won per hour if I work overtime. There's a severance pay of one month's pay at the end of the contract and a plane ticket home is also included, but I get the money for the plane ticket if I recontract with the school. Paid vacation of ten days per year.

On a side note, I'm gay. I know that's an issue in South Korea. Do I need to keep that on the down low? I've heard Itaewon is the gayborhood. How's that? I'm a millennial. Is the younger generation there super liberal like most of my generation here in the states or at least a bit more open-minded/educated? How worried do I need to be about that?

[PRagic]

That's a 9 hour/day sched, so check just how many CLASSES you'll be expected to teach. They can cram a lot of 40 minute classes in for kids if the contract isn't specific.

As for vactation days, that's pretty standard, but what many don't know is that you get them with the rest of the workforce, and generally not whenever you'd like. Just a word to the wise.

No mention of sick days? Some places can be pretty obnoxious about those.

Try to get a feel for how GOOD the housing is, not just whether or not it's provided.

Don't know anything about the gay scene, but know coming in that Korea is by and large VERY conservative. I've worked with a few gay men and women here. Keep it VERY MUCH to your self (don't tell ANY co-workers, even fellow foreign co-workers), especially at and anywhere near work, and do your own thing on weekends or what not and you should be cool. Only one of my gay friends was ever outed at work and subsequently fired for it. He was living with another dude openly gay in university housing, so it didn't take long for word to get to management. Sad and sounds excessive, but all it takes is one ticked off and vengeful fellow employee to 'report' you to management and you could be gone.

[schwa]

Stating the name & location of the school & the fact that you're gay in the same post on a public forum isn't wise.

[S3raph1m]

You're right. Edited and removed.

[denverdeath]

I'd say PRagic's advice is pretty sound.

Having said that, there are loads of gay individuals here. Korean and western. But, no, you definitely cannot be as 'open' about it as back home.

[S3raph1m]

So, I see no mention of sick days, but it says in the contract that teachers are expected to teach 30 hours per week. What's up with the 9:30 to 6:30 then? I'll ask about that before signing the contract.

[S3raph1m]

How does this contract look? I blocked out the school's name with *****. Is there anything here that looks abnormal? Or is this pretty standard? Anything I should ask to negotiate on?


The Parties agree as follows:
양측은 다음의 내용에 동의 한다
I.
TERM OF CONTRACT
계약기간

1.
This contract will be valid for a period of 12 months beginning April 24, 2017 and ending April 23, 2018
본 계약서는 2017년 4월 24일부터 12 개월 동안 그 효력을 유지하며 2018년 4월 23일에 종료된다.



II.
EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS
피고용인의 조건

1.
Employee shall faithfully observe his/her Principal’s reasonable requests regarding his/her duties defined in the Agreement.
피고용인은 계약서에 명시되어 있는 강사의 직무에 대해서 학원장의 타당한 요구를 성실히 준수해야 한다.

2.
Principal shall evaluate Employee’s performance of official duties and provide feedback to Employee.
고용인(학원장)은 피고용인의 직무이행에 대한 능력평가를 하여 피고용인에게 알릴 수 있다.

3.
The Employee will act in a professional manner and be responsible for conducting professional English Language classes.
피고용인은 적합한 직업의식을 갖추어 전문적인 영어 수업진행에 임할 책임이 있다.

4.
******* will provide a list of words inappropriate in the class (including, but not limited to, crazy, stupid, shut up, and others to be determined later). These words are not to be used by teachers and also students. This may have an adverse effect on the students and the reputation of the school.*******어학원은 교실에서 사용할 수 없는 금지어 목록을 지정하여 제공한다. 이 금지어들은 학생과 학원 모두에게 부정적인 영향을 주기에 강사와 학생들 모두에게 금지된다.

5.
The Employee will be required to work on a regularly set schedule. Working hours may be slightly extended or changed depending on location or session, but is generally from 9:30am to 6:30pm, Monday through Friday. Overall, Employees will do 30 hours of teaching per week or 120 hours of teaching per month. In special cases, the Employee may be asked to work on a weekend or on a national holiday. If this occurs, the Employee shall be granted 1 vacation day to be taken at a time and place of their designation in exchange for each day the Employee has worked during a national holiday or weekend. This, however, is not applicable to events mentioned in section II.3 (see below). The set schedule is not applicable to certain cases such as the summer and winter intensive course periods.
피고용인은 정해진 시간에 근무함을 원칙으로 한다. 근무시간은 지역이나 학기에 따라 다소 연장되거나 변경될 수 있으나 일반적으로, 오전 9시 30분부터 오후 6시 30분까지를 근무시간으로 한다. 피고용인은 월요일부터 금요일, 주 5일 근무를 원칙으로 하며 주 당 30시간 또는 월 단위 총 수업시간 120 시간을 근무해야 한다. 특별한 경우에, 피고용인은 주말 또는 휴무기간에 근무를 요청 받을 수 있는데, 이러한 경우 피고용인은 주말 또는 휴무기간에의 근무를 대체하여 본인이 지정한 날에 휴가를 취할 수 있다. 단, II. 3 에 해당하는 경우에는 예외이다.


6.
The Employee is required to attend events held by the Employer such as workshops, a year- end party, retreats, academic seminars, etc.

피고용인은 고용인이 주최하는 발표회,워크숍, 송년회, 야유회, 세미나 등의 행사에 참여한다.





III.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER
고용주의 의무 이행사항


1.
PAYMENT
급여지급


1.1
The Employer will pay a monthly salary of 2,200,000 won for regularly scheduled hours.
고용주는 피고용인에게 매 달 정상적인 근무시간에 대한 용역 제공에 대하여 (220)만원의 급여를 지급한다



1.2
The Employer will pay a monthly salary of 2,200.000 won in the event that the Employer is unable to provide the Employee with the regularly scheduled 120 hours per month.
고용주는 고용주의 귀책사유로 피고용인이 120 시간의 정상적인 근무를 제공 할 수 없어도 (220)만원의 급여를 지급한다.



1.3
If the Employee fails to work on the set hours due to tardiness, absence, etc.; the monthly payment will be calculated and paid using a daily rate and/or an hourly rate.
만일 피고용인이 지각 또는 결근 등의 이유로 인해 정해진 근무시간을 채우지 못했을 경우에는 월 급여를 일급과 시급에 의해 계산하고 지급한다.

The method for calculating the daily rate: Monthly salary divided by 30.
일급 계산법: (월 급여) / 30
The method for calculating the hourly rate: Daily rate divided by 6.
시급 계산법: (일급) / 6



1.4
The Employee may be asked to work overtime (the Employee is expected to cooperate to supply better service to their students), and If the Employee chooses to work overtime, the Employer will pay 20,000won per hour for the overtime work.
고용주는 피고용인에게 시간외 근무를 요구할 수도 있다 (피고용인은 학생들에게 보다 나은 서비스를 제공하는데 협조한다) 만일 피고용인이 시간외 근무에 동의하고 근무 하였을 때는 고용주는 시간당 20,000원을 지급한다.



1.5
The Employer will pay the Employee a monthly salary or the total amount owed for work performed in a month on the 10th of following month. In the event that the Employee doesn’t start working on the very first day of the month, their working days for that month will be counted from the day when they start working on a regular schedule.
고용주는 매월 10일에 월 급여 또는 한달 동안의 용역 제공에 대한 합계액을 피고용인에게 지급한다. 피고용인이 그 달의 첫 날에 근무를 시작하지 않은 경우에, 피고용인의 해당월 급여는 정상적인 근무 스케줄을 시작한 날부터 계산된다.



1.6
Income tax shall be withheld from the salary at a rate 3.3% in accordance with Korean Tax Law.
월 급여 중 3.3%는 소득세로 원천 징수 한다.




2.
HOUSING
주택 제공


2.1
The Employee will be provided with a single furnished apartment. (a bed suitable for one person, a washing machine, a stove, a refrigerator, a TV, a table suitable for taking meals, an air conditioner, some utensils and cookware) The apartment will be provided at no cost to the Employee with the exception of utilities and housing management fees associated with the apartment.
피고용인은 기본적인 가구(상기 목록)가 준비된 숙소를 무상으로 제공 받는다. 단, 공과금 및 숙소관리비용 등은 피고용인이 부담하도록 한다.


2.2
The Employee has the duty to preserve the condition of the housing and furnishings until the termination of this contract. If they are damaged or destroyed, the Employee must restore them to their original state or pay the replacement of the same standard of quality.
피고용자는 제공된 숙소와 기본적인 가구 일체를 계약일이 끝나는 날까지 원상보존 할 의무가 있으며, 파손 시에는 원상으로 복구하거나 동일 수준의 대체품을 구비하는데 필요한 비용을 부담하여야 한다.



2.3
In case, the Employer is not providing the housing for Employee, Employer shall provide Employee with 400,000 won per month as the housing allowance.
고용주가 숙소를 제공하지 않는 경우 고용자는 피고용자에게 매월 40만원의 주거비를 지원한다




3.
AIRFARE
항공 요금



On the completion of one year contract, the Employer will provide the Employee a onetime return airfare allowance of 700,000 won instead of providing air ticket.
피고용인이 1년간의 계약기간을 완료하는 경우 고용인은 항공권대신 항공료수당(70만원)을 피고용인에게 지불한다.

,We will pay 700,000won for airplane if you recontract with our school /.
재계약을 할 경우도 항공료 70만원은 지불한다.




4
HEALTH PLAN
건강 보험



The Employer will pay 50% of the premium for the Employee’s private health plan; Insurance for a Foreign Travelers, which is provided by the Employer and is administered through the Employer. The Employee will be responsible for remaining 50 percent of the costs.
고용주는 피고용인의 사보험(외국인여행자보험) 가입 시 보험료의 반을 부담하며 그에 관한 것은 고용주가 관장한다. 그 외의 제반 비용은 피고용인이 부담한다.




5
SEVERANCE PAY
퇴직금



The Employer will pay severance to the Employee upon completion of the contract. The amount of the severance pay will be equal to one month of salary (2,200,000 won), and if necessary, applicable government deductions will be subtracted.
고용주는 피고용인이 12 개월의 계약기간을 종료 할 시 1개월 급여액(220 만원)을 퇴직금으로 지불하며 만일 필요하다면 정당한 법적 공제액을 공제한다.










6.
PAID VACATION
유급 휴가


7.1
The Employee will be given 10 working days as paid vacation per year. The Employee is entitled to five (5) days of leave during the school’s vacation period in each semester; 5days in the School’s Summer Vacation and 5days in the School’s Winter Vacation. Employer shall decide the period of Paid Vacation according to Employer’s schedule.
Days in which the Employee does not regularly work i.e., Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays are not to be considered as part of the vacation period.
피고용인은 1년에 10일의 정규근무 일을 유급 휴가로 받는다. 피고용인에게 각 학기마다 학원의 방학기간 동안 5일씩의 휴가가 주어진다; 여름방학에 5일과 겨울방학에 5일. 피고용인의 유급휴가는 고용인이 고용인의 스케줄에 따라 지정된다.
정규근무 일이 아닌 날 예를 들어 토요일과 일요일 또는 국경일등은 유급휴가 기간에 포함되지 않는다.


7.2
The Employee will be paid for all national holidays and not be expected to work during these days other than on a special occasion in which the Employee agrees to work voluntarily.
피고용인의 급여는 법정 공휴일에도 지급 되며, 피고용인이 자발적으로 동의한 특별한 경우 외에는 근무하지 않는다.






IV.
RENEWAL & TERMINATION OF CONTRACT
재계약과 계약 파기


1.
RENEWAL
재계약


1.1
The Employee must give the Employer a written 60-day notice before renewal or non-renewal of the Employee’s current contract.
피고용인은 고용주에게 재계약 가부 여부를 해당 계약서가 만료되기 60일 전에 서면으로 통고해야 한다.



1.2
Both the Employer and the Employee reserve the option to renew the contract.
고용주와 피고용인 양측은 공히 재계약 선택에 관한 권리를 가지며, 아이들의 안정된 교육을 위해 최대한 재계약을 하도록 노력한다.



2.
TERMINATION OF CONTRACT
계약 파기


2.1
Both parties will give at least a written 45-day notice prior to the termination date of the contract. If the Employee terminates their employment without providing 45 days notice, unless agreed upon by the Employer, the Employee will be responsible to pay the daily wage for each day under 45 days, as well as all bills associated with housing, utilities, and management fees for the apartment provided for them by the Employer.
쌍방은 계약파기 의사를 문서화하여 계약 파기일 45일 전에 서로에게 통보하여야 한다. 만약 피고용인이 고용인과의 동의 없이 45일전에 계약을 종료하는 경우 잔여일 만큼의 일 급여와 숙소 임차료, 공과금, 관리비 등의 납부 의무를 진다.



2.2
The Employer retains the right to terminate the contract immediately if:
고용주는 다음과 같은 사항에 의해서 계약을 즉각 파기할 수 있는 권리가 있다.




a.
The Employee is unable to meet the responsibilities or conditions required for employment such as being late for class on a continuous basis; continuous failure to keep regularly scheduled class times and repeated absences from classes without a valid reason.
피고용인이 영어강사로서 본인의 책임과 의무를 실행하지 못할 경우; 예를 들어 연속적인 지각, 정해진 수업 시간을 이행하지 않을 경우, 또는 합당한 이유 없이 계속 결근할 경우.




b.
The Employee teaches off the Employer’s property.
피고용인이 고용인이 정한 근무처가 아닌 기타의 곳에서 수업을 진행 한 경우.




c.
The Employee uses illegal drugs or is intoxicated during work hours.
피고용인이 불법 약물 복용이나 음주상태에서 근무를 할 경우.




d.
The Employee participates in any type of criminal activity or corruption of public morals that violates the laws of the Republic of South Korea.
피고용인이 대한민국 법에 어긋나는 불법행위를 하였거나 범죄행위에 연루 되었을 경우.




e.
The Employee receives written warnings from the Employer on 3 occasions.
피고용인이 고용인으로부터 3회 이상의 서면 경고를 받았을 경우.




f.
The Employee tells others about their own employment contract details.
피고용이 자신의 고용계약 내용을 다른 사람에게 말하는 경우



2.3
If, for any reason, the contract is terminated before the full completion of the contract period:
만일 어떠한 이유로든 본 계약이 계약기간 완료 전에 파기될 경우에는:




a.
The Employee will not qualify for benefits such as severance pay and airfare.
피고용인은 퇴직금과 항공편에 대한 혜택 등을 받지 못한다.




b.
The Employee will be wholly responsible for any utilities/maintenance and phone bills remaining for the duration of their housing lease.
피고용인은 고용주가 제공한 숙소에서 거주한 기간 동안에 발생한 제반 잔여 비용에 전적으로 책임을 진다.



2.4
Within 14-days the Employee is required to sign a notice of termination and accompany the Employer to the Korean Immigration office to notify the Korean Immigration office of the termination.
피고용인은 계약이 파기된 날자를 기준으로 하여 14일 안에 고용주와 동반하여 법무부 출입국 관리 사무소에 계약파기에 관한 사실을 통고하여야 한다.






V.
VENUE FOR DISPUTES BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE
고용주와 피고용인간의 분쟁에 관한 입장


1.
The appropriate laws of the Republic of Korea will govern this contract. However, while both parties enter into this contract with total honesty and integrity, disputes may sometimes occur. In such cases, both parties will be bound by all terms and conditions of this contract and will try to resolve the difference in a civil manner that is fair to both parties. In the event that no solution can be found for a problem and either party decides to terminate this contract, they must do so in accordance with Section IV, 2 above. Upon such termination, both parties will agree to remain civil and to speak honestly and fairly about their experiences and not in a disrespectful manner.
본 계약서는 대한민국의 합법적인 법규의 적용을 받게 된다. 그러나 양측이 정직한 양심으로 계약 체결에 들어갔어도 종종 분쟁이 일어날 수 있다. 그럴 경우, 양측은 본 계약서에 명시된 계약기간과 조건들을 지켜서 양측간의 이견을 공정하고도 정중한 방법으로 조정해 나가야 할 것이다. 분쟁 사건에 있어 해결점을 찾기 어려운 경우나 어느 한 측이 계약을 파기하고자 할 경우에는, 위에 명시된 4조 2항의 조항들을 지켜야 한다. 이렇게 계약이 종결된 경우에는 양측은 정중한 태도를 유지하면서 서로간의 예의를 지켜 불미스러운 일이 없도록 해야 할 것이다.





VI.
FULL KNOWLEDGE
숙지

1.
GOOD FAITH
상호 신뢰


The Employer and the Employee will act in good faith toward each other. The Employer will not dismiss the Employee without what reasonably is considered good cause and the Employee will do their utmost to satisfactorily fulfill all the responsibilities and meet all the conditions as described in the above agreement.
고용주와 피고용인은 상호간의 신뢰를 바탕으로 행동한다. 고용주는 비합리적이거나 정당한 사유 없이 피고용인을 해고하지 않을 것이며, 피고용인은 본 계약서 내용에 적힌 본인의 의무와 책임을 최선을 다해 이행한다.




2.
CHANGES TO CONTRACT
계약서의 변경


The Employer and the Employee agree that they have read the Employment Contract in its entirety and no other verbal agreement, statement or promise made on or before the effective date of this contract will be binding on the parties. Any changes made must be in writing and signed by both parties to be included in this contract. Any changes made to this contract without the knowledge and written consent of both parties are to be considered invalid.
고용주와 피고용인은 본 계약서의 모든 내용을 숙지하며 분 계약서의 유효일 전 구두로 오간 어떠한 약속이나 합의 등, 본 계약서 적혀 있지 않는 한 서로에게 무효하다. 그 어떠한 변경사항이 있을 시에는 문서화 하여 쌍방의 숙지 아래 서명을 하여 본 계약서에 명시를 하여야 하며, 구두로나 그 어떠한 다른 형식으로 이루어진, 문서화 되지 않은 쌍방이 모르는 내용에 관해선 무효이다.




3.
TRANSFERAL OF CONTRACT
계약서의 이전


Under no circumstances can the Employer exchange, give, sell, or transfer this contract or the services of the Employee to another party or Institute without the written consent of the Employee.
그 어떠한 경우에도 고용주는 피고용인의 문서화된 동의 없이 본 계약서를 다른 고용주에게 양도, 또는 매매 할 수 없다.



4.
LANGUAGE OF CONTRACT
계약서의 언어


The language of this contract is written in English and Korean. In the event of a dispute, the English version of this contract will prevail.
본 계약서는 영문과 한국어로 작성되어있지만 동일한 내용으로 작성되었으므로 양쪽 다 같이 유효하다.




VII.
ADDITIONS TO CONTRACT
계약서에 첨부할 사항

All other matters not stated above will be based on Korean relevant laws and regulations including The Labor Standards Act, Regulations about employment and ********** regulations
위에서 언급되지 않은 제반 사항은 근로기준법, 취업규칙 그리고*****어학원 사규를 포함하는 한국법규에 따른다.


Employer: 정 규 용
서울 구로구 신도림동 푸르지오 1차 101동 5층
㈜*******


고용주: 정 규 용

[ttompatz]

3.3% tqax rate and 50% of the cost of travelers insurance.
Prepare to get screwed.

Tax for a single on 2.2M KRW is only 2%.
~3% for National Health Insurance.
4.5% for national Pension (matched by the employer and refunded on departure from Korea).

3.3% and travelers insurance (covers nothing) means you are being treated like an independent subcontractor (illegal under Korean labor law).

.

[S3raph1m]

Well, I haven't signed the contract, so I don't have to do it. What is the ideal then? I can immediately start looking at other schools.

[S3raph1m]

I guess I'm kind of ignorant on what I should be looking for. So, a position should absolutely have pension included and I should be on the National health insurance plan?

[nicwr2002]

"In special cases, the Employee may be asked to work on a weekend or on a national holiday. If this occurs, the Employee shall be granted 1 vacation day to be taken at a time and place of their designation in exchange for each day the Employee has worked during a national holiday or weekend. This, however, is not applicable to events mentioned in section II.3 (see below). The set schedule is not applicable to certain cases such as the summer and winter intensive course periods. "

Yea, expect them to forget about this in the contract. You'll work those extra days without getting another day off in return. They won't be able to cover your classes if you take a random day off, so they won't give it to you. You'll probably be expected to attend the graduation ceremony on a Saturday. There may also be some kind of company meeting on a Saturday every 3 months.

That health insurance is useless here. You will have to pay up front for everything and you won't get much returned back to you. You have to keep your receipts and fax them to the insurance company, and in my experience it is significantly less than just having national insurance. That also means you are losing out on that pension money. At 2.2 that amounts to another months salary at the end of your contract. So potentially you could get 3 salaries when you finish: normal salary, severance, pension.

After saying that about the insurance, most places that I've worked at have done similar things. I've only worked at two places that offered health insurance and pension. Even the Korean teachers didn't get insurance and pension.

[S3raph1m]

Ah, so this kind of behavior is normal then? As a recent college grad with no experience and no at home teaching certification, is this about the best I can hope for?

[CentralCali]

Regarding word choice in class: this shows the school has a history of extremely badly behaved students. The students were so horrid, teachers quit after telling the students the truth about the students.

The overtime section is illegal as it is making overtime work mandatory. "It is expected..." obviously takes precedence over "if the Employee chooses...

I am not sanguine about the insurance scheme in that contract. First off, you will not be a foreign traveler; you will be a foreign workers. Second, as noted by others, you are not guaranteed NPS.

Regarding renewal/non-renewable: you are not required to give any notice at all, by law. The employer, on the other hand, is required by law to give 30 days notice or 30 days pay in lieu.

I don't see anyone so desperate for work to sign that contract. If that's the best offer you have gotten, take your mind off Korea.

[S3raph1m]

Ok, thanks for all the information guys. I really appreciate it. I've applied to a bunch of different positions and have opened up my job search to include different cities in South Korea. Just reviewing the postings on the job board, I've found positions that look a lot better (and include pension/the right insurance!). Hopefully something else works out.

[PRagic]

At least you checked here FIRST and saved yourself a lot of b.s. down the road. You'd be surprised how many just sign away, get here, get screwed, and THEN come on the board asking what they can do. To boot, a lot of them actually then get defensive. Classic.

Now that you have some good info, you'll better be able to deal with recruiters and schools. Best of luck finding a poper position.