Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aphase]

I don't know if many of you have heard of this agency, but they post every once in awhile on worknplay. Basically it's an agency that places you in after school programs around seoul and kyungido. I recently interviewed for one of the jobs they had posted, but I found out that not all was what it seemed. For example, they usually post salary as being something like 2.7, and mention that housing allowance is also offered. when I went there to sign the contract I noticed that the housing allowance is actually included in the salary. Another thing is that they will tell you that the posted salary was a mistake, and that the actual salary is 100,000 won less than what was posted. I found this to be a flat out lie. When you don't accept the position they repost the high salary to apparently lure in other foriegners.

After finding out about the actual salary i thought it wasn't too bad so I accepted the position. They ask to make a separate bank account they have control over that the public school can deposit funds in and then the agency moves the funds from that account to your personal account. Basically you don't have any control over or any access to the bank account that you make for them which they have access to. I thought that was suspicious behavior. The thing that really got me angry though was that I noticed when I made the bank account for them that they stamped the bank book with a name stamp that had my name on it. Basically when they stamp that bankbook with the stamp and keep it, they have your legal signature. Those stamps can be used to sign legal documents etc under your name. Stamping the bank book ties that stamp to you and makes it your legal signature. They will try to keep that name stamp. I know many people might not know this so I thought I would post this as a warning in case no one was aware. After finding this out, I told them I wanted the bank book and name stamp back because I didn't want to be liable for their misuse. I also refused to work there because of their suspicious behavior. Making a signature stamp for someone in Korea without their knowledge is infact illegal in korea. I made them also sign a document saying they made that stamp without my knowledge.

Anyways, being that I'm on an F4 visa, the fact that I canceled the contract doesn't really affect me since they don't sponsor my visa. However other foreigners who have them sponsor an E2 visa for them can have quite a bit of trouble. If it doesn't bother you that an agency has control over your legal signature, then by all means take the position, but I would be careful.

[cdninkorea]

WIN is quite famous as one a shady after-school program. I had an interview with them myself (took a different job though) and met a few people who have worked with them, all of whom have stories like yours.

What was their reaction when you made a (justified) fuss about the bankbook thing?

[aphase]

It was funny actually. I asked about why they needed a separate bank book, and they wouldn't give me a straight answer. They just kept saying the school deposits the funds into an account with my name and that the agency would deposit funds from that account to my personal account. I heard from some others later on that agency's who choose this route do so because of money laundering. When I asked why they need to have possession of my signature stamp they said that was the only way they could transfer the funds. I then pointed out that I've transferred money countless times to other accounts without needing anything except a bank book or bank card.
I couldn't understand why they would need possession of my signature stamp.

Anyways after I sent an email to them on the day I was to meet the principal saying that I wasn't going to work for them they didn't even try to call me or contact me by email to convince me to go. This leads me to believe that they knew they were in the wrong. I don't think they would come after me for canceling the contract anyways since I essentially made them sign a letter which stated they made the stamp without my knowledge, which is an illegal act in Korea, and thus the letter pretty much says they admit guilt to doing something illegal

I had to wait a couple hours to get my signature stamp back because apparently it was locked away in a cabinet, and the guy who had the key was out of the office. Anyways I found that the agency has a valid signature stamp for all their current employees. There was no mention of making a stamp in the contract and the only reason I knew about it was because I can read korean and saw them stamp that bank book at the bank with that signature stamp. I wouldn't be surprised if current teachers didn't know the agency possessed signature stamps in their names.

I'm just glad to be done with the whole mess, but I hope that people who are considering working for them or who do work for them currently realize that they are doing this.

[anyangoldboy]

The bank book thing is just standard...After-school jobs are kind of illegal if working for a recuiter so the school has to legally pay you and not them and then they pay you...

That's why they need you to open a bank account and give them power of something or another...

Just the standard thing they do...

[Ilsanman]

The bankbook thing is standard, true.

I am negotiating with that same company right now. I am bargaining from a position of power, so if they don't give me what I want, I won't work there. They sau they have 'many candidates' but somehow I doubt that.

I will get allowances to leave at an earlier hour than what they normally state, the full wage, and starting date that I want or I won't work for them.

OP, do they pay on time? And the full amount?

[aphase]

I can't really say if they pay on-time as i didn't actually go through with the job. I canceled right before I met the principle. Although the bank book thing is standard for many afterschool programs, I suspect that some places do this for laundering money, as I heard this from a hakwon owner who has heard of this. I'm not saying that Win Education does this specifically. When i was trying to think of why afterschool agencies would launder money I would suspect it would be something like they make a deal with the principal. The principal accepts their offer of an afternoon program for a cut, but he can't get money deposited directly from the school budget to him, or the agency because that would look suspicious. Maybe they send the money to the foreigners account so that they can send it from there to the principal and agency and teacher at the same time? I don't know, but that would sure hide the source if the principal does indeed get a cut.

Anyways I'm guessing the position that they are offering you is the one in Bucheon/Songnae area? Sangdo elementary school? Thats the same position that was offered to me. If you do take the job, I think your right about them not having many candidates. They fed that same line to me but seemed pretty desperate to get things rolling when I applied.
Personally I don't want to work for a place like that as I see them as being dishonest because of the whole signature stamp deal. If they asked me before hand it would have been fine because I could have refused, but the fact they made it without my permission is what pissed me off.

[Ilsanman]

Well they want me to start next week and I can't. That's the big one. And I don't like their forced prep hours. If they bend on those 2 points, I may work for them. But I'm not counting on it.