Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

I went to my local NPS office today to file for my pension refund to find that part of my pension money has not been paid to NPS by my employer. It has not been paid for the months of September, October, November, and December. The pension officer told me that my school has paid late every time and that they will seek to get the money or I would be paid only what is in the account. My Korean friend who went with me told me that if my employer doesn't pay all of it to NPS, the director could be removed from her job by the Korean government and the hagwon would be penalized.

Is this true?


What should I do at this point?

Yes, I am leaving in one week as I am finishing my contract. I am also concerned about the 4.5 million won my employer owes me next week.

My Korean friend told me it is uncommon for Koreans to have these sorts of problems. I told him that many foreigners do have money problems with corrupt directors of these hagwon academies. He says not to worry.

[Atavistic]

What has your school said?

[sojourner1]

I haven't talked to the school yet. We are on vacation right now until next Wednesday and the pension officer nor myself could get my director on the phone.

[PGF]

sorry for your troubles. quick question: are you having the pension money deposited in your bank account in korea or back home? thanks

a friend has his wired into a local back a few months back but my wife talked to the pension office and they said that they have to wire it to a state side account..... *confused....

[denverdeath]

[sojourner1]

I am having it sent to my home account. It shouldn't matter if it's Korean, American, or Lillipollution; the hagwons should be paying the pension money to NPS without me having to remind them or forcing me to have an unpleasant conversation with my director.

Again, it nerves me that Koreans in power make you talk about money in an uncomfortable manner and renegotiate a contract and business relationship again and again. What an insult. I feel we should all go home and let them keep their fraudulent ways to themselves or reconsider how to protect and enforce foreign worker rights. Honestly, people, this is a sham scam of deception these hagwon academies are doing to everyone; teachers, parents, and students. It's not much different than a boiler room operation just putting on a good, but false image.

I really gave it a good thought today if I should give another year of my life to Korea and I decided not to as they are always trying to get over on me when it comes to money and are not sincere. There are many ways to make $30,000 a year in much less polluted environments with friendlier folks. I will always tell people in the world to watch the money when doing business deals of any sort over here. They will tell you there delivering payment while you deliver your goods or services and then you find you're getting stung despite it being illegal. The cultural and legal environment just allows for corruptions in business office settings; not that Koreans are the most evil, because that just is not the case. All people in the world can scam you if you let them or they can simply get away with it in a weak legal environment that doesn't value accountability.


Honestly, how much is accountability valued and practiced in Korea when it comes to business managers, directors, and executives?

[PGF]

[sojourner1]

PGF, you should have no problem as long as your employer paid all monies into NPS.

You might consider just checking your balance to see that your school paid since you're staying in Korea, especially if you already have a new visa in the works. If your current employer paid NPS, then it's all good. I think I would take it every year and put it into a savings account if I were any teacher who teaches in Korea multiple years.

I understand you can let the account build for as long as 10 years before you're ineligible for a refund, but that application for refund must be done in Korea.

I am taking it even though I planned on coming back to Korea for another year and then I might not ever come back to Korea. As nothing is guaranteed, you might as well take it while you're still in Korea. You might as well withdraw all your money from your Korean bank account each time as well when you leave as you never know if you're not allowed to come back with all these new and changing immigration policies coming about.

[gmat]

You can get your money deposited to your Korean account as long as you have an outward ticket to show them. Not a problem and an added bonus is that you can sometimes receive the $$$ in a few days (with an on-the-ball officer at the NPS).

[soju pizza]

MODS! Make this a sticky!

[sconner]

[Young FRANKenstein]