Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MShenko]

Howdy, all. This is my first posting at Dave's.

I just landed a one-year contract with a program called English World in Gyeongju, South Korea through Think Outside recruiting.

Has anybody had any experience with Think Outside or English World?

What are the chances of my contract being broken? Any contractual language that frequently leads to contract-breaking?

This is my first ESL position, so I have LOTS to think about and consider.


Let me know!

[xCustomx]

Does "landing a one-year contract" mean that you signed it?

[MShenko]

Yes, I signed it...

...very quickly, too. I just found out that oral contracts are king in Korea and that written contracts are virtually meaningless.

[Whistleblower]

[MShenko]

This agreement is entered into by MShenko, the Employee or Instructor, and Hyongduck Kim, the Employer of English World Institute in Kyong-Ju.

Contract Period

Employee is hired by Employer as an English Conversation Instructor for the following period: From May , 2008 to May , 2009 .
Work Schedule
The number of teaching hours will be less than 120 hours per month.
Employee is expected to work five days per week.(Monday to Friday)

Salary and Bonus

1. Basic starting salary per month is 2.2 million (W 2,200,000) won, based on a work schedule of 120 teaching hours per month. Salary will be paid monthly, on the normal payday for instructors.

2. Overtime rate is W20,000 per hour, for each hour that exceeds teaching hours per month. (on completion of 1 year contract, employee will receive the amount of one month salary as a bonus)

Salary, Overtime, and Bonus are subject to Korean income and resident taxes (typically5-7%).

Transportation

The Employer will pay for an economy one-way ticket to Korea from the nearest International airport to the Employee's home. A return ticket will be provided back to the nearest International airport to the Employee's home upon completion of the Employee's 1-year contract. In case the Employee fails to complete the contract by his or her own fault/reason, the Employee shall pay back to the Employer the total amount of the airfare (expected to be about 800,000 to 1,500,000 won).

Housing

Employer will provide a safe rent-free apartment for the Employee. Employee pays his/her share of utilities and building maintenance fees. The apartment provided shall be a studio apartment with no room mates. The apartment shall have a kitchen, western-style bathroom with hot water, and household furnishing

Health Insurance

Employer agrees to provide basic health insurance and pay 50% of the monthly premium, if requested.
Dental, optical and pre-existing conditions are not includes.
Mental or alcoholic problems diagnosed by doctor should be mentioned before signing the contract.
If not mentioned, this can be considered a breach of contract.

Holiday and Tardiness

Employee is not required to work on Korean holidays (13-15 per year).
Employee is permitted an additional ten paid vacation days. The school will give the teacher five days vacation during summer and a week vacation during winter. The vacation days must be used on the school vacation.
Employee is allowed 3 sick days per year

Employer may deduct one (1) hour of pay for tardiness if Employee is more than 10 minutes late for a class session without prior notification.

Employee Duties

Employee, as an English Teacher, will instruct students faithfully in conversational English according to the methods used by the Employer. Adequate class preparation is expected. Employee will be provided with books and materials necessary to conduct classes, and may adopt supplementary books and materials with the permission of the Employer. Employee will endeavor to enhance the image and promote the educational purpose of the school, and to that end, will act responsibly and follow the instructions of the Employer in good faith.

Release from Contract

Both parties have the right to terminate this contract under one or more of the following conditions:

Employee or Employer does not complete the terms as required of them according to this contract; or
The health of Employee becomes such that it is deemed impossible for him/her to continue teaching; or
Blatant misconduct by Employee or Employer either professionally or otherwise; or Employee or dependents, or Employer violate Korean law; or
Employee is advised to leave the country by his government or the Korean government in the event of war or civil strife; or
False or misleading documents attesting to the Employee's qualifications, persistent blatant and gross misconduct, conducting classes in an intoxicated state, sexual harassment by Employee, Employer or Students, continual absence and/or tardiness for classes.

Notification Requirement: Employer or Employee may terminate the contract by giving the non-terminating party a minimum of two (2) months advance notice in writing. If the Employee terminates the contract (except for Employer contract violations or unavoidable reasons such as the Employee's serious illness or accident), or if the Employer terminates the contract for reasons of blatant misconduct, the Employee should repay the expenses incurred by the Employer for the invitation (i.e., the cost of one-way airfare to Korea).

All parties agree to the conditions of this contract in good faith, and will endeavor to resolve disputes as gentle person's, willing to compromise, but will submit to the ultimate Judgement of Korean Civil Law for any unresolved disputes arising from matters herein or not addressed herein.

[Whistleblower]

Contract Period

Employee is hired by Employer as an English Conversation Instructor for the following period: From May , 2008 to May , 2009 .

Exact dates including day, month, year.

Work Schedule
The number of teaching hours will be less than 120 hours per month.
Employee is expected to work five days per week.(Monday to Friday)

What does less than 120 hours mean? I would recommend that you get the times you start work and finish. Do the hours just include teaching? What about preparation time?

Salary and Bonus
1. Basic starting salary per month is 2.2 million (W 2,200,000) won, based on a work schedule of 120 teaching hours per month. Salary will be paid monthly, on the normal payday for instructors.

When is payday? What day is it? What if some classes get cancelled and you teach less than 120 hours a day? 2.2 million is very low for teachers this year. The price of oil, food etc have increased and they should pay more!

2. Overtime rate is W20,000 per hour, for each hour that exceeds teaching hours per month. (on completion of 1 year contract, employee will receive the amount of one month salary as a bonus)

Salary, Overtime, and Bonus are subject to Korean income and resident taxes (typically5-7%).

I like that some Koreans believe that income tax is 5 to 7%. It is incredibly expensive income tax in Korea for this school.

Transportation

The Employer will pay for an economy one-way ticket to Korea from the nearest International airport to the Employee's home. A return ticket will be provided back to the nearest International airport to the Employee's home upon completion of the Employee's 1-year contract. In case the Employee fails to complete the contract by his or her own fault/reason, the Employee shall pay back to the Employer the total amount of the airfare (expected to be about 800,000 to 1,500,000 won).

Completely unfair to pay back the airfare. They are inviting you to Korea and they should pay up for the flight there and back home.

Housing

Employer will provide a safe rent-free apartment for the Employee. Employee pays his/her share of utilities and building maintenance fees. The apartment provided shall be a studio apartment with no room mates. The apartment shall have a kitchen, western-style bathroom with hot water, and household furnishing

What furninshing is included? They need to provide an list of what is included in the apartment.

Health Insurance

Employer agrees to provide basic health insurance and pay 50% of the monthly premium, if requested.
Dental, optical and pre-existing conditions are not includes.
Mental or alcoholic problems diagnosed by doctor should be mentioned before signing the contract.
If not mentioned, this can be considered a breach of contract.

This is so funny. They should offer by law National Health Insurance not some basic health insurance. The NHI covers some dental etc.

Holiday and Tardiness

Employee is not required to work on Korean holidays (13-15 per year).
Employee is permitted an additional ten paid vacation days. The school will give the teacher five days vacation during summer and a week vacation during winter. The vacation days must be used on the school vacation.
Employee is allowed 3 sick days per year

Employer may deduct one (1) hour of pay for tardiness if Employee is more than 10 minutes late for a class session without prior notification.

You are entitled to use your vacation when you want not when the school wants. Prepare to bend over and grab your ankles.

Employee Duties

Employee, as an English Teacher, will instruct students faithfully in conversational English according to the methods used by the Employer. Adequate class preparation is expected. Employee will be provided with books and materials necessary to conduct classes, and may adopt supplementary books and materials with the permission of the Employer. Employee will endeavor to enhance the image and promote the educational purpose of the school, and to that end, will act responsibly and follow the instructions of the Employer in good faith.

So 120 hours per month plus preparation is going to be more like 150 hours per month. I think you signed a bad job.

Release from Contract

Both parties have the right to terminate this contract under one or more of the following conditions:

Employee or Employer does not complete the terms as required of them according to this contract; or
The health of Employee becomes such that it is deemed impossible for him/her to continue teaching; or
Blatant misconduct by Employee or Employer either professionally or otherwise; or Employee or dependents, or Employer violate Korean law; or
Employee is advised to leave the country by his government or the Korean government in the event of war or civil strife; or
False or misleading documents attesting to the Employee's qualifications, persistent blatant and gross misconduct, conducting classes in an intoxicated state, sexual harassment by Employee, Employer or Students, continual absence and/or tardiness for classes.

Notification Requirement: Employer or Employee may terminate the contract by giving the non-terminating party a minimum of two (2) months advance notice in writing. If the Employee terminates the contract (except for Employer contract violations or unavoidable reasons such as the Employee's serious illness or accident), or if the Employer terminates the contract for reasons of blatant misconduct, the Employee should repay the expenses incurred by the Employer for the invitation (i.e., the cost of one-way airfare to Korea).

All parties agree to the conditions of this contract in good faith, and will endeavor to resolve disputes as gentle person's, willing to compromise, but will submit to the ultimate Judgement of Korean Civil Law for any unresolved disputes arising from matters herein or not addressed herein.

So nothing is mentioned about pension and the tax is well over the average income tax for employees. I am sorry but this contract is highly unprofessional and hastily written. I hope you didn't sign it for your sake. You can do better than this. Move on and look at public schools.

[MShenko]

It sounds straightforward enough...

...but to hear that it really means little or nothing is very disheartening.

I'm going to do this one way or the other, but I just don't want to wind up scouting my way home after being seriously burned by some no-name school.

[Whistleblower]

There is a sample contract on the EPIK website and I recommend that you look at this STANDARD CONTRACT. It is a benchmark for other contracts and if the public schools offer this then your contract is poor for the Hagwon.

Please look at the link below:

http://epik.knue.ac.kr/sub2/sub2_4.asp

[MShenko]

Indeed. After looking at THAT contract, the one posted pales considerably.

I have other offers. I'll look into those.

[poet13]

Would like to suggest you go back and edit your real name out of your posts.

[MShenko]

Wow.......thanks, poet. Ahem.

[biggpoppa]

who are you working with at thinkoutside?
like who is your recruiter?

[rhinocharge64]

Run, run and run chico!!

[cdninkorea]

[MShenko]

At Think Outside I've been working with Aejin...

"run run"......school sounds pretty terrific, eh?