Korean Job Discussion Forums

jek37 · Joined: 16 Jun 2008

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum post-wise but have been reading a lot and just want to say thanks for all the fab advice everyone has contributed Very Happy

I'm planning on coming out to South Korea to teach in August, and have a been offered what appears to be a great job. I'm in touch via email with the current EFL teacher at the school who is very sad to leave, and she had given the school, its manager and the area a glowing report.

Having taken into consideration all the guidelines given in the contract thread, I've read mine thorougly and my only real red flag is this: the school want to take 1 million won out of my first paycheck as a deposit for the apartment. I understand from the posts that this is illegal and I can ask my recruiter for it to be removed from the contract - HOWEVER, I would like to know if you think this will mean the job being offered to someone else. Literally all other areas seem fine, and as I have a personal recommendation I really do want the job; it's just 1 million won is a lot to lose out of my first paycheck.

Has anyone asked for the deposit to be removed and had success?

Any help would be very much appreciated! Smile

Jade

icicle · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

The deposit is not illegal if you agree to it. And a similar deposit is now a strandard part of the GEPIK contracts. BUT that deposit is not all taken out of the first pay. In that contract 300,000 is taken out of the first 3 pays. I would have real problems with losing 1 million won out of the first pay when you are trying to settle into the country and so might need to buy more things than later on. If that is the only problem that you have with the school - I would personally consider asking for it to be spread over the first few pays rather than taken out all at once. AND make sure that when it is refunded to you is clearly spelt out in the contract - ie it should be refunded to you on your last day - not some time later.

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

I had 600,000 out of my pay for a deposit against my housing and bills (they were under the schools name), last time I was here. I got it all back.

Think of it as a bond on a flat.

Ask your school if they can take 300,000 out a month for the first 3 months

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

VERY good advice. For as many bad schools out there, there have been bad people. Schools need to take precautions, and as long as you get it back, what's the harm.

I would ask why they're so serious about this, though. Have they had runners? If so, why?

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

The previous posts are true; but you must err on the side of caution when (as a rookie) dealing with hogwans in Korea.

You may get a 'good feeling' (they're not exactly going to represent themselves in less than a positve manner... are they?); and the current teacher may say 'good things'.

However, what a current teacher says is not worth a 'pinch of coon shit'. Many will say (or write) anything (under coersion) to get out of a nitemare situation. Ask to speak to/correspond with, a former teacher(s) from the school (and make sure ther are who they say they are).

If they will not let you communicate with a former teacher, and the fact they want to withhold a million won tells me you'd be an idiot if you took the job.

jek37 · Joined: 16 Jun 2008

Thanks for your replies. I think I'll ask for the 3 payments to be spread over the first 3 months, that sounds like a fair compromise and I'm sure they can understand how losing nearly half your first month's salary is problematic.
I have spoken to the previous teacher on the phone as well as swopping emails, but I know my recruiter placed another teacher there so I can always ask for her contact details.

Thanks all Very Happy

big_fella1 · Joined: 08 Dec 2005

Do not accept a 1 million won deposit. This is totally excessive. 300,000 is fairer over 3 months. It is possible to get the bills in your name and tell them where to go completely but as a noo b this would be difficult.

jek37 · Joined: 16 Jun 2008

OK. Thanks for your help Smile

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

This is good advice. Ask your new boss to take the deposit in installments. Also, ask why you must do that. This would be a good time to ask the lady there if this outfit has problems with runners. This sounds like a good place to work, but if runners are a problem, that would be a much bigger concern.

Replace a quitter today, BE a quitter tomorrow.

Golem · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Location: Seoul

I had a problem getting my money back from YBM. I will NEVER work for them again as a result. There are so many jobs that don't require such a deposit. I wouldn't take the job if I was you.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

If it is a public school, don't worry.

If it is a hakwon, don't accept a deposit. Tell them to fly a kite. ANY hakwon that requires a 1 million won deposit up front is extremely unlikely to be a great place to work for. It suggests how they are going to treat you from day 1. Because not only will you lose severance and airfare if you quit, you will also lose 1 million won in addition. They'll likely work you like a dog and if you do a runner, they'll use that 1 million to hire a recruiter to find a new teacher

jadefrog · Joined: 17 Jun 2008

Golem, I would be interested in knowing which YBM you had problems with. It was my understanding that the adult division schools were quite good about returning housing deposits.