Korean Job Discussion Forums

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

I have been offered a job in Ulsan. I know the person I will be replacing. I did the usual stuff about checking out photos of the apartment and all of that. The job seems great. The boss always pays on time. She is helpful with everything. There are 4 real working days with plenty of freedom. The salary is 2.3 million.

However, I have noticed some irregular things in the contract. First, the tax is set at 5%-7%. Also, there is no mention of the pension. When I asked the person I am replacing about this, he confirmed that there is no pension. She has done something to avoid it. She made a mistake, and she was willing to correct it when another teacher brought it to her attention. However, the other teachers there have declined the offer. What to do?

This woman has been quite helpful to me. She is willing to jump through immigration hoops to get my first E-2 issued here in Bangkok. I just thought I would ask before sending my precious original degree and signed contract to Korea.

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

Walk away from the job offer. Sounds like the boss will have you on the books as an independent contractor with an E2 Visa. Impossible for foreigners to be independent and freelance in Korea for E2 Visa holders, but still immigration, the tax office and the education office allow it.

The school need you more than you need them. Remember there are more jobs than native teachers and you can be selective. If a boss is doing things illegal, don't expect to have a good job. They are ripping you and the other teachers off and don't care anything about education. They only care about money and how to increase the financial gain with an expensive teacher at a hagwon (independent contractor).

Tell them to stuff their job up their ass and walk. Btw, what is the name of the school there are people here who maybe able to provide some critique of the school if they know of it.

nomad-ish · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:56 am Post subject:

^ not only that, but if the tax rate is 5-7% and the independent contractor tax rate (which you shouldn't be registered as anyway on an E-2) is 3.3%, she's pocketing a nice bit of change on the side.

also, if you are canadian, american, and i believe australian now, you can get a pension refund, which means (if all goes well) another $1200 or so after you leave.

she'll be saving and making money off you.

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

What about medical? Is that included in the contract as 50/50 with employer?

Are you from a country which would get the pension back when you leave? I know that some people have accepted the independant contractor position because they then didn't have to pay for pension they did not get back. Until Australia came on board 1 July this year it was only US and Canada who did get it back. That is a possible reason for why previous employees did not take up the possibility of getting it.