Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bogey666]

I noticed there are after school program positions open - they often pay better than say a "regular" PS school job, yet I assume they are still public school job, or am I wrong in this assumption?

some of them are in desireable locations, either in Seoul or close to it and the working hours are from 1 to 5:30 pm. (and I assume you're free to go home outside of these hours, barring additional lesson planning and such)

what's the CATCH?

Seems at first glance these positions are far more preferable than say others.... so why isn't everyone working those jobs as opposed to others?

[Otherside]

Cons:
1. Normally offer 10 days vacation, vs the 20-25 offered by Public schools.

2. Often the prep time (or expected prep time) eats into your day, making it longer than 1-5:30, (usually 11:30/12-5-30 is what it amounts to, still good though).

3. You actually teach just as many (if not more) classes as a regular ps teacher.

4. Normally, you aren't employed directly by the school, but rather through another company which provides you as a service. As such, any issues regarding pay, healthcare, apartment, severence, airfare etc. has to go through this middle man rather than through your school. These guys have a record of being just as bad as your average hagwon owner - so you wind up working for a PS, without the security a PS position entails.

5. The Bankbook scam. Basically, you open an account and give the bankbook and atm card to the agency. The school then pays into "your" account and the agency withdraws the money, takes their cut and pays you your salary into your "real" bank account. Basically, this moves the tax responsibility from the Agency to the teacher.

[Xuanzang]

Disadvantages to a school run one.

Alleged cutbacks have decreased my fee. It'll be for the special. left behind kidswho get it for free or at a significant discount. Twice a week as well until 4:50.

[sineface]

Just thought it say, in relation to the comments above, it really all depends on who your agency is.

My hours are 1.00 - 5.25. I come in at 12.30, but I leave at 5.25 on the dot. Once a week, my hours are 3.00 - 5.25.

Yeah, the 10 days holiday suck. But no more than hagwons. I'd rather only have 10 days holiday a year than work a PS job from 8-5, and have huge classes of kids.

I have only 5 classes a day. The biggest one has 7 kids.

The "bankbook scam". Yes, it's illegal. I took my chances and haven't had any problems, however. There's a hell of a lot more worrying corruption on this peninsula than that, and I'm pretty sure the powers that be have their hands full dealing with that.

I had a death in the family last year, and they gave me over 3 weeks (unpaid, but that's only fair) leave.

They can be sweet, so don't just listen to the haters.

[Otherside]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I've known people who've worked at after-school programmes getting 2+ for working 1-5PM at elementary schools with generally decent classes. The problem is you have to go through an agency that may be difficult to work with and have unusual banking practices.

[sineface]

[Mr. Susan]

I'm about to take another one by being screwed over by the previous 2. But I'm only here for another 6 months, and figure the less hours I'm around Korean kids the better for my sanity.

[sineface]

[Otherside]

[sineface]

[Joe Boxer]

I think it's a REALLY bad idea to open a bank account and let someone else have your PIN, etc.

There are a LOT of illegal things (besides not paying the taxes) that a person could do in your name.

On a related note, has any foreign teacher tried to walk into the bank with their ID, and withdraw ALL the agency's money on their last month?

[sineface]

[Ukon]

Recently I've had the pleasure the meet one of those companies that is actually legit and very high paying for After school classes....they're pretty widespread......If my PS job sucked I'd probaly jump ship to them.

On the flipside, my ps job + after school classes pays more then pretty much any hagwon. You can arrange it so you work at a PS job during the day and then work at a after school hagwon during the afternoon making a grand total of 4.5+ mil a month....

If your are having the bank book scam done to you what happens is they drop the taxes charges unto you when you want to leave(that they're supposed to pay).....so you have some gigantic as tax bill(from what others have said)...

[cruisemonkey]