Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Simplicity]

Hi,
I've been searching this site for days trying to find out some answers. The search tool doesn't seem to working for me so it's been a lengthy process. I'm still looking for some information. Next year, all going well I'll be married to a Korean and have an F2 visa.

1) I know it's been stated here that you can teach privates with a tutoring license. However, is this only on top of your normal employment e.g. hagwon, university? Or can you work on your own legally doing privates provided you clear your taxes. From what I've read if my spouse is the sole sponser we would have to have 30mil in the bank when applying for the F2 visa?

2) Can anyone point me in the right direction starting up a business (differen than the privates I'm talking about in question 1) in Korea e.g. corporate tax requirements, registering business, start-up procedure, licenses etc. I've found it difficult to find reliable information in English. We are planning on putting the business in her name to avoid the 50mil required start-up. I've read on some sites that you must have an office when starting a business in Korea. Can that be your home address?

Thanks

[meangradin]

You seem to have a few things confused; the tutoring license is only for a home school. There is no legal way to tutor at a student's house. There seems to be a bit of debate as to what you can charge, but when i talked to local officals, i was quoted an obscenely low figure - 73,000 a month, per student. Suffice to say, it was not worth the hassle.

The 30 million you refer to is for an F-5 visa. There is no financial requirement for the F-2, as far as I know. As for owning a business, well, I can't really help you out there.

[Simplicity]

[meangradin]

I have my F-2, and when we applied, we did not have to reveal any of our assets. I can't imagine that many farmers who marry foreigners have the 30 million. As for not working, that's up to you. The F-2 visa is achieved through your wife's family, so you don't need to have a job or a visa through a job to remain in Korea. Of course, what your wife and her family will think of you is another matter

However, the private tutors license is most definetly only for home schools where you can tutor, but there are many rules you are expected to follow. There is NO legal way to teach in a student's home; this applies to Koreans, as well as foreigners.

[Simplicity]

[Juregen]

Because it is not illegal, per se.

[Simplicity]

How about not teaching in private homes but teaching to business English to many different companies or even hospitals? Do you still need a tutoring license or does each company have to employ you on their payroll to do it legally?

[John_ESL_White]

[broken76]

Getting a business license itself isn't too difficult and can be done at the local municipal office. You do need to have an office though when applying for a business license and cannot use a home address. If you don't want to rent a full office there are companies that will sublease you a tiny space for use in registering new businesses.
I would think about hiring a lawyer to help you throughout the process though since it can get complicated and you may need to obtain other licenses for running your business license. Your business license may cover the existence of the business but may not cover what your business does.
If it is a small personal business pretty much everything money wise that comes in is calculated as income. Business deductions are done at the end of the year. Make sure you know what taxes will need to be covered, I'm assuming it'll be a teaching orientated business and the 10%VAT will most likely be necessary.
If you're planning on making it a large business (corporation) the requirements are much higher. Minimum of 50,000,000 won in cash, minimum sized office space, employees, etc. So it probably won't be something you'll want to get into any time soon.

[Simplicity]

thanks! all useful info.