Korean Job Discussion Forums

[longlivetheclash]

Hello all,

I'm revisiting Korea in October to teach English for a year and have a couple of questions. I understand that teaching private lessons outside of the Hagwon is prohibited? Is this practice illegal? Any comments?
As for overtime, I noticed that on most job postings Hagwons list a separate wage for hours worked over the minimum hours listed on the contract. If I am readily available to work overtime, is it something that I can count on fairly consistently? Any recommendstions for Hagwons in Seoul that offer plenty of overtime? By the way, I prefer to teach elementary school (6-12 years old) aged children. Please advise.

Thanks in advance,
Longlivetheclash

[Carla]

[warren pease]

Beware of overtime, read you contract. Many contracts will quote an overtime rate that is actually less than your normal wage.

[longlivetheclash]

Bukowski, right?

Thanks. Is it typically offered even at the low rate? Will it be paid if I work it?

Should I rely solely on my base salary for total income?

How about summer camps? Any information? Can I teach at a summer camp in conjunction with my primary school for extra income?

[Carla]

[iammac2002]

I once had to teach a kid a few lessons in my free time because she was absent. Was I paid for that over time? Noooo! Glad I'm not in that hagwon anymore!

[Cohiba]

Korea has some outdated, racist and economically non viable laws
regarding employment. Therefore, I see no reason to follow
them. In fact, these E2 laws were pushed through by the hagwon
lobby group and do not help Korea in the least. In fact, over protection
and arbitrary regulations are a sure sign of a weak, paranoid and
under-developed society.

I have been teaching here since 1996 and may/may not have been
engaged in freelance work throughout that entire time. In fact, everyone
I know may/may not be doing the exact same thing. They have never
been caught, hassled or had any problems whatsoever.

Just stay away from freelance teaching at institutions of any kind.

[iammac2002]

[warren pease]

Bukowski, yes.

You cannot legally work outside of you school. Attempting to pay taxes will most likely just get you into a heap of trouble.

I've never met anyone who had steady overtime at their school. I have, however, known a couple people whose school have done complex mathematics to force them to work a ton of hours (teaching and otherwise) while ensuring that they would never have to pay them overtime.

Honestly, I would love/hate to find some freelance work, but in my two years of being here I have only had 1/zero offer(s). I have noticed that if you are an attractive female or a university professor you might have a much better chance of finding/avoiding privates.

[Carla]

[iammac2002]

[iammac2002]

[thegadfly]

Warren Pease/Bukowski,

I have had consistent overtime at my school -- you haven't met me, so your statement stands, but such a thing does exist. It can depend on a lot of factors, and it certainly isn't the norm for folks in general, but *I* have always found it wherever I have worked in Korea...or perhaps it found me.

Just sayin' it exists....

[Teelo]

In before thread lock.

[Cohiba]