Korean Job Discussion Forums

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

1. Can anyone tell me from experience how the money you make at a camp is taxed if you are adding the camp as a second employer legally on an E-2 visa? Is it still only taxed at the 3.3% or is it taxed higher as it is a 2nd job?

2. Has anyone else been having trouble hearing back from the recruiters/schools that are advertising the camp jobs? I find it bizarre as my girlfriend and I have 5-6 years of ESL experience at every level and every type of institution, but nobody seems to want us to work at their camp. We're wondering if the camps actually prefer unqualified teachers, or if they will all be calling us December 31st to start the next Monday, or if there is something else going on that we are not aware about.

I do know that one recruiter told me that they don't hire teachers who are in Korea. It didn't matter that our university will provide a letter giving us permission to work at a camp between semesters. I think that the recruiter was being lazy but she said that it's just easier for them to get new teachers then to add a 2nd employer to current teachers' visas. To me it seems like she is either uninformed or there is an ulterior motive to not wanting teachers who are already in Korea.

At any rate...any advice/information would be appreciated.

acebris · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

I've done about 13 camps and am now a camp recruiter.

In my experience, camps will sometimes not take tax out of your salary at all and pay in cash. Other camps will take out 3.3%, but I don't know where that number comes from.

Everyone in Korea is paranoid about swine flu so companies are holding off telling recruiters how many teachers they'll need (or even if they'll run their camp at all). They're scared that they'll pay for a teacher to get over to Korea, put money into building up resources and hiring a facility - and then get no kids because parents are scared of swine flu spreading.

That being said, camp companies often just don't call you if they don't want you. No rejection letter or phone call. Calling them is probably the best option.