Korean Job Discussion Forums

eleruen · Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Location: Bundang, South Korea

Korean law states that 8 hours = one hour break for all workers, korean and foreign So most employers will give you a 9 hour day to get the one hour break, which is fine.

BUT when a hagwon teaches 6 hours in a block with no break only pays for these hours and then sends you home, surely this is illegal? Surely we would be entitled to 45 minutes within this? or maybe you need so be in the hagwon for 7 hours to get the 45minutes?

Thanks

dragon777 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007

Eleruen: see you and hear you brother. However your complaint will go

no where as we have no real voice in this country.

eleruen · Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Location: Bundang, South Korea

I'm a woman haha but I did not make this clear.

I was just checking to see if my thinking is correct, or if I have got the wrong end of the stick.

As an F2-1 visa holder I am turning down places which don't follow the law.

But I am worried because there is a lot more competiton than before Sad

dragon777 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007

Well sister then. It does not really matter, but from my experience forget the west, and just do your six hours and get the hell out of you work place and be happy. Who really wants to hang around for an extra 45 minutes?

eleruen · Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Location: Bundang, South Korea

Just read the law document posted as a sticky. Turns out I was correct.

My point is that you don't hang around for an extra 45 minutes. you should get it in the middle of your schedule, probably for lunchtime.

However a good teacher who is passionate over delivering the best possible education (within the constraints of the hagwon or school) will spend time preparing for the class, either at home or at the school after the classes are over. I am professional and take my work seriously (as much as possible) so this is something I don't mind doing.

A hagwon that is breaking the law speaks volumes on how they generally treat their teachers.

I am looking for a workplace that cares about its kids and teachers as well as making money. I know that this is rare....but I will battle on in my search for a more professional hagwon.

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

You actually get 2 45-minute breaks on your 6-hour block -- one before the block starts, and one after the block finishes....

Good luck in your search, though that particular issue as a sticking point seems... odd to me. Then again, if I didn't control the AC in my room (that is, if there were a master control elsewhere, or someone else at the school set/controlled it), I would not have taken this job, so I guess we each have something upon which we will not budge.