Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cincynate]

Like an idoit I signed a contract with a 6% tax rate. It reads exactly like this:
A tax of about 6% will be paid to the Korean Government

I didn't realize what I had done until I got my first paycheck and 126,000 won was deducted for taxes on top of 4.5% for pension and 2.3% for health insurance.

My boss gave me a statement showing my deductions. I took it to the NTS office and they said I should be paying 38,500 won per month. They gave me documentation saying so, and a copy of the simplified tax tables to give my boss. I just assumed he had made a mistake. I gave him the documentation, and he told me that his accountant told him he needs to withold 6%, and he gives it all to the government. So back to NTS I went, and they told me he had paid 38,500 won. I confronted him with this information and he said "It's tradition and I already signed the contract for 6%.

What should I do.. It can't be legal to over withold taxes. He basically admitted that he was keeping the money. If that is what I contracted for, amd I screwed?

It really sucks because I otherwise love the job and got along with him really well until this came up.

Thanks for the help all.. and please I know I screwed up.. I don't need anyone telling me I shouldn't have signed the contract.

[sojusucks]

Resign and file with labor against your employer. Find another job. Don't let this continue.

BTW, he's probably cheating you in some other way, too. Check everything.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

Tradition. Yes, your boss may have a point...

[cincynate]

Why are [Mod Edit attributed all of the people of a nationality] such shady characters? To think that its ok to tell someone to their face that they steal from them because it is tradition? Something is wrong with these people. They have no conscience!

N.B. I checked with the pension office and he is making the proper contribution.. 9% of my salary (and taking 4.5% out of my paycheck).

[shifty]

[some waygug-in]

I don't think Hagwon bosses care what other people think of them.

They are more concerned about appearing strong as in

(being able to short-change employees).

A boss who caves in to all employee demands would be considered weak and or not a good businessman.

[cincynate]

[shifty]

I hadn't done the arithmetic and didn't realise it was quite so much.

In day to day it will plague you until it becomes out of all proportion to real magnitude. This is a real problem, a possible souring of attitude in a job that needs a vocational touch, a killer for essential joi de vivre.

In the old days 5% was the limit of cheating, Koreans thinking the Waygukin was most amenable to the round number. But 5% has been slowly driven down to 3.3% where it hovers now.

6% is going back to the dark ages, an insult added to injury.

However, your loss is not so great. Be philosophical about it, both in terms of relatively small amount and widespread cheating in the overall Korean EFL sense.

Your loss will be greater if you make a fuss now and be forced to switch jobs. Make a stand sure, labor board and moral suasion, but don't go over the brink.

You'll recoup it, you'll see.

[DaHu]

Every time in Asia I ask why something is (insert whatever negative thing here), the answer is "tradition".

[ontheway]

[cincynate]

Ok.. so he came up to me yesterday, and told me that the most important thing to him is that I am happy and that we have a good working relationship. He said he will change my tax to 1.9% and pay me back for what he has already taken. Thanks for the advice ontheway.. It seamed to work!

[jeremysums]

That's kind of wrong. Find another job.

[Deranged Ranger]

Deleted

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Walk yet, or still getting cheated on a volunteer basis?

[different]

If it makes you feel better, be aware that half the small hagwons in Korea probably aren't paying teachers' taxes to the tax office AT ALL.

In a way, it is tradition.