Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lovebug]

i just started my 2nd year with SMOE and moved into a new place. i am now receiving the housing allowance, but my school seems to not want to give me my 500k deposit back for my first year place.
i said that once all my utilities payments have been confirmed, then there is no reason for my school to hold onto my deposit. i reminded them that i just paid 10 MILLION WON on my current apt, so it's not like i'm some sort of a flight risk. my VP is trying to argue that the housing deposit covers more than just housing, like if i left the country with some sort of credit card debt. i told them, i didn't have a credit card in korea and that they need to produce tangible scenarios where they'd need some money over my head in order for me to go along with this.
i know 500k isn't a big amount to simply withhold for another year, but i don't like the idea that they're doing it for no reason. i'd prefer to have any amount of money from my job as opposed to my school ''holding onto it." it also makes me a bit suspicious as to why they think it's so dangerous for them not to owe me anything.

if anyone had a school that gave them legit reason to hold onto this, i'd love to hear about it. my CT says that our contract says we get it back when the contract is up and the handbook says we get it back when we move out (to which i reminded her that my contract WAS up, it's just that i've started a 2nd contract.)

thanks in advance for your help!

[ttompatz]

I don't know the specific wording in your contract but I do know that in Gyeonggi, as an example, the deposit is a security deposit taken by your sponsor do defray any liability that they may incur as a result of your actions. It specifically states:

Article 18 (Security Deposit)
1. Employee shall be responsible for and protect Employer from any liability or damages arising from or in relation to any negligent, faulty, or illegal activity during the Term of Employment under this contract. Therefore, Employee shall agree in written form to provide 300,000 KRW per month to school administration office either on or by eighteenth (1 of every month for the first 3 months of employment until it amounts to a total of 900,000 KRW. Employee who has their own housing arrangement and married couples who are both employed by GPOE shall also be required to provide the deposit to school respectively.

[lovebug]

yeah, it's a little different, i think. my boyfriend is in GEPIK and had to pay the 900k.


article 12, section 4 of my contract states:

Employee who is provided with housing shall pay a one-time only security deposit of 500,000 Korean Won. The security deposit will be returned to the Employee at the end of the Contract, less the last month's utilities.

[prideofidaho]

I was in the exact same situation with my school last year. They wound up giving me my deposit back. As you said, there's no reason why they need to hang on to the money. I payed 2 million deposit and my school quickly realised that if there were any question over unpaid bills, etc, that amount would most definitely cover the costs. I would say that your 10 mill deposit is unquestionably going to cover your landlord's butt if there's any problem in the future, and they have no reason to hold on to a measly 500,000 won.

Try and resolve it at your school. I think I may have called SMOE on the issue for further clarification, but like I said it got worked out.