Korean Job Discussion Forums

genesis9 · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Location: Seoul

I'm a full time NSET for SMOE.
Recently, I was offered a job to teach TEFL during the weekends and I wanted to know if this violates my contract with SMOE.
Classes will be on Friday evening and Saturday thus there won't be any interference with my work at day school.
Taking this job will be awesome but I don't want to jeopardize my contract with SMOE because I absolutely love this job.
Does anyone have any ideas about such issue?

jonpurdy · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Location: Ulsan

If you're on an E-2 visa then yes, it violates your contract as well as the law. Don't do it or risk being fired/fined/deported.

If you're on an F- visa then maybe, check your contract. Mine says I can't work at any other places of employment, but that might just be there because I'm on an E-2.

genesis9 · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Location: Seoul

Thanks for your input.
I have an F4 visa which is bit more flexcible I understand since an F visa holder can get into any other field, not just as an English instructor.
I don't think my contract says anything about getting a side job either...

b-class rambler · Joined: 25 Mar 2009

genesis9 · Joined: 02 Feb 2009 Location: Seoul

b-class rambler · Joined: 25 Mar 2009

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Actually you can legally even with an e-2 if your school allows it..... hope your principal likes you.

Seoulio · Joined: 02 Jan 2010

ALL SMOE contracts prohibit any employee ( principal, korean teacher, NSET) from working a second job.

That being said, they are not likely to find out if you took one, but you ARE violating the contract if you do.

Stephen Ireland · Joined: 22 Apr 2010

You can work a second job (I'm talking about public school teachers here) provided the job is ALSO a public job. In other words if the TEFL job is a public job it's perfectly legal provided you get the permission of the Principal. Even E2 visa holders can work a second job with the Principal and Immigration's permission. That's why some people are contracted to two school's in the sticks.

A public University gig (not private) may also qualify, as well as teaching English to Education officials - if you're lucky enough to find it.

b-class rambler · Joined: 25 Mar 2009

Whether it's legal (i.e. against the law of the land) or not isn't really what's being asked here. The issue is whether it's a breach of the contract.

Legally, there's no problem with having an extra job. Employment Law doesn't specifically prohibit it and Immigration Law wouldn't be involved as the OP is an F4. (The Tax Office WOULD be interested, however!) But there are lots of things which are 'legal', but are neverthless prohibited by a contract. And you accept their prohibition by signing and therefore agreeing to the contract.

The two schools in the sticks scenario isn't really someone taking another job. Public school NETs are nearly always contracted not to one school, but to the POE or MOE. At least, that will be true in the OP's case. So if you work in two, three or even half a dozen schools, you're still doing the same job as a NET for the same employer. So yes, IF it's a 'public' job, in the sense that it's under the auspices of the same public employer, it may well be ok. But that isn't the case here. Or is it?

As we should all know, rules do frequently get "adapted" in Korea, so I wouldn't put it beyond the realms of possibility that the OP could actually ask the school and they say 'yeah, we don't mind'. But I really, really wouldn't advise asking them though. The likelihood of them saying it's ok is probably a lot lower than that of being caught. And if you were, that would have been your 'sorry, I didn't know' excuse out the window.