Korean Job Discussion Forums

skippy709 · Joined: 11 Apr 2004

My wife and I work at a good school in Seoul, one that we are very happy with. However, they recently told us that they didn't want to get us health insurance to save us $. They said that the government changed its policy and that the insurance would cost 150,000 won each. This surprises me, as our insurance at a previous school was 45,000. I am curious if there actually was a change in government policy, or if our school is just trying to save themselves some money. They have promised to pay for all our medical expenses. I would like to know if anyone else has experienced this.

justagirl · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Cheonan/Portland

As far as I know it hasn't changed. Here's my guess...the national heath people and the pension office people are in contact with each other. This means if you sign up for health insurance, the pension office is called and your employer will have to shell out for both of them.

150,000 sounds quite unreasonable. In 3 years, I've never paid more than 50,000 for health insurance/month.

justagirl

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I was paying about 150,000 for 3 (or was it 4?) months of health insurance. You buy it in blocks of either 3 or 4 months, and actually, that was about HALF the total cost -- the school paying the other half.

Your other school was probably cheating the system. If you make under a certain amount of money per month, the health insurance is WAY less. Like maybe half or 2/3 less. My last school cheated it, and wanted me to sign a different contract -- stating much less pay per month -- that they could take to the insurance office. I was like, "HECK NO -- I'm not signing anything for less money!" Then I told them if they wanted to do that, they could forge my signature, but I don't want to know about it.

Well, that's exactly what they did, and they got the insurance for me at a much lower rate. They did that with everyone at the school, in fact.

By the way, if insurance is in your contract, they should pay it. Don't back down. Perhaps you should hint about what my old school did. He can call around and find out what the amount is he'd have to fudge on the contract.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

wylde · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

i pay 150 for 3 months.. or 1/2 of that

lunachick · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I've been on the phone with people at both the pension and medical insurance offices this week and the policy hasn't changed.

Where are you from? It makes a difference, because if you're a citizen of a country like Canada, that has a tax treaty with Korea, it's illegal NOT to pay pension.

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

hey are you serious about the tax treaty?
my bosses are lying to them so they don't have to pay pension. we (the foreigners) are pissed about it. my bosses are telling them we make less money but taxing us the same as before.

justagirl · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Cheonan/Portland

Paperbag, there's your "out" if you want it. If you want to leave this school, all you need to do is pull out your contract and take it to the tax office, or pension office.

If it says he's paying you 2.0 million and he's reporting 1.5 million, wham! He's in trouble.

So if you want to leave, tell him you want a release letter and no re-payment of the airfare, or you'll go to the tax office and tell them he's a fraud.

Anyone else think this is her best way out?

justagirl

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

justagirl: thanks, will do. do you think i should got to tax office first though or after? i think i will go right after my next pay cheque. he's the type of vindicative bastard who would go to the office and be like, "oh my accountant made a mistake on their salaries" or something like that.

woo-hoo! maybe it'll get better after all!