Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MikesMom]

My 23 year old son who recently graduated from University of Kansas with a BGS in History just signed a contract with Seongbuk CDL. His initial contract allowed for only 1.4 million KRW for roundtrip airfare which we renegotiated to 1 million KRW each way. Unfortunately, that still does not cover the cost of one way airfare which looks like its about $850 USD and up. The Company is also not covering any health insurance so would like an idea about how much this should cost him. Curious also about the living conditions - CDL is providing single housing which he is responsible for paying rent etc. The contract states but does not guarantee that these expenses should be around 450K-500K KRW. Is this a good estimate? Also, could someone give me an idea about what this housing is like? I know that there may be some furnishings left by a previous occupant but no guarantee. Obviously, he can't take anything with him so... To summarize, if anyone could give me some feedback on ESL teaching in Korea, and specifically with this organization, I would be ever so appreciative. FYI - we live in the western suburbs of Chicago. Thanks!

[GreenlightmeansGO]

Sounds like he is being screwed.

I will leave the airfare out of it while I tell you that free housing should be provided (rent paid by the school), medical coverage should be paid 50% by the school and 50% by the employee, and he should get basic furniture (bed, stove, fridge, washing machine, and maybe a microwave).

[caribmon]

That's not a good deal, get a job with paid upfront airfare and a single apartment waiting for him.

[wesharris]

He'll be quite fine, and have loads of fun . Don't worry about it.

[Big Mac]

I agree that your son is getting screwed.

It's pretty standard for furnished housing to be provided by the employer. He shouldn't have to worry about housing at all.

Also, it is mandatory by law that Korean employers provide health insurance to their employees. The employee pays about 2.5 per cent of their monthly salary and the employer has to match that. Bad employers try to get out of paying it and hope that newbies to Korea won't know any different.

Also, it is mandatory for employers to pay into the national pension fund. The employee has to pay 4.5 per cent of their monthly income and the employer matches that. When your son leaves Korea he can get all that money (including the employer's contributions) back from the National Pension Corporation in a lump sum refund.

He really should have looked into this before signing this contract. If there's a way of getting out of it, he should.

[wesharris]

[MikesMom]

Hey guys. Thanks for the feedback. Yes he would be working for Chung Dahm and his pay is 28000KRW/hour with minimum of 26 hours/week and max of 120 hours/month unless agreed by both employer and employee. Is this pay substantially higher and the recruiter he is working thru said no pension or healthcare bc part time employee. NOT SO????

[thegadfly]

Mikesmom,

Why not ask Mike these things? I mean, doesn't he need to start getting into the habit of doing stuff for himself (especially things that are, essentially, his business and not yours?). Yes you are concerned -- good for you -- but are you going to come to work for him and plan his lessons for him? If he can't be arsed to make his own handle, post his own questions, get his own answers, and give his own mother the assurances she needs, I doubt that he will be an asset to the ESL community, and would probably serve everyone better by remaining in the suburbs of Chicago, under your watchful eye and patient care.

Does Mike know you posted this? If so...wow...just keep him in Chicago. Living and working in a foreign country and in a foreign culture can be very tough, even on the independent, confident, strong-willed, and self-assured. On someone that needs his mommy to check into his job for him? It will be a trial by fire at least, and most likely a train wreck.

[ontheway]

It's CDI.

Given the value of the benefits your son gave up, and the hourly wage, the value of this pay package is probably about average for a new English teacher in Korea. That would include the much lower pay of the average public school teachers. Of course, your son's hours aren't guaranteed, so he could earn less and still have no benefits.

[vermouth]

I think the general estimate of his expenses is pretty reasonable.

It's really difficult to give an accurate description of what the conditions are like with CDI schools because most of them are semi-independent franchises.

I work for their elementary school branch April and 10 different CDI teachers will have between 5 and 10 pretty different sets of conditions in my experience. I really like my school but there can be some really bad situations if the franchise owner doesn't shoot straight.

It's even less consistent once you get outside of CDI & April. I think it's pretty much an unwritten rule that your first contract will be something of a craps shoot because as I like to say all the time...it's a big ocean.

Some advice

He should show up with some money. I've heard of people showing up with nothing but the clothes on their back and making it fine. Heck my friend made it okay but I was buying him dinner for like two weeks. If it's at all possible a fair amount of cash will go a long way into making it easier to make it till the first payday. When they say he'll be reimbursed on arrival they usually mean his first payday.

The other is for him to arrive expecting the unexpected.

[MikesMom]

Is it true if you are an hourly employee, the employer is NOT legally required to contribute to healthcare?

[Steve_Rogers2008]

[namerae]

I'm on the boat with others on this... why isn't Mike on these boards, asking these questions?

I'm 23 years old, never been to Korea, but I fully expect to do my own research and leg-work while in a foreign country. I question his ability if he has his mother looking up the info because he isn't being straight-forward with her.

[BetsyNY]

[hellofaniceguy]

He's a college boy...graduated...let him fight his own battles.....he does not need purse strings....thousands of others who were and are younger have been to korea and did ok...some get screwed....no different in America.
You either get want you want in the contract or very simple...move on and let another fool sign the BS contract.
The majority of schools do pay 100% airfare, housing is required also.
Many other schools out there to consider and talk with.