Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

So my school has been deducting my pension & health insurance based on my monthly income of 2mil. Now EPIK says that my salary should also include things like settlement allowance, airfare, etc. So I'll be losing 39,630 more a month.

Sucks, but not a huge deal. My problem is this: in addition to this, they're saying I need to retroactively pay the difference for the 8 months I've been here. We're talking 308,700. That's a ridiculous amount of money.

How can they include airfare in my income?? I guess my question is, is it the same for you? Has anybody else had something like this happen recently?

[ThingsComeAround]

Airfare is something given when you complete the contract.

They are supposed to reimburse you after a month of starting work.

How the hell do you let them charge you for it?

Settlement allowance? They aren't supposed to take that either.

Housing deposit, check your contract (but maybe yes)

Housing should (if its in your contract) only be taken out for the first 3 months of your employment.

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

What do you mean "let them"??!?! They're the ones taking the money from my account. What recourse do I have?

[Troglodyte]

I never paid tax on airfare or other benefits. Just the salary (including overtime, of course).

[ThingsComeAround]

Get proof. A payslip from the office, then go to your local English speaking rep and tell them about the incorrect deductions.

Approach this as a "mistake/error", and it will be smoothed over quickly.

If you scream "illegal", the wheels of justice will turn slowly.

Keep your cool- you will get your money back

[kiwiinkorea]

It seems that the rules have changed. I was also told that I have to pay health insurance on my settlement allowance, airfare and renewing bonus. My co-teacher showed me an official letter from the health insurance people saying that this way the way it should be. Of course it is all in Korean so I have to take her word for that!

So this month I will be paying a big chunk of extra health insurance.

There has been a lot of talk on Dave's about this recently - although most people have incorrectly been saying they are being retroactively taxed (it is not tax but just health insurance).

[DWilliams]

So, after checking my account, I realize that an extra 200,000 won has been taken in addition to taxes. I don't immediately call my Korean boss, but I wait until the next day, in the event that they realized their error.

So today, she is trying to explain something to me about "retroactive" something or another. I don't understand what is going on, and I refuse to be gipped by these people.

I've been here 90 days now, and it just seems like one thing after another with my other co-workers...This is the first time anything monetary has happened to me, but I told them it was unacceptable. Don't take money out of my check and poorly try to explain it to me after the fact. (A cultural difference, I see). She apologized for the admin doing so, and said that if they don't need it, they'll give it back. SMH.

Anyhoo...I have been wanting to leave now for approximately 8 weeks. LOL. So I'm seriously just thinking about doing so. Once they finish taking this tax or that, I'll be left making less than I would at home with a part time job. AND the fact that I won't "have" to pay rent back home either, is making the US look sweeter and sweeter in comparison to this God-awful place.

Maybe I'll feel differently tomorrow...maybe not. I expressed all of this verbally to my school, so they know I think it's all a bunch of crock.

[Catfisher]

My school tried to nail me with 1,200,000 that they said I needed to pay back...5 months after I finished my contract and moved on. I called the Gyeongi Dept. of Education on them. Guess who won?
Hint: Not the school