Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aliciarc416]

What are the pros and cons of working summer camp? I have heard the tax rate is higher. Though i haven't heard how high.
Another question: If after summer camp, you find a full time job do you have to get all the documents again or is this cover over the new visa laws.
thanks in advice.

[Ramen]

[aliciarc416]

Let me be more specific. Compared to a full one year contract. I am planning to go back to Korea but debating if i want a full year or just a summer.

[Ramen]

[aliciarc416]

Alright, I guess I am looking for the differences.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

A con would be that it's another name for "teaching classes."

[valkerie]

Pro - lump sum for short commitment.

Cons - possibly working crazy long hours with very few breaks/little time off
- often have to share a room with others

[winterfall]

Depends, are you doing a summer camp with a public school? One of there occasional outsourcing things? Or are you doing it a hagwon or uni?

Pro like someone else mentioned. One lump sum

B. You can often make more for 2-3 weeks of work than you could in a month

C. If you schedule it right and your visa lets you, you can do 2, maybe 3 summer camps. Your final paycheck for running the gauntlet is 6 mil

Con: Easier to get screwed. If they say its okay to come over on a tourist visa, steer clear. Tourists aren't allowed to work so you've got no legal protection if things go south.

B. Depending on the hagwon, the summer camp schedules are usually grueling. Akin to a slave camp. 8-10 hrs of back to back classes a day.

C. You may or may not have to make your own curriculum

D. Housing may or may not be provided

E. Pension & medical may not be provided

F. Higher taxes (Pegged to your income for the month)

[Hotpants]

By the time you've paid for all your visa docs, embassy trips, flights, transfers, insurance etc. to get here, you don't end up making much more relative to a summer job back home. You would also have to go through all the visa hoops again if you decided you want to commit to a yearlong job, since you would be changing from a short-term C4 visa to a different visa class E2 for a long-term job - ie a totally different visa category. You would probably be expected to work around the clock across seven days, possibly having shared accommodation, too, and little opportunity to see the outside world during that time. You do also risk no/partial payment, since many of these camps are fly-by-night operations, and know that it's difficult for you to pursue any compensation claim. Always get a direct contact from a former teacher of a camp to follow up whether any camp you want to go for can be trusted to pay everything they promise.

Not to put you off , but the initial idea of making a ton of money in such a short time soon doesn't look so rosy when you factor in all the costs and stress involved. If you don't want to commit to a whole year in Korea, I would just save some money at home, and then come here as a tourist rather than a short-term worker. You can easily survive on just just $500 a month here.

[aliciarc416]

Thanks hotpants, winterfall and valkerie for actually answers.
I had heard the taxes were a bitch but i hadn't thought about housing or other benefits. I wasn't drawn much to the pay as much as the time.
I had been wondering about the switch from c4 to E2 good to know that i would need the get the items again, kinda stupid. It would seem the summer camp route may be best for my time goal but one year may be better in the long run.
thanks for the help