Korean Job Discussion Forums

[s.tickbeat]

So here's the deal. My friend in Seoul (who doesn't have a Dave's account, so I'm posting for him) works at a shady shady private school/hagwon. He showed me his pay stub, after telling me that he just found out that he doesn't have health insurance. Here's what it says:

Income: 2, 232, 500 W (Contract says 2.35MW)

Tax: 73, 600 W (it looks too low to me)

Maintenance: 30, 000 W (NOT in his contract - I think this is an illegal deduction)

Total: 103, 600 W

Net: 2, 128, 830

He never signed anything opting out of pension or health insurance. His contract said that he would be covered under Samsung at half deductions, but there are no deductions made and he is, certainly, NOT covered.

I think that he has some ammunition here to go to the labour board and pension office, and maybe the tax office. IS any of this illegal? And, what can he do about it? (besides pull a runner).

Any advice would be great, ASAP. I told him to bill his director for the hospital visit, at least - thoughts?

[Skippy]

Maintenance is standard for apartments. Not an illegal deduction. But usually teacher is responsible to pay. Looks like the school does it.

The taxes seem on level. Maybe a touch low. Remember that likely covers income tax and resident tax not pension or health insurance.

But it looks like NO pension or public health insurance. Looks like the school is being quite on that and hopes the teacher will not notice. The school says they will provide private insurance. I am a bit confused on whether private will cover visits. I think private is more supplemental that is to add upon public. Some schools try to con teacher that private is acceptable.

Some schools try the nudge nudge wink system. If you visit the doctor, they promise to pay half the bill. But that one always messes up. As they later will refuse to pay, or have you go to a certain doctor, or stall.

It is up to your friend to fight for his stuff in his contract. He needs to be the one that asks the schools for his insurance and pension. Better to get it now, then trying to figure out what to do at 11 months or after a taxi hits you.

[s.tickbeat]

but does he have any legal entitlement to these things? If the school refuses to, say, contribute to the pension fund, does he have the legal ability to hammer them into it? (Same with national health plan)?

[nathanrutledge]

My first complaint would be why is he not getting the full amount?

At 2.35 million, he should be netting 2.24 million with those deductions you listed. IF he's only getting 2.12 mil, then that's 120,000 won a month that is missing.

If that 120,000 is being used for the pension/insurance, it could be on the level.

To give you an idea of what a pay check should look like, one year ago I had a PS job that paid 2.3 a month. My deductions were:

Health insurance 64,860
Long Term Care Insurance - 4,240
Pension - 103,500
Income Tax - 33,570
Local Tax - 3,350
Housing Maintenance fee - 20,000

Gross - 2,300,000
Total deductions - 229,520
Net - 2,070,480

SO, looking at this, the numbers DO add up. A base of 2.35, a net of 2.128, deductions totaling 221,170.

It could be bad book keeping. He needs to get an itemized paystub. He needs to check with the pension office that his full salary is being reported and paid on. He should check with the NHIC that he's getting health insurance. All in all though, it looks like it could be kosher.

[nathanrutledge]

[ttompatz]

http://www.nts.go.kr
http://www.nps.or.kr/
http://www.nhic.or.kr/

.

[s.tickbeat]

Thanks ttompatz! Helps a bunch. :3

[ontheway]

2,350,000 ... Your contract salary
2,232,500 ... Income reported
________
117,500 .... ?

There is 5% missing off the top. Did your friend work a full month, or is this a partial month?

Your friend should ask for an itemized pay statement and find out where the 5% went.


Monthly maintenance fees are standard - they should verify the amount.


Income tax should be according to this site:

http://www.nts.go.kr/eng/help/help_52.asp

Monthly Wage & Salary Income : ￦ 2,350 (in thousands)
The number of Dependents : 1 persons The number of children under 20 : 0 persons
Monthly Income Tax : ￦ 37,640

[mohair_blues]

dude, this is Korea, you can throw that question at every direction and it'll come back to you with a resounding 'yes'

just met an old friend from Cali, he had the unfortunate experience of working at a hagwon (7s in Bundang) where they've been taking out pension from his paycheck only to pocket them themselves

they also tried to talk him out of his severance as well

[thebektionary]

Private Samsung insurance is total BS. I had that when I worked at my nightmarish hell hagwon when I didn't know any better. My director said "public health insurance too expensive for you and for me" and then pushed private on me.

Private insurance covers nothing besides injury in the workplace.

[12ax7]

[Skippy]

[YTMND]

[Skippy]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/10/113_20364.html

Basics. ESL teacher is seriously hurt in apartment fire. Is admitted to hospital but has no insurance. Family flies over. Teacher dies. Hospital refuses to release body till all bills are paid. Through the generosity of some Koreans and the ESL community his bills were paid and the family was able to take his body home.

His contract said he would have insurance but typical for then is the school just ignored it. It could have been worse, the hospital could have refused to take him.

As to what happened, well some suspicions and that came up. Consider looking into some of the past threads and various blogs.
http://searcheslcafe.com/?word=Kapoun

People forget the lessons of yesterday. Well the constant change of teachers changes that. Finding more and more people not doing research, learning, or trying.

After that fire and on my next contract I made sure I got insurance.

[12ax7]