Korean Job Discussion Forums

different · Joined: 22 May 2003

I got a job offer, but there are a couple things that seem fishy. I'll discuss one part here.

I have an offer from a public elementary school. I guess the school has some kind of contract with an agency that takes care of finding teachers and recruiting students. I would have a contract with the school and would be paid by the school.

The representative from the agency said she would have to have control over the bank account the school paid into. I guess the school would pay more than my contracted monthly pay into my account. (Perhaps the school would pay all of the students' parents' money into an account under my name.) Then the agency would deduct the amount it "deserves" and would leave me what would be in my contract.

I don't understand why they would do it this way. This sounds really fishy.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Thats crap & totally unacceptable. Your bank account is your private concern.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Yes, it sounds highly fishy to me, too.

Just a note about private bank accounts here in the ROK: At my first hakwon job my boss would sometimes tell me on payday that he knew I didn't really need my pay because he'd checked with the bank and they told him how much I had in my account. Shocked

Then he would wait several weeks before he paid me.

I don't know how common that is, but it did happen to me.

I suggest that you talk to the school and tell them that letting someone else (and a stranger at that) control your bank account is not acceptable. I think they will understand.

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

They can certainly put the money into another account before it gets to you. Just make sure the person who has to finally put the money into your account is the person that is contractually obliged to. Otherwise you have no legal means to recover stolen money.

I would get a second account as well, and put all the money here once you receive it.

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

Transfering money around from account to account is very easy in Korea, much more so than at home. You can even do it from a money machine. So, the idea that they need to use your account this way is totally bogus, I would run a mile from such a school.

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 4:26 am Post subject:

I would be inclined to refuse too, but...

If you really want the job and you are looking for a win-win solution which makes the least amount of waves then...

Open a dummy account at a bank you otherwise don't have accounts at. Then every month withdraw your pay from the account and deposit it in the bank you usually will deal with for your own savings and money management.

Good luck whatever.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Ask for some clarification.

It may be that they are paid directly from the school and they transfer your portion into your account..just having an account number does not allow you to transfer money out you still need your password. Or if at the bank a passbook or passcard. If all they have is your account number it 'may' be alright.

different · Joined: 22 May 2003

Thank you everybody.

It's unlikely I'll take the job. But as I said, it's a public elementary school. Maybe there's some Korean law that doesn't allow public schools to pay private agencies. Does anyone know if that is or isn't the case? If it is, then the school could get around the law by paying the agency indirectly, through me.

By the way, the agency isn't just a recruiter for teachers, it also recruits students and decides the curriculum. The elementary school is the location where I'd teach and all of my students would be from the school. My E-2 would be with the school and I'd get paid by the school.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Open an account at a bank that YOU want. Don't open an account at a bank the school wants. It's YOUR money.
If the bank is "school friendly" the school can call up so and so at the bank and get whatever information they want about your account.
Many banks want you to write your PIN number down on the account application! How is it a secret number then?!?!? A few banks are getting with the times and have the key pads that you enter your number in. Korea is KNOWN for banks scandals and employees skimming money from accounts. Not that teachers have much money to skim!

peppermint · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 5:45 pm Post subject:

That's a whole new world of dodgy there. If it's a public elementary school parents don't pay, and why would they have an agency to recruit students and determine curriculum?. As well, kep in mind that most recruiters cut and run once they place the person- sounds like this guy is planning on doing that with your paycheck.

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

Dr. Buck · Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Location: Land of the Morning Clam

Don't be a wuss--post the name of the agency and the school so others can be aware of this weird situation.
Name names!

HappyD · Joined: 13 Jun 2004

I know exactly what you are saying and who you are talking about because I had exactly the same concern about this situation. Re: Having a joint account with her and it is in your name.

I looked into it and it is in fact illegal! What is happening is that you are giving her power of attorney over your account. That is how she is getting away with it.

However, who's to say she'd going to pay you right??? We as teachers seem to have enough trouble trying to get our money from a first party never mind a second party.

I would suggest you try to work something else out with her.

different · Joined: 22 May 2003

I called the teacher who I'd be replacing, and he said the reason the agency operates like that is to avoid paying taxes. Of course, that is illegal.

He said he was able to change the payment arrangements so that the school pays all of the money into an account controlled by him, and then he pays the agency. I could probably get the agency to give me a similar setup. The agency would probably still avoid paying taxes, but the teacher said I would not be doing anything illegal myself.

It all sounds so dodgy, but I think after I started working my only direct relationship with the agency would be to pay it its share of what the school paid me. My contract would actually be with the school.

Somehow I'm still not comfortable. Why would the school not just pay me and the agency separately?