Korean Job Discussion Forums

[saharzie]

My friend asked me to post this as he is not a member yet:

He basically applied to three jobs, with three different recruiters, all of whom got him interviews. However the contracts he was offered were all identical.
- 2 million salary.
- tax at 5%
- Pension at 5% (never to be returned as he is Irish)
- A 'security deposit' of 200,000 for the first 3 months to be returned after the year contract
- health insurance of 2.5%

So basically this means that for the first 3 months he is on 1.55 million won
After 3 months he is on 1.75 million won.

All of the three contracts were identical even down to the dress code, depsite the fact they were from 3 different schools and recruiters.

The contracts seem crap basically, and its the first I have heard of the security deposit. I also though tax was 3.3%?

Any comments?

[chronicpride]

The tax rate is 3.5% at the low-end. It depends on your earnings. EFL-Law has a chart that covers it.

Deposits are popular caveats in ECC and Wonderland contracts, and I've seen them creeping into the contracts from smaller outfits. Like when a teacher finishes their contract, leaves Korea, and their 500,000 utility and phone tab. The director of that school says 'never again', and adds the deposit clause into the contract for the next guy. It's also being used as a buffer against runners.

Are the hours the same on all contracts? 2.0 for 100 hours of block shifts, ain't bad. But if it's 2.0 for 120, I hope that there's something else about the school, accommodations, or perks, that make it more attractive.

[prosodic]

Those contracts are crap.

You're right about tax.

Pension is supposed to be 4.5%
Medical Insurance: 3.94%, half of which should be paid by employer

[No L]

What's up with all these huge security deposits these days? I had a contract offer with a 900 000 deposit (300 000 over three months). I said no way because the director would just owe me way too much money at the end (nearly 5 mill.)


Tell your friend to ask for the secruity deposit to be cut down to a max of 200 000.

What kind of vacation are they offering? 10-15 days is norm. Use these contracts as a starting point for negociations. If they won't budge, don't sign.

[Saxiif]

That's strange, I came across some annoying clauses while looking for a job, but I found one with no security deposit, no pension and that lets me wear shorts to work (must have for a Mainer in this heat) just have your friend keep on looking.

[Grotto]

I for one dont have too big a problem with deposits in contracts...it is a way for the school to safeguard itself and protect against runners and people who run up huge bills without paying!

pension is a standard 4.5% non negotiable(sometimes you can negotiate with your boss not to pay it)

Medical is about 4% you should pay 2% and your boss should pay the other 2%.

2mil for 100 hours is pretty good. Always ask for set hours..ie: 2-7 and what constitutes a teaching hour? 40-50 minutes should be a teaching hour. A 60 minute teaching hour means your 120 hour contract balloons into a 40 hour workweek!

Myself I wrote into my contract that acceptable dress is shorts, t-shirt and sandals during summer I will wear long pants in winter but thats it!

If a deposit sounds too high(900,000) try to negotiate it down...400-600 is acceptable I think. I try to look at it as saving more for the end of the year. When I was at ECC my year end was 1.8+1.8+.7(pension)+.6(deposit)-deductions=almost 4.7 nice chunk of change to spend.

[chronicpride]

[turtlepi1]

[chronicpride]