Korean Job Discussion Forums

[EmilyM]

Hi there,

First i'll apologize if this topic has been done numerous times!

My boyfriend and I are currently in a debate with our school over part of our contract. It states that upon starting at the school we would be automatically enrolled in the National Health Plan and the National pension plan. However we are starting month 5 and they have yet to do this for us.

They signed us up with a private insurance company, but that just means we have to pay up front for prescriptions,etc. and then go through our Principal to get our money back. We told them we didn't want that plan and wanted to go with what our contract says. They said "well really , that's just words!"

After doing some research we found that all foreigners are supposed to be registered with these plans as of January 2006. Could any of you verify if this is true? Have any of you been in this situation? offer any advice?



thanks in advance,
Emily

[Big Mac]

This is a common trick that a lot of hogwan owners will pull. Mine tried exactly the same thing, but I fought it and won.

By signing you up for private insurance, it saves them money and helps them avoid pension. That's because as soon as they sign you up for medical insurance, it informs the pension people of your existence. Hogwan owners look at this as money down the drain and so they pull the private insurance trick.

However, it is law that you have to be enrolled in the national medical plan. You pay 2.4 per cent of your monthly pay and your employer matches it. You should get a little card from the insurance people that you have to show when you get treatment.

Also, it is law that you have to pay into the pension fund. You pay 4.5 per cent of your monthly pay and your employer matches that. At the end, as long as you are from North America, you can apply to get a refund of all of that money when you leave Korea. If you're from Australia or New Zealand I think you're out of luck.

So your boss is screwing you over.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Yes, like Big Mac said, you are getting screwed.

There is an additional problem. If you change to the other system now, you will have to make all the back payments. They enter you into the system based on the date of your visa. You will end up paying for all those 5 months that your boss didn't pay in. So yes. Screwed royally.