Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hater Depot]

I asked my manager why pension wasn't deducted from my first paycheck. She claims that it is not necessary for me to pay into the pension system. I told her that as far as I know it is required by law; she produced some Korean documents that supposedly say that I can choose whether to pay into the pension system (I'm American). I think she might have meant that I can choose to pay income tax or pension tax. Either way, I'm beginning to smell something and wondering if I should get out my shovel.

Oh, and the other American at my school apparently believes her, but we're not on speaking terms (because he's a cunt) and he doesn't know his elbow from his ass anyway.

[jacl]

That's one way they go about it. There are also the ones that ask you if you want it deducted so they can scam that money from you. Or they deduct it without asking "because it's the law!" and keep it in their pockets.

If they're deducting it then you can just call the pension office with your ARC number. "I'd like to check my account, please." I had to follow up when I was first getting my pension deducted. I know my boss was all keen on it at one point. He's the one that brought it up. Just because he was looking at a way to make more money. He should've known who he was dealing with. They'll try to scam as much as they can and make up some excuse if you check up on it.

Your case is tough. You have to argue a couple of times and then the threats or calling of the pension office are in order. Sounds like at your school they'll just keep lying until their back are against the wall.

[Ya-ta Boy]

If your school is too small, then they don't have to pay in. I don't know the exact details...I'd call in to the pension office NOW and find out. Don't wait.

PS: Doesn't it just suck the big one when the only other waygookin around is a sh*thead?

[Wishmaster]

No, school size(ie number of teachers employed) doesn't matter anymore. They are required to pay into the pension system. The National Healthcare system has also been modified recently and you are required for that one as well.

[Qinella]

Big Buds shared it for me in my crazy thread, now I'll share it with you. Info directly from Korea's pension office.

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(1) General coverage criteria

General coverage criteria for the National Pension are age and residence. Income is not included in general coverage criteria. Accordingly, all residents in Korea from 18 to less than 60 years of age, regardless of their income, are covered under the Scheme. Of course, foreigners from 18 to less than 60 years of age residing in Korea are covered under the Scheme except special cases (Refer to Chapter Ⅵ. National Pension Scheme and foreigners).

(2) Who are excluded from the coverage of the Scheme?
Those falling under any of the following items are excluded from the coverage of the scheme even if they satisfy the general coverage criteria.

○ The government employees, military personnel, private school teachers, and employees of specially designated post office, because they are covered under their own pension plans.

○ National Pension beneficiaries from 55 to less than 60 (Early Old-age pensioner and Old-age pensioner as a miner or fisherman)

(3) Exceptional cases

First, anyone aged less than 18 and working at a workplace covered under the National Pension Scheme may participate in the scheme as a Workplace based Insured Person with the consent of his/her employer.

In addition, an Insured Person with less than a 20-year Insured period can be covered under the scheme after reaching 60 if he/she wants to be covered (as a Voluntarily & Continuously Insured Person).

Besides these, the National Pension Scheme temporarily has allowed people aged from 60 to less than 65 to be covered under the scheme. This exceptional coverage program was temporarily enforced twice (in 1995 and in1999) to help the old-aged acquire pension right with a 5-year Insured period.

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Personally, I just went through the exact same situation. My boss honestly swears he was under the impression he didn't have to pay it, and after consulting with other hagwon owners and reading the information from this web site, he's now promised to start paying next month.

So... just press the issue. I mean, it's not a whole lot of money you're talking about, so don't press it too much. You don't want to risk getting an 11th month firing or some similar nonsense. Just present it as something that's expected, and that you, knowing what a wonderful and generous person your boss is, will assume it's taken care of.

Q.