Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JLarter]

I know ECC apparently has a bad reputation but having spoken to both teachers and the manager woman there, it sounds ok for a first time teacher.
Does anyone have anything on this place? Or the location, which is apparently near Mia station in north Seoul. Have attached a sample contract.


This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made this February 15, 2006 by and between YBM Si-sa-yong-o-sa Language Inst.; having its office at Mia 3dong 202-2 JoongAng bldg 2nd fl Kangbuk gu, Seoul (hereinafter referred to as "employer"); and , a citizen of -whose address ______________________________ (hereinafter referred to as "employee").

Employer and employee agree as follows:

1. Employee accepts employment from employer to teach the English language under the terms and conditions set forth here in this agreement for a period of twelve full and consecutive teaching sessions. Employment commences from the first day of orientation (August, 2006) and finishes on the last teaching day of the last teaching session covered under this agreement.

2. Duties

2.1 During the term of this agreement, the employee is required to prepare for, teach, and carry out all required administrative duties connected with classes assigned by the employer. The minimum teaching requirement is one hundred (150-forty minute classes) actual teaching hours per session. Monday through
Friday are teaching days except for scheduled public holidays and vacation days.
2.2 Total teaching hours in excess of the minimum requirement is calculated each session as overtime payment. The Vacation Intensive classes are also considered as overtime pay. Intensive classes are required to teach when asked by the supervisor.
2.3 Payment made for assigned teaching hours is inclusive of payment for preparation and administrative duties connected with those assigned classes. Employee agrees to take orientation and training, attend meetings and workshops scheduled by employer with no extra pay.
2.4 At all times during the term of this agreement, employee will directly adhere to and obey all the rules and regulations that have been, or may hereafter be established, by employer for the conduct of employee or generally for the conduct of instructors at the place of employment.

3. Compensation and Other Treatment of Employee

3.1 Salary: The monthly salary will be 2,000,000 won. As part of the severance pay, no part of the thirteenth payment will be paid unless the employee completes the full (12 session) one-year contract. Overtime payment is made at the rate of 15,000 Won / per actual class. Teaching salary will commence from the first day of teaching. When an employee is absent from scheduled teaching duties salary will be deducted accordingly. Korean income taxes and Korean National Pension Scheme deductions will be withheld. First payment will be made on the last day of the session ending and the second payment will be made a week from the last day of the session.

3.2 Orientation and Training: Shortly after arrival in Korea, employee will be required to undertake orientation and training before commencing teaching. The period of training and orientation will usually be two to three days.
3.3 Transportation: Employer will provide for employee an economy class ticket for passage to Korea from an international airport mutually agreed to by employer and employee (henceforth referred to as point of departure). On completion of the full contract period, employer will provide for the employee an economy class ticket for passage from Korea to point of departure. The return air ticket will be provided at the time of termination of employment. In the event that the employee continues employment under a subsequent employment agreement with employer, the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period(s). Air tickets provided cannot be exchanged for cash equivalents or transferred to persons other than the employee. Employer does not agree to, and is not liable for, compensation to employee, whether in cash or otherwise, for air tickets not used by employees.
3.4 Relocation Allowance: Employer will pay employee, upon arrival in Korea, 200,000 won to help defray the costs of relocating. Any contracts less than 1 year will be prorated.
3.5 Visa application fee subsidy: Employer agrees to pay employee, upon arrival in Korea, 50,000 won to help defray the visa application fees. Any contracts less than one year will be prorated.
3.6 Holidays and Vacation: Employee will be entitled to observe public holidays and receive vacation days during the contract term according to a yearly schedule provided by employer before the commencement of the year to which the schedule refers.
3.7 Medical Insurance: Employee will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean Medical Insurance Union, a Government Health Organization. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by employer and half by employee. Employees share of this coverage will be deducted from employee's salary, monthly.
3.8 Accident Compensation: In the event that employee sustains injuries from an accident or mishap which occurs outside the course of normal work duties; employee understands and agrees that employer will have no responsibility for, nor obligation to pay, medical and hospital costs which are in excess of those covered by medical insurance.

4. Housing

4.1 Employer will select and provide semi-furnished private bedroom for employee. Employee will share a kitchen and bathroom. Furnishings provided by employer for common use by employees sharing accommodation include: A kitchen table and chairs, two-burner gas hotplate, a refrigerator, a phone, a television, and a washing machine. Furnishings provided to each employee include: A bed, a wardrobe, and a fan. Employee will have to supply his or her own pillow, pillowcase and bed sheets.
4.2 Employee(s) is responsible for all maintenance, utility and telephone charges for accommodation provided by employer in the case that, for as long as employee is a sole occupant of accommodation provided by employer and designated as a double occupancy accommodation.
4.3 Employee agrees to a deduction of 200,000 Won per month from the first three months of employment totaling 600,000 Won as housing management deposit. This deposit is to cover any unpaid monthly service, utility, and telephone charges at the completion of this contract and/or resignation or dismissal of the employee before the termination of this contract. Employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of the deposit will be made to employee within ten days after all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid.


5. Dismissal or Voluntary Resignation
5.1 Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for unwillingness or inability to meet conditions of employment as set out under this agreement, for conduct seriously jeopardizing any student or staff person, or for criminal activity.
5.2 In the event that the employee is dismissed, or in the event that the employee voluntarily resigns (must give a month notice) prior to the termination of the term of this agreement, employer will pay salary due to date of termination. Employer will not pay the cost of return transportation to point of departure for employee. Further, employer will be entitled to withhold an amount less than or equivalent to, but not exceeding, the cost of airfare provided for travel to Korea and other benefits provided to employee.

6. Covenants

6.1 Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organizations other than the employer. To undertake such employment is a breach of Korean Immigration law and can have serious consequences.
6.2 The employee understands and accepts that the rights to use, sale, distribution, or publication of all original material produced by the employee during the course of employee's employment, and for which the employee is compensated as either regular pay, as overtime, or in an agreed-upon lump sum, remain the sole property of employer.


7. Jurisdiction: This agreement will be interpreted according to the internal (domestic) laws of the Republic of Korea. A competent court in the Republic of Korea will have jurisdiction in regard to any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, this agreement.

Employer and employee have executed this agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound to, and in witness of, employer and employee have appended their signatures.

[ttompatz]

[JLarter]

ok,cheers.
They agreed to my own housing, my choice of working hours during the day and extra pay.
Do you know anything about the area?

PS she phoned me at 3:30am my time, not happy!!

[ttompatz]

[alabamaman]

[alabamaman]

[Grotto]

I know ECC apparently has a bad reputation but having spoken to both teachers and the manager woman there, it sounds ok for a first time teacher.
Does anyone have anything on this place? Or the location, which is apparently near Mia station in north Seoul. Have attached a sample contract.

ECC is okay for a first timer...you shouldnt expect much from ECC....they arent bad but they arent great either


This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made this February 15, 2006 by and between YBM Si-sa-yong-o-sa Language Inst.; having its office at Mia 3dong 202-2 JoongAng bldg 2nd fl Kangbuk gu, Seoul (hereinafter referred to as "employer"); and , a citizen of -whose address ______________________________ (hereinafter referred to as "employee").

Employer and employee agree as follows:

1. Employee accepts employment from employer to teach the English language under the terms and conditions set forth here in this agreement for a period of twelve full and consecutive teaching sessions. Employment commences from the first day of orientation (August, 2006) and finishes on the last teaching day of the last teaching session covered under this agreement.

One problem with ECC is they do this teaching session so if you come in 1/2 way through a session it doesnt count towards your time.....Make your contract for 12 months....365 days....otherwise you end up teaching more for less!

2. Duties

2.1 During the term of this agreement, the employee is required to prepare for, teach, and carry out all required administrative duties connected with classes assigned by the employer. The minimum teaching requirement is one hundred (150-forty minute classes) actual teaching hours per session. Monday through Friday are teaching days except for scheduled public holidays and vacation days.

Think about this long and hard! You will be teaching 7 classes a day without a break!(other than the 5 or 10 minutes between classes) A heavy load! It should also say the maximum is 150 classes...not minimum!

2.2 Total teaching hours in excess of the minimum requirement is calculated each session as overtime payment. The Vacation Intensive classes are also considered as overtime pay. Intensive classes are required to teach when asked by the supervisor.

Forced overtime They will also screw you over for your overtime....as any holiday that comes along often doesnt count towards your monthly minimum!

2.3 Payment made for assigned teaching hours is inclusive of payment for preparation and administrative duties connected with those assigned classes. Employee agrees to take orientation and training, attend meetings and workshops scheduled by employer with no extra pay.

7 hours a day at the school + prep and meetings + other crap they throw in.....

2.4 At all times during the term of this agreement, employee will directly adhere to and obey all the rules and regulations that have been, or may hereafter be established, by employer for the conduct of employee or generally for the conduct of instructors at the place of employment.

Contracts are there to spelt out clearly....adding in things at a later date is not allowed(unless both parties agree)

3. Compensation and Other Treatment of Employee

3.1 Salary: The monthly salary will be 2,000,000 won. As part of the severance pay, no part of the thirteenth payment will be paid unless the employee completes the full (12 session) one-year contract. Overtime payment is made at the rate of 15,000 Won / per actual class.

Overtime is too low! Anything less than 20,000 won is silly!

Teaching salary will commence from the first day of teaching. When an employee is absent from scheduled teaching duties salary will be deducted accordingly.

RED FLAG! So no sick days?.....not a good thing at all!

Korean income taxes and Korean National Pension Scheme deductions will be withheld. First payment will be made on the last day of the session ending and the second payment will be made a week from the last day of the session.

Income tax is about 1.5% on 2 mil won and the pension is 4.5% each! There should also be mention of health care here 2.24%

3.2 Orientation and Training: Shortly after arrival in Korea, employee will be required to undertake orientation and training before commencing teaching. The period of training and orientation will usually be two to three days.
3.3 Transportation: Employer will provide for employee an economy class ticket for passage to Korea from an international airport mutually agreed to by employer and employee (henceforth referred to as point of departure). On completion of the full contract period, employer will provide for the employee an economy class ticket for passage from Korea to point of departure. The return air ticket will be provided at the time of termination of employment. In the event that the employee continues employment under a subsequent employment agreement with employer, the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period(s). Air tickets provided cannot be exchanged for cash equivalents or transferred to persons other than the employee. Employer does not agree to, and is not liable for, compensation to employee, whether in cash or otherwise, for air tickets not used by employees.

Not acceptable either....if you decide to stay you should get the airfare equivalence as a bonus!

3.4 Relocation Allowance: Employer will pay employee, upon arrival in Korea, 200,000 won to help defray the costs of relocating. Any contracts less than 1 year will be prorated.
3.5 Visa application fee subsidy: Employer agrees to pay employee, upon arrival in Korea, 50,000 won to help defray the visa application fees. Any contracts less than one year will be prorated.
3.6 Holidays and Vacation: Employee will be entitled to observe public holidays and receive vacation days during the contract term according to a yearly schedule provided by employer before the commencement of the year to which the schedule refers.

Sucky! This means they will space your days out and you may end up with a few long weekends throughout the year....no real vacation time!

3.7 Medical Insurance: Employee will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean Medical Insurance Union, a Government Health Organization. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by employer and half by employee. Employees share of this coverage will be deducted from employee's salary, monthly.

2.24% each!

3.8 Accident Compensation: In the event that employee sustains injuries from an accident or mishap which occurs outside the course of normal work duties; employee understands and agrees that employer will have no responsibility for, nor obligation to pay, medical and hospital costs which are in excess of those covered by medical insurance.

4. Housing

4.1 Employer will select and provide semi-furnished private bedroom for employee. Employee will share a kitchen and bathroom. Furnishings provided by employer for common use by employees sharing accommodation include: A kitchen table and chairs, two-burner gas hotplate, a refrigerator, a phone, a television, and a washing machine. Furnishings provided to each employee include: A bed, a wardrobe, and a fan. Employee will have to supply his or her own pillow, pillowcase and bed sheets.

Always insist on air con! And always say no to shared accomodations!

4.2 Employee(s) is responsible for all maintenance, utility and telephone charges for accommodation provided by employer in the case that, for as long as employee is a sole occupant of accommodation provided by employer and designated as a double occupancy accommodation.
4.3 Employee agrees to a deduction of 200,000 Won per month from the first three months of employment totaling 600,000 Won as housing management deposit. This deposit is to cover any unpaid monthly service, utility, and telephone charges at the completion of this contract and/or resignation or dismissal of the employee before the termination of this contract. Employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of the deposit will be made to employee within ten days after all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid.

Just say no to deposits! If you dont agree to them they cant force you!


5. Dismissal or Voluntary Resignation
5.1 Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for unwillingness or inability to meet conditions of employment as set out under this agreement, for conduct seriously jeopardizing any student or staff person, or for criminal activity.
5.2 In the event that the employee is dismissed, or in the event that the employee voluntarily resigns (must give a month notice) prior to the termination of the term of this agreement, employer will pay salary due to date of termination. Employer will not pay the cost of return transportation to point of departure for employee. Further, employer will be entitled to withhold an amount less than or equivalent to, but not exceeding, the cost of airfare provided for travel to Korea and other benefits provided to employee.

No way! After 6 months you should not be held libel for your airfare to Korea! The other benefits they are talking about would be the 200,000 relocation bonus and the 50,000 won for your visa processing! Not kosher at all!

6. Covenants

6.1 Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organizations other than the employer. To undertake such employment is a breach of Korean Immigration law and can have serious consequences.
6.2 The employee understands and accepts that the rights to use, sale, distribution, or publication of all original material produced by the employee during the course of employee's employment, and for which the employee is compensated as either regular pay, as overtime, or in an agreed-upon lump sum, remain the sole property of employer.


7. Jurisdiction: This agreement will be interpreted according to the internal (domestic) laws of the Republic of Korea. A competent court in the Republic of Korea will have jurisdiction in regard to any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, this agreement.

Employer and employee have executed this agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound to, and in witness of, employer and employee have appended their signatures.

Crappier than usual for ECC! I would definately give it a pass!

[Reason.]

I was offered this same contract. As always, thanks for the annotation, alabamaman and Grotto.

It seems as if the flags that both of you raised were some of the same ones I noticed as well.