Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hanjam]

Hi, my boyfriend and I have been offered a seemingly amazing job by Herald schools however we have read a lot of bad press about this company. Does anyone have any up to date information/advice that may be of use to us (most posts on this topic are a few years old) and/or any specific knowledge of the school/area that this school is in...iv posted the offer below! any advice at all would be great, thanks! ps the guy who offered it us is called stephen cho.

Kids Herald school in Ilsan New town(Whajeong)-Seoul Metro


We are www.eduorange.com.

Thank you for your application. We are very pleased to speak with you.



Among several positions available very proudly i would offer you an excellent position in New Town of Ilsan where is close from Incheon and Seoul as follows attaching contract hereunder.

This offer will be confirmed finally upon having phone interview with the school.

You will get phone call from Andy, academic director for an interview tomorrow morning at your time( around 9-10:00am). Please have a successful interview with him and get this good position to have good stay in Korea.

You can have also an opportunity to speak with current foreign teacher at this school.

FYI, Ilsan city is very close to Seoul and Incheon and it is big(about one million peoples)..

This school is at very convenient location of Ilsan(Whajeong) where is near Whajeong station(#3 Orange line, about 400m away from the station)then is very accessible to Seoul( takes about 30-40 minutes to downtown of Seoul by subway).

You can enjoy good city life in Seoul and Ilsan.

We are very confident that you will feel very comfortable during you work for this school because director of this school is really good and position is very stable until you finish a year contract.

There are many Korea herald school in Korea because it's franchised and every of them is different business run independently,

Definately, Among many Korea Herald Schools in Korea this school is one of best one.

This school is very well established and reliable because it's being run over 5 years.

FYI,Ilsan new town is one of the most favour town for Korean and foreigners because is very clean and safe.



1.School:

Korea Herald School is at good area of Whajeong and this school have being over 5 years then has all teaching materials and good curriculm.

This school has classes for 5-15 years old children in the morning and in the afternoon. Each class will have up to 12 students, usually 6-10 students.

Director of this school, Mrs Bae is really good woman who is very ready to look after her staffs with well respect.

You will be treated professionally and you will be always paid very on time because it's very reliable.

Definately you will feel very comfortable with him and school.

This school has all teaching meterials and text books and well established curriculm.

This school has 4 foreign teachers.



2.Working condition:

120 hours a month. 5 days a week(Mon-Fri), 2 weeks holidays. 3 sick days.

3.salary:

2.0 million won per month

4.Accomodation:It's really good one and enough spacious for both of you.

a furnished sinlge apartment which is very new and has air-conditioner.

It's close to the school(5-10 minutes walking distance). It's really good and definately you will like it.

5.Air ticket: Coming airticket from London, UK will be provided upfrontly and Return ticket will be provided upon finishing contract.

6.Medical insurance: 50/50 shared.


7,severance pay: One month salary upon finishing one contract.

8.Arrival date: by October 1st with tourist visa. The school will sponsor your visa run to Japan paying round trip airfare together with 150,000 won travel subsidy.

[Juregen]

This is not a contract

wait for the contract

[hanjam]

This is the contract they offers, it implies sharing a studio apartment with my boyfriend but when I spoke to them on the phone they said we could change it and have one studio apartment each in the same building..obviously i'd have to get them to put this in writing!...what do you think of the contract?...cheers!...

Employment Agreement For Instructor


This Employment Agreement has been made by and between Kids Herald School having its location at Hwajung-Dong, Deokyang-Gu, Koyang-Si (here in after called Employer) and (here in after called Employee). The Employer wishes to engage service of the employee for him/her to work as an English teacher at the Employer�s school from October 2006 to October 2007 and the Employee agrees to work under the terms and conditions of this contract.

1. Schedule.
The number of regular teaching hours will be 120 hours per month, Monday through Friday. Class preparation time is not included in the above 120 hours. Classes and teaching schedules will be organized and will be flexible in accordance with the needs and situations of the school and children. No regular schedule of work hours can be guaranteed to the Employee. It is mandatory for the teachers to attend regular workshops on Saturday which are held by the head office for just two or three of times through a year. This is not included within the 120 hours or overtime.

2. Pay/Overtime.
The Employer agrees to pay the Employee a basic salary 2.0 Million Korean Won per month. The salary will be paid to the Employee on the 10th of the next month regularly. As for the overtime teaching beyond 120 hours per month, the Employee will be paid eighteen thousand Korean won (18,000) per hour.
Payment made for assigned teaching periods is inclusive of payment for preparation and administrative duties connected with those assigned classes such as attending the staff meeting and training workshops, evaluating children levels and other similar participations scheduled by the Employer to assist the Employee�s professional development.

3. Severance Payment
The Employee will be given a bonus of one-month pay (This means severance payment) for completing one-year contract period. This amount (2.0 Million won) will be paid at the time of, and is dependent on, the completion of the full contract term.

4. Air Ticket
The Employer will sponsor visa run to Japan paying round trip airfare together with 150,000 won travel subsidy.
The Employer agrees to provide coming air ticket from London and return air ticket to London with the instructor. When the instructor finishes his/her 12 month-contract, a return ticket from Korea will be provided to him/her. When Instructor leaves the employer within 6 months from commencing date of his/her contract he/she should reimburse the employer coming airfare that is paid by employer.

5. Housing
The Employer will provide the furnished housing for the Employee with the rental at the Employer�s cost by one of the following manners providing bed, closet, table, refrigerator, kitchen tools, etc.

1) A private single apartment living with (it has TV, VCR, Washing machine, Fridge, Gas range, Kitchen wares and dishes, dining table, air-conditioner, bed, linen and blanket, etc)
Running cost of the accommodation including electricity, gas, water bills and other utility charges, other than the rental of the housing will be paid by the Employee. The Employer will deduct 100,000 won from the Employee�s monthly payment for the first five months to make 500,000 Korean Won in total as housing utility deposit. This deposit is to cover unpaid monthly service, utility, which will be billed at the following or next following month after the Employee�s contract period. Dependent on a written guarantee from a guarantor acceptable to the Employer like bring the receipt, the Employer agrees to return the deposit in full to the Employee at the time of completion of the Employee�s period of Contract including any period of Employment beyond that covered by this agreement.

6. Medical Insurance
The Employer agrees to pay half the cost of medical fees typically covered by standard medical insurance. Pre-existing conditions occurring with the Employee before arriving in Korea are not valid.

7. Accident Compensation
In the event that the Employee sustains injuries from accident or mishap which occurs outside the course of normal work duties, the Employee understands and agrees that the Employer will have no responsibility for, nor obligation to pay, medical and hospital cost which are in excess of those covered by medical insurance.

8. Teaching Materials
The Employee will be given materials to teach to the class. The Employee may be expected to work alone without a Korean English teacher�s assistance.

9. Holidays/ Sick days/ Lateness/ Absence
Holidays will include all Korean national holidays (12 ~15 days) and 2 weeks (10 days) of paid vacation plus 3 days paid sick days per year. The vacation will be scheduled by school year calendar. The Employee will try his/her best to notify in advance (5 hours) the Employer of any needed sick days. In this case, the Employee should show the doctor�s note of illness.
Lateness: If the Employee is late to the class 10 minutes without notification, one hour rate of payment may be deducted.

10. The Employee�s Obligation
1) The Employee shall observe the Employer�s work system and regulations concerning administration of foreign experts and accept the Employer�s arrangement, direction, supervision and evaluation in regard to his/her work.
2) Without the Employer�s consent, the Employee shall not render service elsewhere or hold concurrently any post unrelated to the work agreed on with the Employer.
3) The Employee shall complete the tasks agreed on schedule and guarantee the quality of work.
4) Professional dress and grooming in the work are essential to maintain the desired reputation to the school. The Employer shall establish general guidelines for this.
5) The Employee shall be expected to prepare daily topics for the class beforehand. In addition, he/she shall make lesson plan (daily/ monthly) before the start of the classes at every month.
6) The Employee can be required to attend all the staff�s meetings within usual work hours. If the Employee must be absent, he/she informs the Employer prior to meeting.
7) The Employee must behave in professional manner during class or when socializing with kids/ children after class.
The Employee can be required to interview new kids/children and evaluate their placement level.
9) The Employee shall not be absent without the Employer�s permission 2 days in advance notice.
10) The Employee shall respect the Korean people�s moral standards and customs.
11) The Employee shall not sexually harass kids/children in his/her charge.
12) Any forms of physical punishment will not be tolerated by the Employee.
13) At all times during the term of this agreement, the Employee will directly adhere to and obey all the rules and regulations that have been or may hereafter be established, by the Employer for the conduct of the Employee or generally for the conduct of instructors at the place of employment.

11. Taxes
Taxes and deductions in compliance with Korean Law shall be withheld automatically from the Employee�s monthly salary. The deductions will be income and residence tax, medical insurance and so forth if any, from monthly payments and income tax only from severance payment. The total of the income and residence tax will be 3.5 to 5% depending on their income.

12. Relocation and Orientation Time
The Employee will be allowed several days from the date of arrival in Korea for adjustment and school orientation before beginning regular teaching duties. Computation of initial pay period of the Employee will commence from the first teaching day. The orientation days will be spent in the school institute preparing for classes and learning the instructional system.

13. Renewal of Agreement
Upon completion of one-year teaching period, both parties can renew the agreement under mutual consent. The Employee agrees to give written notification 60 days in advance of intention of renewing the contract.

14. Termination
The Employer reserves the right to terminate this contract with the written notice to The Employee under the following conditions.
1) The Employee does not fulfill the contract obligations according to the terms stipulated, and fails to amend after the Employer has pointed it out.
2) According to the doctor�s diagnosis, the Employee can not continue normal work.
3) Blatant misconduct by Employee either professionally or otherwise.
4) The Employee or dependants violate Korean law.
5) The kids or the children complain about Employee�s behavior towards the class and/or the Employee�s teaching method in relation with the class.
The Employer and the Employee may terminate the contract by giving 60 days advance notice in writing with proper reasons accepted by both parties. The proper reasons and adequate grounds, aforementioned in this contract, must be provided in order for the contract to be dissolved. If the Employee wants to terminate the contract before the contract date without acceptable cause, as aforementioned in this contract, the Employee will pay back The Employer all the relevant expenses spent by the Employer according to the contract as stipulated herein.

15. Arbitration
The two parties shall consult with each other and mediate any disputes which may arise about the contract. If all attempts fail, the two parties can appeal to the organization of arbitration for foreign expert�s affairs in Korea according to the Korean Regulations and Codes.


Both parties have executed this agreement on the date indicated below to be effective right away. Intending to be legally bound to, and in witness of, the Employer and the Employee have appended their signatures. This agreement automatically expires when the contract ends if now renewed otherwise.

This contract is signed in duplicate on the 19th day of September , 2006
in English for each party�s perusal and keeping.


The Employer�s name

Signature date:


The Employee�s name ___________________________

Signature _____________________Date:_________

[gang ah jee]

So, uh, what's so amazing about this job? It looks exactly like every other hakwon job out there. Whether you get ripped off or not here has little to do with the franchise, rather with whether or not you stay on Mrs Bae's good side.

[Aussiekimchi]

standard job..nothing special apart from the travel subsidy.
Be wary of:
the apartment deal
the length of orientation as it is unpaid
the mandatory Saturday meetings which are unpaid

Have seen a lot worse contracts, have seen a lot better.
Speak with the teachers at the school or the boss herself, get a feel for it all and either take the leap or find something else.
Forget about the franchise reputation..good boss ...good job...good staff...good job...bad boss or staff.....crappy time in Korea.

[alabamaman]

[ttompatz]

[Roch]

[wylies99]

Same owner.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=60381&highlight=

[alabamaman]

This Employment Agreement has been made by and between Kids Herald School having its location at Hwajung-Dong, Deokyang-Gu, Koyang-Si (here in after called Employer) and (here in after called Employee). The Employer wishes to engage service of the employee for him/her to work as an English teacher at the Employer�s school from October 2006 to October 2007 and the Employee agrees to work under the terms and conditions of this contract.

1. Schedule.
The number of regular teaching hours will be 120 hours per month, Monday through Friday. Class preparation time is not included in the above 120 hours. Classes and teaching schedules will be organized and will be flexible in accordance with the needs and situations of the school and children. No regular schedule of work hours can be guaranteed to the Employee. It is mandatory for the teachers to attend regular workshops on Saturday which are held by the head office for just two or three of times through a year. This is not included within the 120 hours or overtime.

Mandatory workshops on Saturdays without pay is not acceptable. If you work hours on the weekend, you should get paid overtime.

There is no mention of how long each class hour was, and you should get that written in your contract.

In my opinion, I would attend no more than one workshop per Saturday every month throughout the contract period with overtime pay.

There are no established working hours in this labor contract. Having said that, there exists a possibility for you to work an undesireable schedule (split shifts). Get established working hours written in your contract.

2. Pay/Overtime.
The Employer agrees to pay the Employee a basic salary 2.0 Million Korean Won per month. The salary will be paid to the Employee on the 10th of the next month regularly.

The pay on this date is a joke, and they do it to curb the "runner syndrome!" Accept no later than the 5th throughout the contract period.

As for the overtime teaching beyond 120 hours per month, the Employee will be paid eighteen thousand Korean won (18,000) per hour.

20,000 per overtime hour

Payment made for assigned teaching periods is inclusive of payment for preparation and administrative duties connected with those assigned classes such as attending the staff meeting and

training workshops

I would omit this contractual language. There is a high probability you will be asked to do some training workshops "teaching" before you've been issued your E2 Visa from Korean Immigration Officials which would be illegal according to Immigration policies.


, evaluating children levels and other similar participations scheduled by the Employer to assist the Employee�s professional development.

You may want to ask if these evaluations are written? If they are, then when would you write them? How many would you write? Who would you submit them to? This is what you should do whenever you see such contractual language. You may also want to ask, "Do these evaluations consist of report cards?" All the above questions should be clarified in contractual language in your labor contract. If it's not, then you will be doing an awful lot of evaluations (most likely written) without pay as stated in this case. In my opinion, you shouldn't do evaluations without pay.

Other similar participations: Omit this contractual language


3. Severance Payment
The Employee will be given a bonus of one-month pay (This means severance payment) for completing one-year contract period. This amount (2.0 Million won) will be paid at the time of, and is dependent on, the completion of the full contract term.

4. Air Ticket
The Employer will sponsor visa run to Japan paying round trip airfare together with 150,000 won travel subsidy.

Your employer should purchase a roundtrip ferry ticket to Fukoka Japan and back. A majority ot teachers do this since it saves their employers money. The employer should also pay for hotel lodging, and visa processing fees when you obtain your E2 Visa. The visa processing fee will cost about 50,000 Korean Won.

The Employer agrees to provide coming air ticket from London and return air ticket to London with the instructor. When the instructor finishes his/her 12 month-contract, a return ticket from Korea will be provided to him/her. When Instructor leaves the employer within 6 months from commencing date of his/her contract he/she should reimburse the employer coming airfare that is paid by employer.

If you stay in Korea after completing your contract, then you should receive a cash equivelant of the return airfare.

5. Housing
The Employer will provide the furnished housing for the Employee with the rental at the Employer�s cost by one of the following manners providing bed, closet, table, refrigerator, kitchen tools, etc.

1) A private single apartment living with (it has TV, VCR, Washing machine, Fridge, Gas range, Kitchen wares and dishes, dining table, air-conditioner, bed, linen and blanket, etc)

Running cost of the accommodation including electricity, gas, water bills and other utility charges, other than the rental of the housing will be paid by the Employee.




The Employer will deduct 100,000 won from the Employee�s monthly payment for the first five months to make 500,000 Korean Won in total as housing utility deposit.

I would omit the deposit contractual language, and support bringing your employer a receipt.

This deposit is to cover unpaid monthly service, utility, which will be billed at the following or next following month after the Employee�s contract period.

Dependent on a written guarantee from a guarantor acceptable to the Employer like bring the receipt "from the employees bank"


the Employer agrees to return the deposit in full to the Employee at the time of completion of the Employee�s period of Contract including any period of Employment beyond that covered by this agreement.



6. Medical Insurance
The Employer agrees to pay half the cost of medical fees typically covered by standard medical insurance. Pre-existing conditions occurring with the Employee before arriving in Korea are not valid.

This is another fine example of a poorly written medical insurance clause. This clause should include the following information:

*The total amount for the 3 month lump sum payment to be paid throughout the contract period by the employer to the National Health Insurance Incorporation

*How much your employer will deduct from your monthly salary throughout the contract period

*When you will be enrolled in the Korean National Healthcare Insurance Plan by your employer



7. Accident Compensation
In the event that the Employee sustains injuries from accident or mishap which occurs outside the course of normal work duties, the Employee understands and agrees that the Employer will have no responsibility for, nor obligation to pay, medical and hospital cost which are in excess of those covered by medical insurance.



8. Teaching Materials
The Employee will be given materials to teach to the class.



The Employee may be expected to work alone without a Korean English teacher�s assistance.

9. Holidays/ Sick days/ Lateness/ Absence
Holidays will include all Korean national holidays (12 ~15 days) and 2 weeks (10 days) of paid vacation plus 3 days paid sick days per year. The vacation will be scheduled by school year calendar. The Employee will try his/her best to notify in advance (5 hours) the Employer of any needed sick days. In this case, the Employee should show the doctor�s note of illness.

A majority of hagwons have their employees take 5 paid vacation days in the summer, and 5 paid vacation days in the winter. They should also be consecutive days of annual leave. I would ask to specify as to when you will be taking the vacation days, and get it written in the contract.



f the Employee is late to the class 10 minutes without notification, one hour rate of payment may be deducted.

This pay deduction should apply to Korean Teachers as well, and the said deduction should be written in the "Rules of Employment." This should be posted in your workplace if more than 10 workers are employed. If there are fewer than 10 workers are employed, then you should ask your employer for a copy of the "Rules of Employment."




10. The Employee�s Obligation

1) The Employee shall observe the Employer�s work system and regulations concerning administration of foreign experts and accept the Employer�s arrangement, direction, supervision and evaluation in regard to his/her work.



2) Without the Employer�s consent, the Employee shall not render service elsewhere or hold concurrently any post unrelated to the work agreed on with the Employer.

You also need consent from Korean Immigration Officials, and get this written in the contract.

3) The Employee shall complete the tasks agreed on schedule and guarantee the quality of work.


4) Professional dress and grooming in the work are essential to maintain the desired reputation to the school. The Employer shall establish general guidelines for this.

The dress code should be written in the labor contract before you sign on the dotted line.

5) The Employee shall be expected to prepare daily topics for the class beforehand. In addition, he/she shall make lesson plan (daily/ monthly) before the start of the classes at every month.

I think daily lesson plans make sense, but I would omit the monthly lesson plans.

6) The Employee can be required to attend all the staff�s meetings within usual work hours. If the Employee must be absent, he/she informs the Employer prior to meeting.


7) The Employee must behave in professional manner during class or when socializing with kids/ children after class. The Employee can be required to interview new kids/children and evaluate their placement level.

9) The Employee shall not be absent without the Employer�s permission 2 days in advance notice.

10) The Employee shall respect the Korean people�s moral standards and customs.

11) The Employee shall not sexually harass kids/children in his/her charge.

12) Any forms of physical punishment will not be tolerated by the Employee.

"Any forms of physical punishment is not tolerated by any employee at the institute."

13) At all times during the term of this agreement, the Employee will directly adhere to and obey all the

rules and regulations that have been or may hereafter be established, by the Employer for the conduct of the Employee or generally for the conduct of instructors at the place of employment.

Rules and regulations should be clearly defined in the "Rules of Employment."


11. Taxes
Taxes and deductions in compliance with Korean Law shall be withheld automatically from the Employee�s monthly salary. The deductions will be income and residence tax,

medical insurance and so forth if any,

You're required to have it as of January 2006

I didn't see deductions for the Korean Pension Fund.

from monthly payments and income tax only from severance payment. The total of the income and residence tax will be 3.5 to 5% depending on their income.

This is a sloppy tax clause, and it goes without saying. 3.5% - 5% is indicative that this employer may attempt to pocket a few extra dollars from your monthly salary. There always should be contractual language stating how much will be deducted for income taxes throughout the contract period.



12. Relocation and Orientation Time
The Employee will be allowed several days from the date of arrival in Korea for adjustment and school orientation before beginning regular teaching duties.

Computation of initial pay period of the Employee will commence from the first teaching day.

Your first teaching day begins when you're issued an E2 Visa by Korean Immigration Officials. If Immigration sees you on school property without an E2 Visa, then your ass is grass! Teachers have been deported when caught teaching without an E2 Visa.

If you don't have your E2 Visa you cannot do the following:

school orientation before beginning regular teaching duties.

pay period of the Employee will commence from the first teaching day.

The orientation days will be spent in the school institute preparing for classes and learning the instructional system.






The orientation days will be spent in the school institute preparing for classes and learning the instructional system.

13. Renewal of Agreement

Upon completion of one-year teaching period, both parties can renew the agreement under mutual consent. The Employee agrees to give written notification 60 days in advance of intention of renewing the contract.

14. Termination
The Employer reserves the right to terminate this contract with the written notice to The Employee under the following conditions.

Written notice: How long?

1) The Employee does not fulfill the contract obligations according to the terms stipulated, and fails to amend after the Employer has pointed it out.

Article 30 of the Labor Standards Act states you wouldn't be able to be terminated without "justifiable reason(s)." Justifiable reasons are gross negligence, violationa of Korean Laws, and serious violations. A well written termination clause should have contractual language pursuant to Article 30 of the LSA. The termination clause should clearly define "justifiable reason(s).

2) According to the doctor�s diagnosis, the Employee can not continue normal work.

3) Blatant misconduct by Employee either professionally or otherwise.

4) The Employee or dependants violate Korean law.

5) The kids or the children complain about Employee�s behavior towards the class and/or the Employee�s teaching method in relation with the class.

This wouldn't be a "justifiable reason(s)," and should be removed from this labor contract. In my opinion, the school can/may "sack" a teachers in lieu of false complaints made out of spite from students.


The Employer and the Employee may terminate the contract by giving 60 days advance notice in writing with proper reasons accepted by both parties.

Korean Labor Laws stipulates 30 days for the employer, and 45 days written notice for the employee is plenty.


The proper reasons and adequate grounds, aforementioned in this contract, must be provided in order for the contract to be dissolved. If the Employee wants to terminate the contract before the contract date without acceptable cause, as aforementioned in this contract, the Employee will pay back The Employer all the relevant expenses spent by the Employer according to the contract as stipulated herein.

This doesn't specify when you can terminate your labor contract though. Refer to Article 26 of the Labor Standards Act. If you terminate your labor contract because your employer violated the conditions of employment, then you shouldn't pay one single penny back!



15. Arbitration
The two parties shall consult with each other and mediate any disputes which may arise about the contract. If all attempts fail, the two parties can appeal to the organization of arbitration for foreign expert�s affairs in Korea according to the Korean Regulations and Codes.


Both parties have executed this agreement on the date indicated below to be effective right away. Intending to be legally bound to, and in witness of, the Employer and the Employee have appended their signatures. This agreement automatically expires when the contract ends if now renewed otherwise.

This contract is signed in duplicate on the 19th day of September , 2006
in English for each party�s perusal and keeping.


The Employer�s name

Signature date:


The Employee�s name ___________________________

Signature _____________________Date:_________
_________________

Seek employment elsewhere....

[TheUrbanMyth]

Garbage contract. Here's why...some bad clauses


1. No to Saturdays at a hakwon...you do it once and they will expect you to turn up all the time.

2. Salary is low...overtime is low

5(1). Deposits are illegal if you don't agree. Agree and you will NEVER see that money again, despite what they say.


10(12). So basically you are not allowed to control the kids, even if they are punching you in the face. NEVER agree to this.

Taxes are too high.


14(15). So you pretty much have to suck up to the kids all the time. Good luck on being an effective teacher then. And keep in mind, even if the kids don't complain, there is nothing to stop the director from SAYING that they did and firing you at the 11 month mark to save on airfare and bonus.

And there is no mention of pension.


Sign this contract and you can expect a year of misery. There are much MUCH better contracts out there.

[hanjam]

Thanks everyone for your replies, im sure u'll be amazed to hear that iv said no to the job just for future reference could alabamaman (or anyone) explain this comment on the housing deposit. are deposits generally not taken?..

The Employer will deduct 100,000 won from the Employee�s monthly payment for the first five months to make 500,000 Korean Won in total as housing utility deposit.

I would omit the deposit contractual language, and support bringing your employer a receipt.

Thanks again x

[wylies99]

The housing "deposits" are illegal in Korea.

[alabamaman]

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=66525&start=0

[Roch]

Good for you, and good luck in future!

R