Korean Job Discussion Forums

juliebaas · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Location: Somewhere near Seoul

I am in Korea and waiting to find out about a job, well I ran into this couple, who are working part-time jobs here without contracts. They found an apartment for 500 a month with no key deposit and they stated they make an average of 3.7 mil won a month. They are from Canada and can work three months on a part work and part tourist visa and then travel out of the county for a weekend and come back. They stated they have never had problems wiht immigration and that it is pretty easy to find this work.

I am thinking about doing this, as my husband has a position and has an apartment and I could make more then with a contract.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The couple you ran into are working illegally. The reason they had no problem with Immi is because Immi is not all that efficient, but when it does have a spasm of efficiency, it arrests, detains, fines and deports people who are doing what the couple is.

You are married. Do you want to run the risk of being deported while your husband (family?) stay here? Or force them to leave?

Work safely with a contract and visa for a lower amount of money for a longer period, or risk it all to maybe make more money. It's your call.

PS: You can also make some money by turning in the couple to Immi.

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

juliebaas · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Location: Somewhere near Seoul

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

lastat06513 · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject:

STFU!

Here is a little secret about medium and small-sized hogwons. Many of them are registered as different enterprises to avoid being in a certain tax bracket and many don't even care to register their foreign staff with health care (which is mandatory by law) and with the pension office (also mandatory by law). Why are they doing this? to avoid paying the tax involved.

And I have seen too many posts (about 10 a week) from teachers who complain that their schools are constantly screwing with their pay or their benefits or even firing them without notification or justification.

To top it off, immigrations has made it impossible to get a visa; it seems you need to have sealed transcripts that are no more than 3 months old and you need to bring your original diploma or have a notarized copy that must be notarized by the consulate in the region where the school is located.

My question is; why bother?

Yes, part-time teaching is deemed illegal because it is untaxed income, but as I mentioned above, the institutes are doing the same thing and get away with it for years on end.
Plus, alot of people are not satisfied with their jobs and tend to post their complaints here. But at the same time as they post their complaints they tell people not to teach illegal because of the risk of getting caught.

I, for one, did work on a C3 visa for one whole year and came and went from Korea with no hassles. They tend to go after Canadians because they get a 6-month entry stamp in their passport and it makes it easier for them to get caught because of that. Most people I know with C3 visas had no problems with immigrations at the airport and had no problems finding work.

If you think you are brave enough to do this and have the contacts to help you find enough work to make it worth your wild, do it.
Sometimes, it doesn't pay to listen to people on this board- sometimes you have to find out for yourself and find what is best for you. If you think you can do better as a free-lance teacher, do it, enjoy the freedom and make as much money as you possibly can.

One thing I will say is, be smart about it and try NOT to carry books with you, that is a dead give-away that you did some kind of work and raises red-flags with immigrations.

Be smart, be vigilant and be successful..... Wink

juliebaas · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Location: Somewhere near Seoul

Thanks lastat for your honest and refreshing view on the topic. You have presented some information that is actually helpful and will give me some guidance in this matter.

And to at-a-boy, please refrain from the self righteous, holier then thou attitude. To answer your questions,

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

Working illegally is pretty much a gamble. Ya-ta Boy may have sounded a little harsh, but he's right on the money.

There have been many news stories in the media about teacher's working illegally. They give those of us who are working here legally a blackeye.

One could make the same type of arguement in terms of immigration in the US. Many people go there illegally to work, is it right? No.

It's not that tough to work legally. Thousands of teachers do it every year. If you are smart about the school you choose to work at and do your homework in terms of research, you'll be fine.

I know there have been some good threads on here about turning people in working illegally. I'm not sure if I would, but I strongly feel that people who work illegally get what they deserve in the end one way or another.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

You have been here in Korea for very little time and you know nothing. It is easy to get screwed around in Korea. You work illegally and it is hard to get the money owed to you. Working illegally has some risks.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Cohiba · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

If you have the qualifications, there's no reason not to work legally. If it's your first time in Korea, get a real job, learn the ropes, test the waters and make a more informed decision for your second year. You can always ask your boss for overtime at your school...they will often set you up with it if you are willing. Or go for a job like CDI or Pagoda: long hours but higher salary.

Zark · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject:

While W3.7 million is probably quite possible - the couple you refer to may also be heading for a fall. Particularly if they talk too much about their activities. The people who are most successful from this angle are the ones who say nothing to anyone about it - and in particular DON'T talk to total strangers about it. And, sometimes (or even often), it is not the talking of the teacher - it is the school's competitors that tip off immigration.

Your plan is not difficult to do - but issues of legality can be problematic. Do you really want to be worried about being found out all the time?

I would like to take the higher ground and say stay 100% legal - but now that I am not in Korea, I can say that I taught private jobs on the side for five of the six years I was in Korea - with never a problem. But - 99% of the people I worked with and knew - had no idea.

Thorny issue - with heated opinions on both sides.

I might suggest that you spend a year fully legal first, so you get a chance to see the situation first hand for a while. Korea often goes through periods of raids and the rooting out of illegal teachers - and you might want to make yourself aware of these types of cycles as well. It is NOT uncommon for teachers to get busted and deported. Familiarize yourself with those situations before you make a decision for yourself.