Korean Job Discussion Forums

[semphoon]

Hello there,

A Korean friend of mine as been employed by a hagwon. Not to teach any lessons, but instead to design and write a hagwon textbook from scratch. This includes deciding the different levels/ability and the subjects used to learn English. They also have to write the questions and provide a teachers answer guide. This textbook will be used in all the hagwon chains.

What are my friend�s legal rights here? On one side, I have heard that they are paid as an employee and any work done will be considered the work of the employer. On the other hand, I have heard that they could claim a proportion of all the sales of the textbook as they were the original creator.

So, if the textbook is sold through out the hagwon chain, can my friend make it filthy stinking rich?

Many thanks,

Jonny Elboow.

[ttompatz]

[Unposter]

If they want copyright, they should write it into the contract. My guess the company won't relinguish easily; your friend might have to put up a fight. The whole reason they make these textbooks is to make money off your labor.

For other readers, if you work at a hakwon, I strongly suggest making your own materials and selling them to your students; it is the way many Koreans make money. Talk to your hakwon owner/manager first though.