Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jonathan2119]

Hi,

I'm looking to teach in Korea and was offered a contract by YBMECC Daechi. I've been trying to dig up information about the school. I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge or advice about it they can pass on to me.

Thanks.



Here's a copy of the contract that was emailed to me:

Employer and employee agree as follows:

1. Employment

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 (March session 2007) 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 110hours(165-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.

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 2.0Million Won with 2 payments made on the last day of the last teaching session 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 22, 500 Won / actual teaching hour. 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. Salary payments will be made on or before the eighth day of the month following the teaching session during which the employment services were provided.

3.2 Orientation and Training : Shortly after arrival in Korea, employee may be required to undertake orientation and training before commencing teaching. The period of training and orientation will usually be two to four days. Employee will receive payment of 30.000 won per each day of training and orientation.

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 wilt be prorated.

3.6 Sick Days/Attendance Bonus : Employee is entitled to 3 paid sick days. Should employee not use these sick days, employer will pay an attendance bonus of 250,000 Won upon the completion of one-year contract. Unused sick days will be credited at 50,000 won per day unused. Any contracts less than 1 year will receive one sick day and a bonus of 125,000 won for no absences.

3.7 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. There are ten (10) vacation days in each calendar year (January - December).

3.8 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. Employee's share of this coverage will be deducted from employee's salary, monthly.

3.9 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 have a kitchen and bathroom. Furnishings provided by employer for common use by employee single accommodation include: A kitchen table and chairs, two-burner gas hotplate, a refrigerator, a telephone, 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, and 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 wilt 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 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

_______________________________ ________________________________

Employer : YBM/ECC DAECHI Employee

(Daechi Si-Sa Language Inst.)

2007-01-22

______________________________ ________________________________ Date : Date:

[kimchi story]

Yeah, I spent a year and half there - I still have friends there. Possibly an above average hogwan in a nice part of town, it's privately owned and the owner honored the contract fully - as well as watching my back after a close call with immi. I'd do it again, and I almost did, but I'm a public school-over-hogwan kinda guy and a public school job came up just in time.

[yashi]

I worked there about seven years ago and just recently stopped by the school to say hello to the owner. No communication problems will exist as he speaks English. He is very honest and supportive of his employees. For example, when I finished my contract, I decided to take a position with a different school (older kids, better position and pay) on a temporary basis. He agreed to extend my visa for a few weeks before my visa run to allow me to start the new job. In addition, instead of a return flight home, he bought me a round trip ticket to Thailand about six months after my contract with him finished during my new school's vacation. Basically, if you are committed and work hard to help the kids as well as get along with the rest of the staff, you will be treated properly.
You should request to speak with current teachers at the school. I believe they have good housing. The curriculum is set and provides inexperienced teachers with a opportunity to learn while working. You always get paid. Also, the school is in a prime neighborhood in Seoul. Lastly, work out all the details of your contract to your satisfaction before you sign.

[CPT]

I have received the same contract offer from Mr. Shin. I am about 80% sure I will accept it, as I haven't heard anything too bad about the school, other than the pay being a bit low. Nevertheless, I still have some concerns, and perhaps there are some things I should be concerned about that I don't even know about.

I'm really new to all of this, as this is the first job I've been offered and I only started looking around last week. A friend I have at another school in Seoul suggests that I accept, but I'd like to hear more from people who have had direct experience with YBM/ECC Daechi.

The only qualification I have is a BA. No TESOL certificate, and no teaching experience to speak of (though some work with kids). Also, it is important to me to have a job starting in May, as I'd like to be back in Canada by June of 2008.

Anything you could tell me would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance