Korean Job Discussion Forums

[elliemk]

My contract didn't include pension plan. My director says he has never paid into this. He's ready now not to hire me. But I still want to go to Korea. Does the Korean government check on foreigners to make sure they are paying into the plan? Please rush your reply! Thanks!

[garykasparov]

[elliemk]

He says he doesn't know about it. He was my first friend in Korea and has always been honest and ethical with me. Now I am 58 and it's difficult to find a job, but the job and benefits he's offering are some of the best I've seen for a hakwon.

So, the question is - what happens if he doesn't do it? Does the Korean government check on these thing? Thanks.

[ontheway]

If what you're worried about is getting caught, then, yes, it is quite possible to come into Korea and work with an E2 visa and pay no taxes, no pension contribution and not sign up for the national health insurance and work without getting caught. You get paid in cash and work in the underground economy. You could still get caught, but the odds are you won't, at least not in the first year or so.

You probably want to make sure that your pay is a little higher to compensate for your lack of these benefits. You might also want to get onto some form of private insurance, especially if you have any risk factors that you know of that could lead to your need for coverage.

You might also have trouble sending home more than $10,000 dollars US per year if you can't prove that you've earned it and paid your taxes. There are probabaly plenty of ways to work around this, but you'll have to be creative.

If you make a deal to work in the underground economy, and do so with your eyes open, then be sure not to come back later and complain about what you're not getting. And don't expect to change your employer subsequent to signing on. He will see your failure to keep the deal (honor among thieves) as a betrayal and could fight tooth and nail against you.

Good luck.

[elliemk]

The contact has national health insurance, taking taxes out according to law - all else according to what I've read on this forum. It's just the pension plan. That is my question - does the Korean gov. check about pension plan for foreigners.

[ontheway]

If you're enrolled in the National Health Insurance through your employer, and not on as a family member, then eventually the National Pension Scheme will catch up to you and make you sign up. It could be a matter of months or years, but they do check.

[elliemk]

Okay, Thanks! Then I will save my 4.5 percent contribution and if it does catch up with me, then I'll have the money to pay retroactively. I desperately want to come back to Korea, and due to my age, it is difficult to find such a great position as the one my friend is offering.

[ttompatz]

[elliemk]

Well, he's paying me 2,300,000 instead of the 2,200,000 originally offered, so that will just about cover it. And, I will be the only foreigner at the school.