Korean Job Discussion Forums

MarionG · Joined: 14 Sep 2006

I agreed about 2 weeks ago to teach 8 hours a week at a local university. My employer knew all about this and encouraged me to accept. I asked about the pay and was told that it was 40,000 won an hour, so that sounded great.

My contract says that I am to receive 30% of the fee received by the school for any overtime, and I've never been asked to do any overtime. Today my boss, who I like very much and with whom I've gotten along well, mentioned that the university would be paying her, and she would be paying me what the contract calls for, the 30%.

I was flumoxed, as it had never occured to me that this was considered "overtime." She said this was standard procedure (for the university to pay the hogwon, who then paid the teacher the contractual amount. I said that I was glad that she had mentioned it, but that I wasn't interested in doing it for 380,000+/- won a month for 40 hours of my time a month (that includes travel time to the university and back.) It just isn't worth it. Of course, I had 1,280,000 won dancing in my head, but still, now she wants to negotiate.

Apparently it is true that the universities (at least in this area) normally do that, but there's something that just makes my skin prickle about being "rented out" so that someone else takes a big cut of what I'm paid.

What does any of you know about this situation? Any experience with this?

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

You heard of "Pimp My Ride"? Well welcome to "Pimp My Teacher"!

merkurix · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Not far from the deep end.

Agreed. If your hagwon boss is going to pimp you out to a university or any other place, taking a 70 percent cut for your teaching is a rip-off I think. It's not illegal unless all parties involved agree it's okay for you to work there and the Immigration office duly makes note of it before you start your work there.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

jellobean · Joined: 14 Mar 2006

Any teaching that is not on the premises of the hagwon is not legal under an E-2 visa.... You need to get an addition of employment (60,000 won at immi) which requires your hagwon to sign off.... You work directly for the university on this permission and they should pay you directly..... Any other instance and you are getting ripped off by the hagwon.... Of course if you are happy with less, negotiate with your employer, however, you must get the additional permission from immi or it is illegal, in which case you have no power and your hagwon can hold it over your head... Be careful...