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  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
***************************************************************************************
***  To ensure a positive work experience in South Korea, make sure to do basic research on job standards in Korea before accepting a position!    ***
***  Follow the link for some basic information about common Korean ESL industry regulations, benchmarks, and red-flags:                                           ***
***  Click here for link!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ***
***************************************************************************************



Visa:
Ensure that your prospective job is appropriate to the type of visa you are applying for. This is the employee's responsibility: if you are working on the wrong visa type, *you* run the risk of being fined and deported while your employer may face no repercussions at all.:
D-2: Student Visa: Possible to do part time teaching *only with explicit written permission from university*
E-1: university professor
E-2: Language conversation *only* (ie, no teaching music, PE, Science etc in English) working for a single employer. Not allowed to work as independent contractor.
F-visas: Almost anything goes, job-wise. If you have an F-visa you probably are already aware of everything in this rough guide.
There are many other visas. Most do not allow for ESL teaching.
Here’s the wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_Korean_visas


Compensation:
As of 2023, minimum hourly wage in South Korea is 9,620 won per hour.
A full time job (40 working hours per week) is not legally permitted to offer a monthly salary of less than 2.01 million won.
Overtime is defined as any amount of hours over 40, and must be paid at 1.5 times hourly rate.
Here’s up-to-date (2022) info related to work hours, breaks, and payment:
https://www.replicon.com/regulation/south-korea/#:~:text=Employers%20who%20employ%20fewer%20than,only%2052%20hours%20a%20week.


*Mandatory* benefits:
If you are on an E-2 visa, these are the benefits that you are guaranteed as a full time worker:

Minimum of 1 paid day off per week.
Maximum of 8 hour work day before overtime applies
30 minute rest break per 4 hours worked.
15 days of annual paid leave (this may include 2nd weekend day, unfortunately).
Public Holidays, depending on the size of workplace. If working for small business, then employees can be required to work on red days, but will earn 150% wages.
50% contribution to mandatory medicare.
50% contribution to mandatory pension  (4.5% of monthly salary not 3.3%***)
Paid leave for work-related illness or injury.
Here is link to Korean Employee rights and benefits:
https://content.next.westlaw.com/6-508-2342?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true

*** if you are paying only 3.3%, chances are that your employer has you registered as a freelancer, which means that you might get some trouble from immigrations.
It also means that they are probably not properly paying into your pension and medical insurance. If you notice that you are paying the wrong percentage, *immediately* check your pension and medical insurance status online!!!!

How to check pension status: https://hangangmagazine.com/how-to-check-korean-national-pension/
How to check medical insurance status: https://www.nhis.gov.gh/929

 
***** Benchmark contract:
This is a link to the public school contracts offered to E-2 visa holders in 2021.
This seems like a very reasonable standard to compare your own contract to.
https://www.epik.go.kr:8080/contents.do?contentsNo=54&menuNo=283


Common Red flags in a Contract:



Disclaimer:
This is meant as a helpful guideline and is in no way complete or definitive.
Check Korean labour laws when a dispute arises, as it *always* takes precedence over contractual clauses.

Here is a link to a translated version of the Korean labor laws: https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawView.do?hseq=25437&lang=ENG
« Last Edit: April 06, 2023, 12:50:29 pm by annataleen »


  • Bakeacake
  • Expert Waygook

    • 864

    • July 12, 2010, 01:35:40 pm
    • Pohang South Korea
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2022, 01:37:03 pm »
didn't Korea outlaw asking for photos to be submitted as part of a resume a few years back?


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2022, 02:00:49 pm »
didn't Korea outlaw asking for photos to be submitted as part of a resume a few years back?
I'm not sure. Let me see if I can find the answer to that.
I've seen plenty of photo requests, so if they *have* banned it, it would definitely count as a red flag!

Edit: Not yet. They have proposed a bill that might do so in 2023. Hopefully it passes!
« Last Edit: October 04, 2022, 08:21:01 am by Kyndo »


  • Bakeacake
  • Expert Waygook

    • 864

    • July 12, 2010, 01:35:40 pm
    • Pohang South Korea
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2022, 02:02:10 pm »
moon Jae in talked about scrapping it formally in 2017.  i dont know if he ever got a round to it or not. What with all his pressing business with Jong'Un


Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2022, 09:49:56 pm »
No only government jobs. So epik cant or I should say shouldn’t. However lots of education offices are run by former or current hagwon owners so expect more shenanigans from them including bending if laws and lowering compensation.
Blocked users; your mom


  • Spliced
  • Super Waygook

    • 331

    • August 05, 2022, 12:15:38 am
    • Jeolla
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2022, 01:01:01 am »
So this is sort of what I had in mind. The top bit would be included in every job posting as a general bit of helpful advice, while the second bit below would be the actual guide that it links to.
This is just a draft. I'd appreciate input, commentary etc etc especially with the red flags bit.





*************************************************************************************
To ensure a positive work experience in South Korea, make sure to do basic research on job standards in Korea before accepting a position!
Follow the link for some basic information about common Korean ESL industry regulations, benchmarks, and red-flags:
[link to actual information]
*************************************************************************************



Visa:
Ensure that your prospective job is appropriate to the type of visa you are applying for. This is the employees responsibility: if you are working on the wrong visa type, *you* run the risk of being fined and deported while your employer may face no repercussions at all.:
D-2: Student Visa: Possible to do part time teaching *only with explicit written permission from university*
E-1: university professor
E-2: Language conversation *only* (ie, no teaching music, PE, Science etc in English) working for a single employer. Not allowed to work as independent contractor.
F-visas: Almost anything goes, job-wise. If you have an F-visa you probably are already aware of everything in this rough guide.
There are many other visas. Most do not allow for ESL teaching.
Here’s the wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_Korean_visas


Compensation:
As of autumn, 2023, minimum wage in South Korea is 9,620 won per hour.
A full time job (40 working hours per week) is not legally permitted to offer a monthly salary of less than 2.01 million won.
Overtime is defined as any amount of hours over 40 which must be paid at 1.5 times hourly rate.
Here’s up-to-date (2022) info related to work hours, breaks, and payment:
https://www.replicon.com/regulation/south-korea/#:~:text=Employers%20who%20employ%20fewer%20than,only%2052%20hours%20a%20week.


*Mandatory* benefits:
If you are on an E-2 visa, these are the benefits that you are guaranteed as a full time worker:

Minimum of 1 paid day off per week.
Maximum of 8 hour work day before overtime applies
30 minute rest break per 4 hours worked.
15 days of annual paid leave (this may include 2nd weekend day, unfortunately).
Public Holidays, depending on the size of workplace. If working for small business, then can be required to work on red days, but will earn 150% wages.
50% contribution to mandatory medicare.
50% contribution to mandatory pension  (4.5% of monthly salary *not* 3.3%)
Paid leave for work-related illness or injury.
Here is link to Korean Employee rights and benefits:
https://content.next.westlaw.com/6-508-2342?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true


***** Benchmark contract:
This is a link to the public school contracts offered to E-2 visa holders in 2021.
This seems like a very reasonable standard to compare your own contract to.
https://www.epik.go.kr:8080/contents.do?contentsNo=54&menuNo=283


Common Red flags in a Contract:



Disclaimer:
This is meant as a helpful guideline and is in no way complete or definitive.
Check Korean labour laws when a dispute arises, as it *always* takes precedent over contractual clauses.

Well done,  Kyndo...thank you.

May add, and this is still an important data point.

Any recruiter needs to add his/her address, contact information and recruiting license information (to ensure he/she is legally able to recruit foreign nationals).

Otherwise, you have certain folks that simply have a WhatsApp number, located somewhere outside of Korea, with no physical address or anything indicating a legal basis to be in the industry.  If expat teachers need to meet legal requirements, so should recruiters (and schools).

After all, DIRT-BAG recruiters are part of downfall of the ESL industry in Korea.  There are perhaps, a few reliable agencies but most are clowns, who deserve an honest ass-beating....hypothetically speaking. 
« Last Edit: September 30, 2022, 11:14:40 am by Kyndo »
Waygook.org moderators are ALL cowardly dickheads (we are what we eat) and shag-bags.  Van Twitter is a tender-footed tosser with too many cats, operates a possible sock account while J.V.C. (a.k.a, Marti/Steel Rails) is simply using up everyone else's oxygen.


  • hangook77
  • Waygook Lord

    • 6114

    • September 14, 2017, 09:10:12 am
    • Near Busan
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2022, 02:15:16 pm »
Full time minimum wage in 2023 is over 2 million won per month.  (Correction to above.)
Happy Teachers Day to New Orleans.


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2022, 07:29:47 am »
Thanks Hangook. I updated the notice.


  • Mr C
  • The Legend

    • 3994

    • October 17, 2012, 03:00:40 pm
    • Seoul
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2022, 08:40:10 am »
Thanks Hangook. I updated the notice.

Why would you do that?  It's incorrect.

Even at 209 hours per month, far more than even hakwons, it's 1,914,440, which is less than "over 2 million per month".

https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/english/main.do



  • Renma
  • Expert Waygook

    • 636

    • September 01, 2014, 06:09:42 am
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2022, 09:00:45 am »
It's currently 9,160 won per hour, but it will be increased next year to 9,620 won (1.91m won 2022> 2.02m won 2023). But yeah, that figure still accounts for 209 hours, and to which I hope hagwons are offering less monthly hours.


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2022, 11:24:37 am »
Thanks for double checking, Mr.C.

Reading a few articles, as I understand it:

Starting in 2023, minimum wage will be 9,620 won per hour.

At 209 hours a month (if a full time worker works 40 hours a week, they get additional hours as their 'paid weekend day', so that their monthly hours are calculated as 209 hours regardless of actual hours worked. Hours worked over 40 count as overtime.), minimum legal salary for a full time worker (which I believe all E-2 visa holder qualify as) would then be 2,010,580 won per month.
https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/english/introduce/minWage.do

« Last Edit: September 30, 2022, 11:14:06 am by Kyndo »


  • Mr C
  • The Legend

    • 3994

    • October 17, 2012, 03:00:40 pm
    • Seoul
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2022, 07:43:46 am »
The new banner looks like it's announcing a gay pride parade.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.


  • ToilingAjumma
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1077

    • September 06, 2022, 09:12:01 pm
    • Anyang
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2022, 08:08:07 am »
The new banner looks like it's announcing a gay pride parade.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Blocked: JonVoight오토바이


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2022, 11:09:21 am »
The fact that the change was noticed means that it's effective!  :smiley:


  • ToilingAjumma
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1077

    • September 06, 2022, 09:12:01 pm
    • Anyang
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #14 on: September 28, 2022, 12:11:19 pm »
NEW RULE: If your boss id a DILF, you get paid less. lol
Blocked: JonVoight오토바이


  • hangook77
  • Waygook Lord

    • 6114

    • September 14, 2017, 09:10:12 am
    • Near Busan
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #15 on: September 30, 2022, 10:06:19 am »
Why would you do that?  It's incorrect.

Even at 209 hours per month, far more than even hakwons, it's 1,914,440, which is less than "over 2 million per month".

https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/english/main.do



"""The new minimum wage translates to a monthly wage of 2.02 million won, when an individual works 209 hours a month. This will apply equally across all industries."""

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220805000461

I don't make things up.  2023, which is almost here, is what it will be. 

(These are for basic jobs which do not require a university degree and therefore require no taking of large student loans.)
« Last Edit: September 30, 2022, 10:10:49 am by hangook77 »
Happy Teachers Day to New Orleans.


  • Kyndo
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    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
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Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #16 on: September 30, 2022, 11:17:59 am »
2.010580 million, actually.   :smiley:
https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/english/introduce/minWage.do

But "close enough for government work".


  • Mr C
  • The Legend

    • 3994

    • October 17, 2012, 03:00:40 pm
    • Seoul
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #17 on: September 30, 2022, 11:48:49 am »
2.010580 million, actually.   :smiley:
https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/english/introduce/minWage.do

But "close enough for government work".

I think even in government work, you're not allowed to use zero in the last place to round *up*. 


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #18 on: September 30, 2022, 12:47:49 pm »
Have you ever seen them when they hand out tax returns? They round off their numbers with a chainsaw attached to the end of a 3 metre long swinging rope.
But I get your point.   :smiley:


  • waygo0k
  • The Legend

    • 4795

    • September 27, 2011, 11:51:01 am
    • Chungnam
Re: Creating a disclaimer / information guide to include with all job postings
« Reply #19 on: October 01, 2022, 02:31:29 pm »
This is an awesome post!

Can this be pinned to the top of the forum sub-section?