Country Information (Working in Korea)

Few countries are as dynamic as Korea. At a crossroads between a traditional culture that dates back almost 5000 years and a culture that is at the leading edge of technology and pop culture in Asia, Korea offers the best of both worlds. From busy and sometimes chaotic cities to the tranquility of its mountains, beaches and far off islands, Korea has a bit of everything.

Working in Korea is a great way to start a journey or prolong one that has already begun. Already one of the top destinations for foreign ESL teachers, the market only seems to be getting bigger. While other countries offer similar jobs, none offer the quality and benefits of working in Korea. Other countries may pay more but the cost of living there is also much higher. In addition, those that do offer higher salaries do so because they may not cover the cost of your major expenses, such as rent and airfare, which are the two biggest factors when you¡¯re thinking about earning and saving money.

On the other hand, there are those countries that have a very low cost of living, literally a few dollars a day, but they do not offer a salary that enable you to pay off your student loan or save for a down payment on a new house. Moreover, these countries may not have the infrastructure and established rules to deal with issues that arise with foreign teachers. Many of these countries may also run illegitimate businesses and the possibility of not getting paid or the school closing down before your contract expires is much higher.

Eduplanet offers you the opportunity to enrich your life while at the same time enriching a future generation of young minds. Our jobs are located in cities all over Korea - in the capital, Seoul, as well as other large cities such as Busan and Daejeon. If you prefer a quieter setting, we offer jobs in coastal towns next to mountains and beaches.

With easy working hours and a set curriculum there is plenty of time to go out and enjoy your time away from the classroom. Close to Japan, China and other South Asian countries, travelling has never been easier. With paid airfare and housing plus a lower cost of living than most western countries, you could save between CND$8000 and $12000 in one year! (¡¦depending on your lifestyle, of course)

Benefits

All our jobs offer standard benefits:

• Salary between KRW2000000 and KRW2,300,000 (approximately CDN$2,300 to $2,550), but may be higher depending on experience and qualifications
• Only 3 to 7% tax on salary
• 25 to 30 hour work week, with overtime paid at KRW20,000/hour
• No split shifts, no weekends
• Single or double occupancy furnished apartment provided at no cost
• 1 month's bonus severance pay after the contract year
• Roundtrip airfare
• 10 days paid vacation a year + all national holidays
• 100% medical insurance (50% is paid for by the employer)
• 50% national pension plan supported by the employer

Salary and Taxes

Those teaching for the first time in Korea, with little or no experience, can expect a salary of KRW2,000,000/month. Experienced or more qualified teachers can expect a salary as high as KRW2,600,000/month. Most of the schools we deal with offer salaries between KRW2,100,000/month and KRW2,300,000/month.

The tax rate for teachers depends on their salary bracket and the city in which they are working. Generally, the rate ranges from 3 to 7% with most being around 5%. Taxes are generally deducted once or twice during a 1-year contract period.

Vacation

Teachers get all Korean national holidays off, plus an additional 7 to 10 day paid vacation from the school. The vacation days generally coincide with the time when the school is closed during summer and winter breaks, usually for one week.

Visa Issurance

Visa issuance is a two-step process. The first is sending the necessary documents to Korea to get a visa number, and the second is taking or mailing that number along with the required documents to the Korean Embassy or Consulate closest to your place of residence for them to put the visa in your passport.

Once you have been accepted and a school has decided to hire you, we will send you all the information necessary to begin the visa application process. It usually takes the Korean Immigration Office 5 to 7 business days to issue a visa number and an additional 5 to 7 days at the Korean Embassy or Consulate to put the visa in your passport. Time to courier the documents to and from Korea and the embassy must be allotted for.

New Korea Immigration laws stipulate that the follow be completed before a visa is issued

• Must have an interview at the Korean Consulate in your native country.
• First-time applicants must apply for visas at a Korean Embassy or Consulate in their own countries.

- However, any applicant who worked previously with an E1, E2, E3 visa in Korea without any illegal activities is exempt from an interview and can apply for an E2 visa in a third country.

• Applying for visas by mail is acceptable. However, an interview will be held face to face with a consul on the day of visa issuing date. After a successful interview, the visa can be picked up within an hour.
• An interview will be scheduled during the allotted times set by individual embassies and consulates.
• Only after submitting their visa application should applicants contact the Consulate in order to schedule an interview.

Payment for the first part of the application process is paid for by the school. The second part, in which the teacher sends the information to the Korean embassy, is paid for by the teacher.

You should allow at least six weeks for processing before you begin work and as such it is advisable to plan your voyage 2 to 3 months before you intend to start work.

Once you have your visa in your passport and your plane ticket, you fly to the ¡°Land of the Morning Calm.¡± Show your passport as you pass through customs and you are set.

Working Hours

At most schools a teacher is required to work between 25 and 30 hours per week; beyond that, they are paid overtime. Individual contracts do vary so make sure you read your contract carefully.

Most hagwons (private, after school academies) begin class around 1 or 2 pm and end around 8 or 9 pm; however, you are unlikely to be teaching in the classroom more that 6 hours per day. The additional time is spent preparing for classes, lessons and activities, as well as marking and grading.

Accommodations

Almost all job offers in Korea will include free accommodation as a standard benefit. A furnished apartment, either single or shared, will be provided to you. Although your rent will be paid, you will have to pay for your monthly utilities (heat, cable, electricity, gas, phone, etc.).