Yet another hagwon contract! Nowon-gu, Seoul

I interviewed with this hagwon a few days ago and got a good feeling from it. They were upfront and transparent about salary, vacation etc, have their own syllabus, and I can't really find any glaring red flags in the contract aside from the extra things needed during non-teaching hours. I've asked a current teacher how much of that is required, and I'm waiting for a response.

As for me, first time teacher, unrelated bachelor's degree, TEFL certificate, and no formal teaching experience. I'm also 36 and have been in the workforce long enough to know that you will have to deal with some shitty things and shitty people no matter what country/job you're in. I will be a guest in Korea. It's on me to adapt to their way of working. That being said, your input is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

INTRODUCTION:

(A) This is an agreement between an employee (hereinafter called “the instructor” or the “teacher”) and an employer (hereinafter called the “institute” or the “school”). The instructor agrees to teach students at the institute at the times designated by the institute’s management and agrees to develop and present educational programs for the students. The instructor agrees to follow and strictly comply with the School's policies and guidelines during the period of this agreement.

2. CONTRACT DURATION:

(A) It is hereby agreed between the school and the instructor that the instructor shall teach at the school for one year, starting from July 11th, 2019 (The starting date of the contract is the teacher’s first teaching date at the school) and ending on July 17th, 2020**.** If the instructor wishes to renew his/her contract at the end of one year, he/she must inform the school two months before the end of the current contract by letter, and the contract may, if both parties agree, be renewed at that time for another year by mutual agreement.



3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TEACHER:

(A) The teacher’s weekly teaching hours are at maximum 30 hours a week. Therefore, when the teacher has no classes, the teacher should do work**:** lesson planning with co-teachers, revising essays, voice recording, writing student evaluations, creating syllabi, having English phone conversations with students, making report cards, planning or supervising field trips, consulting with parents, supervising play, attending workshops, attending staff meetings, and upgrading one’s professional knowledge and skills without additional pay. The work week will follow the yearly academic calendar issued by the school

(B) The instructor's working hours (2:00 P.M. –10:00 P.M. (M-F) shall be determined by the school's schedule. However, the teaching schedule can be changed according to the school’s schedule.

(C) The instructor is responsible for familiarizing him or herself with all institute materials relevant to teaching at the school. The instructor shall faithfully teach and train students at the School.



4. TEACHER'S SALARY:

(A) The instructor's total monthly salary shall be 2.2 million won.

(B) If the instructor teaches, by mutual agreement between the instructor and employer, additional teaching hours over and above 30 classes per week. Overtime compensation at 20,000 won/hour shall be paid for those hours.

(C) The instructor's salary will be paid monthly on a regular day for payment of instructor's salaries.

(D) On completion of one’s employment with *school*, the severance pay is 2.2 million won for each full contract period completed. The amount paid for each year is equivalent to the monthly salary of the employee’s final contract.

(E) The instructor shall have training before starting work. The incoming teacher will be paid during this training period.



5. AIRFARE :

(A) The instructor will be offered a single one-way economy class ticket for the duration of their employment.

a) An instructor hired from outside of the country will be provided with a one-way economy class ticket from his/her chosen international airport to Korea or vice versa. The airfare costs will be covered by the Institute.

b) If the instructor does not require a plane ticket to Korea, the instructor will be provided with a one-way economic class ticket from Korea to his/her chosen international airport. The provided ticket may include layovers.

(B) If the instructor voluntarily resigns within eight months of the start of the contract, they will be responsible for paying back the cost of their plane ticket.

(C) If the instructor voluntarily resigns within eight months of the start of the contract, and they did not receive a plane ticket to Korea, they will not receive one from Korea.



6. HOUSING:

(A) The institute will provide a private single person accommodation, or give the teacher housing allowance equal to 0.4 million won.

(B) The teacher's apartment furnishings shall include: a stove; a refrigerator; a bed, an internet connection, as well as a heating system and air-conditioning

(C) Costs for all utilities, including lighting, heat, water and internet shall be borne by the teacher.



7. VACATION TIME:

(A) The instructor shall enjoy 10 days of personal paid vacation (in addition to all Korean national holidays, and Saturdays and Sundays) which they can take during middle school testing periods.

(B) The instructor will be given five days of vacation to use during their first six months of the contract period

(C) If the employee takes more than five vacation days and leaves during the second half of the contract period, a deduction could be made from the final check.

(D) Employees will be penalized one vacation day for every month they are not completing. Any vacation days used over that amount will be deducted from the paycheck at the rate of 100,000 won for each day.

(E) Vacation days cannot be transferred to a second contract period. All 10 days must be used during the instructor’s contract period.

(F) Unused personal vacation days will be compensated at the instructor’s usual daily pay.

(G) Available vacation dates will first be offered to the employees who have worked for the school the longest, followed by the 2nd longest, etc.

(H) When taking vacation lesson plans must be left for the replacement teacher.

(I) In addition to the 10 days of personal paid vacation, all employees will have 3 days off in the summer. The dates will be determined by the school, and cannot be changed.

(J) The instructor may also choose to take unpaid vacation. Unpaid vacation days must be approved by management.

(K) In the case of unpaid vacation, the instructor’s next salary payment will be reduced by one day’s pay for each unpaid vacation day taken.



8. SICK DAYS:

(A) The instructor can take three sick days off per year. Sick days will be deducted from the instructor’s 10 personal vacation days.

(B) The instructor must notify their campus as soon as possible if they will be late or absent as a result of illness.

(C) The instructor will require a note from a doctor confirming their illness. The note should be submitted to the head office.

(D) If the instructor has no personal vacation days remaining, or does not provide a doctor’s note, the sick day will not be paid.

9. SUMMER AND WINTER INTENSIVES

(A) During the summer and winter public school vacation periods, the institute may hold additional classes for students.

(B) The instructor will be paid extra for any extracurricular summer or winter vacation classes they teach.

(C) The amount of additional pay will depend on the amount of students who register for the class, the fee students are charged for the class, and the amount of hours the instructor spends teaching these classes.



10. INCOME TAX:

(A) Approximately 8% of the instructor's monthly salary shall be deducted by the employer as withholding tax as stated by Korean law, which includes the instructor’s share of insurance, pension and so on.



11. KOREAN HEALTH INSURANCE:

(A) The instructor 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 the employer and half by the instructor. The instructor's share of this coverage will be deducted from the instructor's monthly salary.



12. KOREAN PENSION:

(A) Half of the pension will be paid by the employee and the other half will be paid by the employer. The instructor's share of this coverage will be deducted from the instructor's monthly salary.



13. DUTY OF SECRECY:

(A) The instructor shall not disclose any of the contents of this agreement**, including salary, to a third party** (including other employees of the school).

(B) The instructor shall not disclose any information relating to the contents of lectures, and business operation of the school without prior permission of the School. Violation of this portion of the contract will result in the instructor compensating the institute for all possible losses suffered by the institute.



14. ADDITIONAL DUTIES:

(A) The instructor is required to conduct him/herself in a professional manner and to wear neat attire while at the school. Casual clothing is unacceptable.

The dress code is business casual.

(B) Using the internet or cell phones for personal use at school is not allowed.

(C) The following forms of behavior will not be permitted.

a) Dismissing, canceling, or starting classes late without prior approval from the institute director.

b) Conducting class while under the influence of alcohol, while smoking, or under the influence of illegal drugs.

c) Making sexual advances towards, or engaging in relationships with students or employees of the school.

d) Arriving at the school late. (teachers should arrive at 2:00 PM, or 20 minutes before their first class, whichever is earlier)

e) Attending classes without preparation and sitting down during teaching hours.

(D) The institute has the right to terminate this contract if the instructor violates the contract or fails to conduct him/herself in a professional manner. If the instructor is not performing to the institute’s standards, the instructor can receive a warning letter. After receiving a warning letter, the instructor cannot receive another warning letter for one week. This is to give the instructor time to improve their performance or behavior. After receiving three warning letters the instructor’s contract will be terminated, with one month’s notice. The instructor will not receive any additional pay after their final month of employment.

(E) If the employee wishes to voluntarily resign from employment before the completion of this contract, the employee must provide written notice to the employer at least 8 weeks before their resignation date.

(F) For a dismissal or voluntary resignation within 8 months of this Contract period, the amount of all airfares (including trip costs to Japan in case the teacher came to Korea by tourist visa) will be deducted from the employee’s last monthly salary.

(G) The teacher cannot work for other schools or companies without the consent of the school.

15. Both parties have carefully read this contract; they have agreed to its terms in good faith; and they will attempt to resolve any disputes which may arise in accordance with the terms of the contract, in a reasonable manner. All disputes which cannot be resolved by the parties in regards to this contract will be resolved through the legal system of Korea in accordance with Korean law. Both parties duly agree on the contract stated above.

The teacher’s weekly teaching hours are at maximum 30 hours a week. Therefore, when the teacher has no classes, the teacher should do work**:** lesson planning with co-teachers, revising essays, voice recording, writing student evaluations, creating syllabi, having English phone conversations with students, making report cards, planning or supervising field trips, consulting with parents, supervising play, attending workshops, attending staff meetings, and upgrading one’s professional knowledge and skills without additional pay. The work week will follow the yearly academic calendar issued by the school

This is loads of stuff, and a little unclear.  Is it saying that you can teach a maximum 30 hours and have none of these extra duties or do you teach less than 30 hours and then get some of these other things?  Considering you are at school for 40 hours, of which legally 5 hours of that a week is dinner time, that allows only for break time between classes each day.  So I can't really see where they're going to cram all this other nonsense in.  It also doesn't say what a teaching hour is.

The instructor's salary will be paid monthly on a regular day for payment of instructor's salaries

Which is what day exactly?  This should be included.

The incoming teacher will be paid during this training period.

How much?

(B) The teacher's apartment furnishings shall include: a stove; a refrigerator; a bed, an internet connection, as well as a heating system and air-conditioning

(C) Costs for all utilities, including lighting, heat, water and internet shall be borne by the teacher.

Bit sparse that.  Also how can they provide you with an internet connection that you have to pay for?

The instructor shall enjoy 10 days of personal paid vacation (in addition to all Korean national holidays, and Saturdays and Sundays) which they can take during middle school testing periods.

Hmmm, there are four middle school testing periods a year which last from two to four days depending on the middle schools.  Are you expected to only take them then?

(C) If the employee takes more than five vacation days and leaves during the second half of the contract period, a deduction could be made from the final check.

(D) Employees will be penalized one vacation day for every month they are not completing. Any vacation days used over that amount will be deducted from the paycheck at the rate of 100,000 won for each day.

C is fair enough as it is prorated.  D is kind of illegal as you are not really being paid 100 000 won a day.

The instructor can take three sick days off per year. Sick days will be deducted from the instructor’s 10 personal vacation days.

Pfft!  So they aren't sick days then.  Well tight this. 

In addition to the 10 days of personal paid vacation, all employees will have 3 days off in the summer.

Although this sounds good it does mean your holidays will be scattered around during those test periods.

During the summer and winter public school vacation periods, the institute may hold additional classes for students.

If this is on top of your 30 hours, you'll be very tired, very very quickly.

The fact it has health insurance, tax, and pension is a good thing.  Make sure you get pay slips.

Attending classes without preparation and sitting down during teaching hours.

Sitting down?  Ouch!

Overall, not so bad for a hagwon.  Nowon is pretty good.  There are the okay bits, but also the usual hagwon bits where you get worked to death.  If you contact the other teacher and feel that it's okay then go for it.  It's your choice at the end of the day. 

sitting down

LOL  Seems a bit harsh. I asked my school to buy me an ergonomic chair because I sit so much on that chair all day long !

This is definitely a case for our resident in-house expert Northy!