FAQ (ARC, extending visa, severance, etc., etc.) UPDATED August 28, 2014

I think the tax exemption is for public school teachers and publicly funded University workers.  Since you work at a hagwon no go..  Second pension is not a tax.   For more details on the tax agreement between check out the NPS website http://english.nps.or.kr/jsppage/english/main.jsp .   There is no lump sum refund between Ireland and South Korea.

Also I think you are confusing the pension exemption of small companies/hagwon of 5 employees.   Maybe you can be exempt from pension but not taxes.  I have to check the labour laws.  I thought that had changed recently.

I couldn't be confusing the pension with taxes because I'm being charged both ways. I found out about the pension and, unfortunately, that has no return (not until I'm old and grey, at least), but the taxes are another issue I'm dealing with.

I called an attorney in Seoul who specializes in hagwon differences (I got the details from Dave's ESL forum), and he said the very same thing -- that someone shouldn't be taxed in a hagwon, like any public school, not at least for two years.

Again, this is why I'm so confused about the situation. I don't know what should be the next step.

I couldn't be confusing the pension with taxes because I'm being charged both ways. I found out about the pension and, unfortunately, that has no return (not until I'm old and grey, at least), but the taxes are another issue I'm dealing with.

I called an attorney in Seoul who specializes in hagwon differences (I got the details from Dave's ESL forum), and he said the very same thing -- that someone shouldn't be taxed in a hagwon, like any public school, not at least for two years.

Again, this is why I'm so confused about the situation. I don't know what should be the next step.

Ok, you don't get the tax exemption because you are an Irish citizen.  I told you you could pick either reason.

In EPIK, Canadians and Irish cannot claim the 2-year tax exemption.  I don't believe this tax exemption is applicable to hagwons anyway, but even if it were, you don't qualify as you are an Irish citizen.

You could call the tax office.  Have you tried that?

As a UK national I'm under the impression I can't claim back the cash either, but what I am able to do is put those payments towards the UK's national pension. The UK will claim it from Korea and it will go towards my National Insurance 'stamp', effectively meaning I don't have to contribute while I'm here. It also means my employer here is also contributing on my behalf.

It's not as good as getting it in a nice lump sum when you leave, but further on down the line I expect I'll be grateful.

Not sure if Ireland has the same arrangement.

Livzy, does this happen automatically or should i be in touch with the UK tax and pensions office?

Hello. Question about severance. My co-teacher is telling me that the education office is saying I do not get a severance check. I was under the impression that it is in my contract to receive both a renewal bonus and a severance check. Am I wrong?

Hello. Question about severance. My co-teacher is telling me that the education office is saying I do not get a severance check. I was under the impression that it is in my contract to receive both a renewal bonus and a severance check. Am I wrong?

The laws changed recently.  You will not get a severance payment until you no longer work for the school/company.

I got this from our DMOE:

I'm writing to inform you of a pretty significant change in the way that severance pay will be distributed. Starting from July 26th, 2012 with the passing of the "Employee Retirement Benefit Security Act" enacted by the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor, you will not be able to collect your severance pay yearly as you were able to before. Instead, it will be granted as a lump sum once you complete all of your contracts with your current employer (in this case, the DMOE). Please note that this act effects all contracted employees in South Korea, not just NET's.
 
One thing to note is that moving forward, your severance pay will be calculated using the current pay level at the time of completion. So for instance, let's say you have been working with the DMOE for 3 years, starting as a level 3 NET. At the end of your contracts, you would be finishing as a level 2+ (assuming you didn't complete any TESOL courses etc). So your salary as a level 2+ teacher would be used to calculate your total 3 years worth of severance pay (even though you spent one year at level 3 and one year at level 2).
 
Since this act was passed this past July, it is to go into effect immediately. This includes NET's that just renewed last month for the August 2012-2013 conract period (meaning you will collect 2 years worth of severance pay at the end of the 2012-2013 contract period if you do not renew for another year after that).
 
There are a few exceptions that allow an employees to apply to receive severance pay at the end of the contracted year (not as a lump sum). Those are conveniently summarized on the EPIK website. I have attached it as a JPEG to this email, or you may visit the website at www.epik.go.kr. Of course, you may find the same information on our wikispace site.

hOPE THIS HELPS

Awesome. Thanks a lot that does help. That law is going to be a godsend in a few years... but there goes my trip to the Philippines this winter.

As a UK national I'm under the impression I can't claim back the cash either, but what I am able to do is put those payments towards the UK's national pension. The UK will claim it from Korea and it will go towards my National Insurance 'stamp', effectively meaning I don't have to contribute while I'm here. It also means my employer here is also contributing on my behalf.

It's not as good as getting it in a nice lump sum when you leave, but further on down the line I expect I'll be grateful.

Not sure if Ireland has the same arrangement.

Livzy, does this happen automatically or should i be in touch with the UK tax and pensions office?

Livzy, do you have more information about how to do this?

Hi All,

Just wanted to get a gauge to see if anyone has ever been approved to take time off for days that occur during the school year (i.e. taking days off outside of the time that students are off from school).

My niece is graduating from high school next year in June and I would like to attend.  However, I wanted to see the likelihood of being approved for this time out before I confirm anything with her.  I'm part of EPIK SMOE/Seoul.

Thank you!

Hi All,

Just wanted to get a gauge to see if anyone has ever been approved to take time off for days that occur during the school year (i.e. taking days off outside of the time that students are off from school).

My niece is graduating from high school next year in June and I would like to attend.  However, I wanted to see the likelihood of being approved for this time out before I confirm anything with her.  I'm part of EPIK SMOE/Seoul.

Thank you!

Look at the last question of the FAQ.

I have a question about pension:

If you break your contract, do you still qualify to get your pension returned? I'm a US citizen, and I'm just curious! I can't find any definitive information on any of the official sites or documents! :/  Thanks!!

If you break your contract early, you can apply for a pension refund when you leave Korea.   It does not matter if one or two months was done.  Through it might matter if the boss submitted payments or actually enrolled you in the program.  If you are transferring or changing schools then the pension would have to wait.

ON a side not the pension refund is possible the severance is NOT refundable or given anytime before one year completed contract.

Okay, so I ended having to pay a lot in taxes.  I'm an American but when I got back to the states- they charged me for Social security. It was a lot. 

Hi All,

Just wanted to get a gauge to see if anyone has ever been approved to take time off for days that occur during the school year (i.e. taking days off outside of the time that students are off from school).

My niece is graduating from high school next year in June and I would like to attend.  However, I wanted to see the likelihood of being approved for this time out before I confirm anything with her.  I'm part of EPIK SMOE/Seoul.

Thank you!

This is a late reply, but I'll share my two cents on this, for what it's still worth. A friend of mine was able to take a few days off during the semester (she worked at a middle school through EPIK) about a year ago, in order to fly back to the States to attend her brother's graduation from university. Her principal agreed to let her go, although the condition was that she had to make up teaching all the classes that she had missed while she was gone, once she came back to Korea. I'm not sure about the exact details on how they were able to work out the schedule so that she was able to make up all the missed classes, but it seemed to work out nonetheless.

Also, in my case (I was also with EPIK at the time), I took two days off during the semester a couple of years ago for the death of a close relative. My vice-principal at the time agreed to let me take the two days off, although he said I had to use my sick days for them, which I did. It was kind of ironic, since I did end up getting really sick during those two days I took off for the funeral, so I suppose it worked out that I had used those sick days at the time.

I think what also helps increase the likelihood that your school's principal/vice-principal will approve of you taking a few days off during the semester for a family event is if they like you. My then-vice-principal had a good impression of me (I highly doubt that he would have allowed me to take those days off, had he disliked me), and I believe my friend was well-liked at her school.

I'm breaking my contract and leaving Korea early. Officially, I'm done working on 1/31, but will leave the country a week or 2 early since I'm taking my paid vacation at that time. Can I still get the pension refund at the airport even though I'm still "working"? Any thoughts?

Hello. Can you collect your pension(NPS) if you are staying in Korea, but your new job uses the Korean Private Teachers Fund?

Quick question. I'm looking to change from EPIK to GEPIK or SMOE in the Fall.

On completion of the contract, will i recieve the exit allowance from EPIK as the contract with them is done and all ties to EPIK are severed?

Will I get the entrance allowance from the potential new employer be it GEPIK or SMOE?

Or will I just get a settlement allowance because i'm in country?

Any information would be hugely appreciated. Thanks.

I need to rush back to start grad school in the fall.
Do I have to be in Korea on the last day of my contract or can I take my 8 days of vacation at the end of my contract and still get all the bonuses?

I didn't see anything in my contract regarding this question.

I need to rush back to start grad school in the fall.
Do I have to be in Korea on the last day of my contract or can I take my 8 days of vacation at the end of my contract and still get all the bonuses?

I didn't see anything in my contract regarding this question.

A lot of people do this.  Some have problems, some don't.  Technically you completed the contract, so it should be ok, but some schools are funny about it.  Ask your school.

Edit: forgot to add.  If the end of your contract falls in the semester then you might be out of luck.  Usually you are only allowed to take vacation during the school breaks, and not during term time.