Questions & Answers
Category:General Info
What does pahying 'gwaligeum' mean?
The first in gwaligeum, which is the premium you pay for an existing business to pack up and leave. This can vary from around 30M won in a lightly trafficked area of Itaewon, up to 100M or more. Then there is the key money you will pay to the landlord as a deposit, which is roughly the same amount. After that is the monthly rent, plus any renovations you want to do. I would say 100 million is the cheapest you'll be able to get away with for a place with 40 or so seats
Culture
- During interviews I've been asked about when I plan to have children, why I'm not married, etc. Is that legal? Are men asked the same questions?
- I've found that customers here often just hang up without saying goodbye. I don't know if they're angry or not.
- Why do people so often say 'yes' to something they don't intend to do?
Government Regs
- Do I have to file an annual Korean tax return?
- How can I figure out how to file my Korean income tax return if I don't speak/read Korean fluently?
- How can I make sure that my employer is paying the tax they deduct from my salary to the government?
- Do I have the contribute to the Korean Pension Plan even though I'm not going to be here until I retire?
- What can I do if my employer refuses to give me my severance pay?
Health
Housing
Money Matters
- If I pay for purchases with a Korean credit card, does this add to my income tax deductions?
- My boss only gave me less than one month's salary when my contract ended? What can I do.
- My employer did not give me my pension information until just hours before my flight. What can I do now?
- Why is it that universities don't pay airfaire to and from Korea?
- My employer pays me less than my hourly wage when I work overtime. Is that usual in Korea?
- Can I receive monies owed me by my employer after I leave Korea?
Teaching in Korea
Working Conditions
- Is there a government agency I can contact in case of a contract dispute with a Korean employer?
- Can a foreign worker who does not have a work visa get help from the Ministry of Labor?
- As a foreign worker in Korea, am I entitled to maternity leave?
- Is my employer obligated to provide me with medical insurance?
- My employer enrolled me in a private insurance plan not the national one, is that legal?
- Can I get my own national health insurance coverage?
- My employer says that I have to go to a specific clinic/hospital? Can't I chose my own doctor/hospital?
- Does the national health plan cover 100% of my medical expenses?
- How much will it cost me to provide my own health insurance coverage?
- My employer has gone bankrupt owing me back wages and my air fare back home. Is there anything I can do?
- Is it true that as a foreign ESL teacher, I pay Korean income taxes 70% of my income, not 100%
- My employer wants us to work on promotions and special weekend camps for free or for less than our normal hourly wage. Can he do that?
- Which has more weight, labor law or the contract? Can a contract go against the law?
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Other Services
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance - Car, Motorcycle, Home, Etc., Korea -
Restaurants, Coffee Shops, etc.
Suji's Restaurant, American-style Food - Brunch, Incheon, Shinsegae Department Store -
Accounting/Bookkeeping services
Taxes For Expats - Online Tax Accountants for US, UK, Canada Taxes -
Doctors, Hospitals, Intl Clinics
Medi Flower - English-speaking OB/GYN, Seocho, Seoul -
Doctors, Hospitals, Intl Clinics
UBA Plastic Surgery and Women's Health Clinic, Gangnam, Seoul -
Business and Networking Associations
Australia Chamber of Commerce in Korea, AustCham, Seoul -
Shopping, Food, Clothing, New and Used Stuff, etc.
Persian Carpets, Imported Oriental Rugs, Itaewon, Seoul -
Restaurants, Coffee Shops, etc.
Tartine Bakery and Cafe - Fruit, Meringue Pies, Peasant Bread - Itaewon Seoul
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