EPIK

Foreign residents who come to Korea with a long-term visa (more than 90 days) have to obtain an Alien Registration Card from the local Immigration Office within 90 days after their arrival. The alien registration procedure applies to foreigners wishing to change their visa type, as well as those who wish to extend their period of stay beyond 90 days. Any change in the Alien Registration Card must be reported to the Immigration Office within 14 days.

Application Form
(available at the immigration office or downloadable at www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html)

Passport

School Business Certificate
(Sa Up Cha Deung Rok Jeung, Ko Yoo Bun Ho Jeung ; 사업자등록증, 고유번호증)

2 colored photographs (3×4cm size taken within 6 months)

Some fee
The Alien Registration Card is issued one week after submitting the application. You can either pick it up in person or ask to be sent by courier service (fee applicable).
You will need to visit the immigration office for any of the following reasons:

If there are any changes to the content on the Alien Registration Card
(e.g. address change, name change, etc.)

If the card is misplaced or damaged
You need to visit the Immigration Office with documentation supporting the changes and apply for a re-issuance or change of the certificate within 14 days. If you change residence, you must report to new district office within 14 days after moving in.

GETs wishing to leave Korea during their stay for vacation, etc. must obtain a re-entry permit. A foreigner who leaves Korea without having obtained a re-entry permit will, while overseas, have to get a new entry visa and, after returning, go through the process of alien registration all over again. A foreigner who enters Korea with a multiple-entry visa may leave Korea and return a limitless number of times. There are two types of re-entry permits: A Multiple Re-Entry Permit, which allows one to leave and return numerous times, and a Single Re-Entry Permit, which may only be used once. Apply for re-entry permits at the immigration office in your hometown. One may apply for a re-entry permit at the airport immigration offices at Incheon and Gimhae, but you can only receive a re-entry permit this way once.

Required Documents

Payment

The pension fund is a payment implemented by the government to protect the employee in case of a tragedy or retirement, which are the only cases the money is refunded to the employee. Companies are required to contribute an amount equal to 9% of employee salaries to the national pension refund. This fund is comprised of 4.5% borne by the employer, and another 4.5% payment borne by the employee, deducted from monthly pay. Employee contributions to the national pension program are not tax deductible. This national pension contribution is capped at a monthly salary of 3,600,000 won. Thus, the maximum monthly pension contribution to be paid by an employee is 162,000 won.

Refund

Under the National Pension Act, a lump-sum refund may only be paid to non-Korean nationals if they are nationals of countries with social security systems that pay corresponding contribution refunds to Korean nationals or if provided for by an agreement. All foreigners are eligible for a lump sum refund of Premiums paid, if they are from countries that have ‘totalization agreements’ with Korea, and if the foreigner leaves Korea or meet other eligibility requirements. The United States and Canada have negotiated totalization agreements with Korea. The United Kingdom has negotiated a contribution only agreement. This means that a foreigner from the United Kingdom who is employed in Korea may benefit from the elimination of dual coverage, but will not get a lump sum refund.

If you submit your application in your home country, that agency will forward it to Korea. Many employees do apply in Korea before leaving the country and arrange the refund as well. Countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, and South Africa have not signed any agreement. Therefore citizens from these countries cannot claim any refund or reciprocal payments after paying Korean Pension tax.

To apply for the refund, you will need the following documents:

For more information regarding the Korea Pension System, go to: http://npc.or.kr

All GETs will be paid on a monthly basis. The monthly wage is calculated from the first day of the month to the last day of the month with the payment deposited directly into the local personal bank account each month on the date specified in your contract. If that day should fall on weekend or on holiday, the payday will be on the prior business day.

Each month’s wage is on a fixed pay scale (according to your contract) and do not consider into the account the number of days per month (on average there are 21 working days per calendar month).

Violation of Korean immigration laws can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines of up to 100,000 won for each days of overstay, or deportation with a ban on re-entry, usually for up to two years. It is your responsibility to understand local laws and obey them. Foreign government offices/embassy cannot assist you in any way if you violate Korean laws, other than to provide you with a list of attorneys.

To avoid waiting at the immigration office, use the online reservation service offered on the immigration authority website. You must first register online to use this system. Print out the reservation time verification form, and show up at the office about 10 minutes prior to your appointed time.

If you arrive later than your appointed time, your appointment will be nullified and you must wait in line.If you need further information about the immigration and visa extension matters, as well as to use the online reservation service, please refer to the following official websites: www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html

T(for when you contract ends and you need to leave Korea)
All Guest English Teachers(GETs) are solely responsible for checking their legal residential and employment status in Korea. Each GETs has a different visa expiration date, depending on the application submission date. Please check your visa expiration date on your Alien Registration Card.
Renewing GETs : Take you passport, Alien Registration Card, renewal contract, certificate of employment (Jae Jeek Joong Myung Suh issued by your current school, 재직증명서), Sponsorship letter (issued by your current school) and about 30,000 won processing fee to the local Immigration Office to extend your visa and Alien Registration.
Non-renewing GETs: Korean law stipulates that persons with E2 Visas may stay only until the date indicated on the Alien Registration Card. Grace period (maximum of 10 days) may be granted only if you apply for it in person with a flight ticket at the Immigration Office prior to the expiration date. If your stay exceeds the visa expiration date, even for one day, you are subject to a penalty at the airport. You employer will not be responsible for your penalty.
If the visa expires before the last date of the contract, go to the Immigration Office in person before the visa expiration date with ample processing time and apply for a grace period. Take the following:

If the visa expires on the same date as the last day of the contract, go to the Immigration Office in person before the visa expiration date with ample processing time and apply for a grace period (up to 30 days only) with:

All employees, including foreign citizens, are required by law to pay Korean income tax, which is generally withheld from an employee’s salary and paid by the employer. The Korean income-tax rate is 5 to 10 precent, depending on the earned income.
Due to the tax treaty between Korea and foreign countries, all EPIK program participants are eligible for income tax exemption benefit during the first two years of employment in Korea. Canadian citizens are not eligible for this benefit as there is no tax treaty between Korea and Canada. In order to claim tax exemption, within a month of your arrival, you are required to submit to your school a copy of “Residency Certification” (a government certified document that confirms your legal residency status in your country. This can be obtained from the tax revenue authority in your country or online). If you arrived in Korea without this document, you may be able to request it through mail or online after your arrival.

Foreign instructors are entitled to Korean national medical insurance through their employer. The employer agrees to provide medical insurance for the employee and further agrees to cover 50% of the cost. The employee is responsible for the remaining 50% (as required by Korean Law). The insurance coverage is comprised of 4.48% borne by the employer, and another 4.48% payment borne by the employee, deducted from monthly pay.

Although socializing is not formally required, it is best to attend social functions that involve a large number of your co-workers. This is a part of establishing a good work relationship with your co-workers. It is common for Koreans to attend dinner gatherings or functions in a large group. Understanding Korea is not only to teach English in Korea, but also to meet people, coworkers or citizens.