By Here is an interesting article for any USFK spouses thinking of earning any money on side while stationed in Korea:
Last May, a South Korean woman approached Andrea Stone and her three kids on Yongsan Garrison and asked if she’d ever considered letting the children model.
The offer intrigued the family, and soon the youngest Stone, 4-year-old Faith, was modeling children’s wear for print ads about once a month.
The payments amounted to “fun” money for the family, Andrea Stone said. Faith and her siblings, Abby, 9, and Colin, 6, each got a 10,000-won allowance. The rest of the kitty — usually between 150,000 and 250,000 won per job, or around $100 to $135 — was split between a family fund for outings and a savings account for Faith.
But as the U.S. tax season drew nearer, Stone and her husband, Staff Sgt. Joe Stone, began to wonder what to do about that South Korean income, which over time amounted to about $1,000.
They had called the legal office on Yongsan to try to learn the rules about children earning money in South Korea. One person said it was fine; a second person said it wasn’t, Andrea Stone remembered. In the end, she thought the whole process must be all right — after all, the family was approached several more times on base by recruiters who wanted to hire the kids.
It turns out, the Stones’ experience wasn’t all right, according to an 8-year-old agreement between South Korea and the United States. [Stars & Stripes]
Read the rest of the article but if you need to get yourself a work permit to do so from the Korean government. It is not uncommon for employers to try and get dependents to work for them or even servicemembers. I had a hagwon owner that was trying to hire me part time before to teach English. I of course declined, but it makes me wonder how many other USFK servicemembers and dependents are illegally teaching English in Korea or other jobs without knowing it?
2:08 pm on March 16th, 2009 1
What a sad story. Now this family, after admiting their offences in a public forum, with these cute little kids is going to be investigated, have their SOFA status revoked and most likely fined and deported. They did not know what the rules were and did not know that they had done anything wrong. But now, they are screwed, just like all those contractors who have lost and are still losing their jobs.
Oh well. The rules are the rules. It is good to see they are applied across the board equally to military, dependents, GS and contractors. I know it seems heartless, but USFK must mete out justice and maintain the fragile SOFA agreement with an even handedness. God Bless USFK and its leadership!
3:38 pm on March 16th, 2009 2
There will be a clause coming out last week. (hey, thats kinda funny)
5:49 pm on March 16th, 2009 3
I've had a hogwon owner try to recruit me as an English teacher. I'm not SOFA anymore but I'm on a C-3 Tourist Visa, which means it's still illegal to teach English here in Korea.
6:26 pm on March 16th, 2009 4
Which brings up a few other points.
What the hell is a representative from the Korean fashion industry doing wandering around post? Are they part of the Good Neighbor Program too? So it's not limited to human trafficking pimps, er, I mean golfers?
She called an office on post and got some bad information? Well Hell, that's almost like there might be incompetent people working for some of these agencies. *guffaw*
"In the end, she thought the whole process must be all right — after all, the family was approached several more times on base by recruiters who wanted to hire the kids."
Uh no, she had two answers so it was 50/50 at best. She hoped it was alright, or hoped they would not get caught.
-OR- (naivety check)
Sure it's alright, after all these recruiters are allowed on post by USFK!
Once again, what are all these Next Waeguk Kid – Korean Top Model reps from the Good Neighbor program doing running around post?
If this were a contractor… Oh never mind…
11:58 pm on March 16th, 2009 5
When I was in Korea, even the commander's wife would get us jobs teaching English to businesses using a "go-between" (we called him a pimp). The pay was always in cash. No record. Plausible deniability.
9:28 am on March 17th, 2009 6
There is a way for family members to work on the economy legally and maintain compliance with SOFA and the A-3 visa. The US and ROK have had an agreement since 2001 that permits dependents to obtain the appropriate work permit provided they meet all other requirements for the job (i.e. a degree is required to teach English).
So, I expect folks who choose to work illegally are doing it out of ignorance or a desire to avoid paying ROK income tax.
12:24 pm on March 17th, 2009 7
The "representative from the Korean fashion industry" is more than likely a dependent who is operating a business of recruiting round eyes and more than likely not paying any taxes on the profits earned. But I guess people everywhere try to avoid taxes when possible.
5:45 pm on March 17th, 2009 8
Hi John,
What about if your spouse is a Korean National?
Any ideas? thanks
8:49 am on March 26th, 2009 9
Are the dependents like "Miss Sue" that run the offbase housing referrals also in violation?
They have there pictures and numbers in most of the base/post monthly advertisements.
Thats pretty blatant. I wish they would publish the rules and stick to them.