Korean Job Discussion Forums

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

Just got word from my principal that I "can't" resign--that I have to finish out the remainder of my contract. This coming after a meeting two weeks ago where we fleshed out the details of my resignation (although to be fair, the principal wasn't there). Gave my two months' and have done my best to be amicable. Now he says he won't give me my letter of release. Of course a call to Dain Bae will have that sorted (in theory anyway).

Anyone ever had a boss that told them "You can't quit." ?

maingman · Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea

as of 515 pm ( today) Thursday-
after about an hour earlier saying to the head teachr I needed to speak
to my boss about my CONTRACT ( so fairly urgent_) IMO

Im having to wait till Monday *because he's busy tommorow
So my boss does give some slack./ and care for me..not

jadarite · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:27 am Post subject:

How much time do you really have left on the contract? If it's a few months, I would just leave and either wait it out or come back on a tourist visa. It's not a good time to leave with the economy being so bad, but if you got to go you got to go.

To better understand your situation, you might want to tell us what was unreasonable. Even though it seems like you have tried your best, there might be something someone here has experienced also and be able to help you with.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

It's really sickening to see public schools (especially SMOE, for whom I'll never work for this very reason) using LOR refusals like hagwons. If I recall correctly, Easter, you said the contract was up in early spring? And you've been around a while and have presumably saved up some money. If I were you I'd be tempted to pack my things, not show up on Monday, and say that if they can't agree to part ways on respectable terms so be it. Then go spend a few months lying on the beach of whatever tropical country has the least unfavourable exchange rate these days.

seoulteacher · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: Seoul

losing_touch · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Location: Ulsan - I think!

Not to speak on his behalf, but I have read a number of posts. I think that one could just go on down to immigration and explain the circumstances. Tell them that you quit. Then, you must ask for an exit order.

tefain · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Location: Not too far out there

Yeah if you've given notice, you should be able to walk.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Yes. LOR's are only useful for transferring jobs without having to leave the country. So if you want to change jobs, you only need to get an exit order and have a sealed univeristy transcript. Of course you will need a criminal check, but if you already had that done for your current job, you don't need to apply for another one. Immigration has it.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

Thanks guys. Just to clarify: I have another job lined up. They want me to start in December, and they were going to just transfer my visa, which is why I wanted a LOR. I thought that GEPIK would require the school to give the teacher a LOR if they put in the standard 60 days' notice. Is this correct? If that's the case, then does anyone have Dain Bae's contact info?

My biggest fear is that they will refuse to give me one or refuse to cancel my visa, which would cause me to have to wait until my current visa expires (end of May, 2009) before I can come back, especially since I have wedding plans for the early part of the year (which is why I'm changing jobs, among other reasons).

So worst case scenario: Can I get an exit order fairly easily, if GEPIK won't require them to give my LOR?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Is your future spouse a Korean citizen?

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

Please bear with me here, as I am new to this kind of thing...

How exactly does one get an exit order--what documents will I need? How long do I have until I have to leave the country after getting an exit order? I guess the best thing to do then would be to first obtain my visa invitation letter from my new employer, apply for an exit order, then go to Fukuoka for a visa run, right?

Yes, my fiance is Korean. Why?

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

You could get your paperwork for marriage done early thus getting your F2 earlier. Then you would be able to just leave the job without a letter of release. Just chat to your fiance and see if she would like to go to the City Hall to register the marriage early and get your F2 for flexibility and try to pursuade her of the benefits and then put a deadline for your wedding for next year, etc.