Korean Job Discussion Forums

shaun k · Joined: 23 Jan 2003

my boss has discovered that i have a korean girlfriend (whom i will marry in december. the date is set. deposits have been made, invitations picked out). i have been with my girlfriend for 7 months with no trouble to the school or to anyone else, but now my boss says that my apartment is off limits to her, and that it is common in korea to have such rules...is this common?

and i just renewed my contract here...what a drag. things WERE smooth.

canuckistan · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2003 6:31 pm Post subject:

Unbelievable. No, it's absolutely not the usual thing here. He's probably one of those types who hate the fact you're with Korean girl. I'd make it crystal clear to him that it's none of his business who comes to your apartment or you'll quit. Really.

Then invite him to your wedding. Razz

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

kimcheeking · Guest

[quote="Gord"]

Howard Roark · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Canada

I don't agree that the apartment is "his", in this or all cases. You don't pay the rent yourself but housing is part of your pay. It would be the same thing if they just paid you more and you paid the rent money yourself. This just cuts out a step. By the logic that the house belongs to and should be controlled by the owner couldn't you also say the monetary salary also belongs to the owner? And the owner could tell you how to spend it? Same thing. I'd tell him to take a flying leap.

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

mack the knife · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: standing right behind you...

What's next? You can't cook Indian food because it makes the apt. smell? Your boss is a stone cold w.a.n.k.e.r.

canuckistan · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2003 8:18 pm Post subject:

Obviously it's always better to stay independent if possible, but let's say he does come up with key money and moves into his "own" apt, and then the owner or manager of the building starts dictating who he can and can't have over, or doesn't like his friend with the pierced lip and tattoo because it reflects badly on the building. Where does it end Gord? When he finally owns the building he lives in?

It's B.S. and just a case of a Korean sticking his nose where it shouldn't be and it should end right there.

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Actually it doesn't even end there Canuckistan...his neighbors can force him to cut his grass and turn down his music and keep up the appearance of his house...he has to keep things neat and tidy....he has to make his payments or the bank will take the house away...oh wait, I am talking about America not Korea, and I am talking about slippery slope as a logical fallacy.

The hakwan owner is the one with his name on the lease/agreement/contract with the apartment owner. It is, therefore, his. There is a second contract between the hakwan owner and the teacher that defines the terms and conditions under which the teacher may make use of said apartment. Most likely what the boss is doing does NOT fall under provisions of the contract, but it just might -- I HAVE seen housing contracts with "no inter-racial fraternization" clauses and I have seen them with "no overnight guests" clauses. I do not know if THIS person's contract contained such clauses, but Gord's suggestion fixes the problem regardless...or at least reduces the hakwan owner's complaint to such a baseless level that he might drop his harassment of the teacher...which is the desired result.

Could someone else harass the same teacher? Sure. Narrow the brush a little here -- it isn't a "Korean" problem, it is a "Busybody" problem -- I know of similar things happening in other countries...it is stupid wherever it happens, and no one country has the monopoly on stupid.

mack the knife · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: standing right behind you...

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

My contract has a clause that says that my director must give prior approval before anyone can stay at my house. I look at this and then completely disreggarded it and it has never been acted upon as my director must be one of the best in South Korea(pity about the hours though). He knows I have a Korean girlfriend and actually encourages it and paid for her airfare so she could come with me when i went back to Australia last year. However, the clause was in my contract so look it up. Very Happy

shaun k · Joined: 23 Jan 2003

there is no such clause in my contract. the problem is that she believes i should not have korean women in the apartment (married or not, she is saying now). she just called me and said outright that it is not a matter of the contract, that in fact i have not broken the contract. i like the idea of getting my own place. and key money around here is small enough, but i doubt my boss wants to fork out any more money for a housing allowance. she already owns this apartment, and unless she's able to rent it out, she will lose money. im the only foreign teacher here, and im expensive to her as it is.

and she'd be foolish to find a renter for the place. i am a very quiet person, and i keep the apartment spotless. if she gets some family in here, they will tear it up, and she knows it. she is in a spot, and i just dont want her to act rashly, and throw MY immediate future into a tailspin. i have to handle this carefully.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: South Korea

My Korean boss fired his manager for being seen with his top english teacher. She left shortly afterwards and has since married him. The catch but is that neither had school accommodation and both were Korean. The hogwan was Esence in Kwangju in Pongsong Dong. Our boss himself however had divorced his first wife and had a second. Welcome to Korea.

canuckistan · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2003 9:17 pm Post subject:

see below

canuckistan · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2003 9:23 pm Post subject:

Why does it not surprise me that the hagwon owner is being such a miserable feces about after you're married too? This speaks volumes. Bottom line is you're not "pure" Korean, so the idea that you're marrying a K-girl is completely disgusting to her. I'd tell her it's none of her business and if she doesn't like it then you'll be happy to find employment elsewhere. You need to draw the line because you will never appease that beast unless you break up with your Korean fiancee.

I had a hagwon owner tell me he was going to check my apt once a week. I told him if he dared disturb a Titan like that I would quit on the spot. His big idea ended there. I did it with a smile too.

Either stand for something or fall for everything.

Some hagwon owners who hire foreigners to work here need to be dragged into the 21st century kicking and screaming.