Korean Job Discussion Forums

poet13 · Last edited by poet13 on Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:41 am; edited 1 time in total

Ok, so many people who have been here for any length of time have in some way been abused by the system or their employers.
The purpose of the poll is to find out how long is took you to get educated about what is right, wrong, legal, illegal, and to learn about, look for, and how to avoid many of the common scams ESL teachers here fall prey to. An affirmative answer also implies that you have an idea of what resources are available to you for help, ie; 1350 #7....

For me, I would say almost one year. I realized after about five month (I think ) that there was soem funny accounting going on with regards to my pay. Then I started to do research. From there I learned that I should have been paying pension, health was required, tax was NOT 5%....etc etc etc.

I considered adding poll options that included how long you have acutally been here, but then the number of options could become unwieldy.

EDIT- added "how to" in, "...learn about, look for, and avoid many...".

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

I discovered Daves about half way through my first contract and that was when I wisened up about a lot of stuff.

Internet research is key! I hear other English teachers in my city spreading around the information like there's no tomorrow about visa runs, taxes, holidays, etc, etc. It's disturbing.

plokiju · Joined: 15 Mar 2005

My first contract I just trusted everything they told me and figured that contracts in Korea would follow the law. I lasted there 6 months and left for reasons that had little to do with their legal responsibilities. Wonderland was awful in so many ways.

Going into the second contract I knew they were ripping me off a little by not paying into the pension and charging me too much tax but I was okay with it since the hours and salary were good. Then they tried other things (mostly to do with not paying overtime) and I put my foot down and told them about all the things I knew they weren't doing.

I know what the laws are now but just can't get my employers to follow them. Called the labour board and then got fired and didn't get paid so I don't know if that counts as being able to take care of myself or not. Probably not.

poet13 · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:17 am Post subject:

"I know what the laws are now but just can't get my employers to follow them. Called the labour board and then got fired and didn't get paid so I don't know if that counts as being able to take care of myself or not."

I think it counts.

What I didn't think of when I posted the poll, was how many people know how to take care of themselves, but let their employers get away with it anyways, for whatever reasons...

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

I lived in japan for a while before i came here so I was pretty aware of what could go down...

poet13 · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:01 am Post subject:

Come on people.....181 looks and only 19 polls?

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Travelled enough, lived OS in worse places. Self sufficiencya must. Smile

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

Once I had Korean money in my hands I COULD look out for myself just fine. One the other hand, people never stop helping me.

yesman · Joined: 15 Sep 2006

Specify "look after yourself" a little more and I'll take the poll.

poet13 · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:30 pm Post subject:

"The purpose of the poll is to find out how long is took you to get educated about what is right, wrong, legal, illegal, and to learn about, look for, and how to avoid many of the common scams ESL teachers here fall prey to. An affirmative answer also implies that you have an idea of what resources are available to you for help, ie; 1350 #7.... "

That's not clear enough?

jaderedux · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Lurking outside Seoul

I was disoriented because I didn't know the layout of the city once that was done I was okay and started to explore more. But fully confident and go to Seoul on my own it was about a month.

I read alot before I got here but nothing can prepare you completely for a foreign country.

Jade

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

What's the deal about bowing? Do I hafta? I stopped bowing to the director once I realized she was not honorable. What about the parents of prospective students? if I can, I shake their hands. It actually seems to suprise and impress them, though it might be my unflinching conidence in doing it. I['ve been shaking hands since I was about 12 -- I know just how to do it, each hand is different.

poet13 · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:26 am Post subject:

One more time...

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

It doesn't take long to first realize there is graft. It takes just a little longer to realize there is graft in every largish transaction related to you.