Korean Job Discussion Forums

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Can you spot a runner after meeting them for 5 minutes?

For instance, I have a person that just arrived recently. They moved into my building and within 5 minutes I could tell that they weren't going to make it. The has only seen Incheon International Airport, a car ride, and my building and already there was a flurry of complaints.

So, I have a strong suspicion that this person is gonna be a runner. Has anyone else had a gut feeling that someone was going to be a runner, and were you right?

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Maybe he/she is exhausted from the flight. It is a long flight to Korea.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

Exactly, exhaused from the long light.

wings · Joined: 09 Nov 2006

At a school where I worked for a while in Mexico I could usually tell who would last and who wouldn't within 5 minutes. The wild look in their eyes, their comments, that it wasn't what they had imagined etc. I was seriously wrong once though, with a retired woman who I thought wouldn't last a week, she stayed for her whole contract, and at her godd bye party commented that even she couldn't believe she'd made it!

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I met one guy and I knew he was a runner right from the get go. Dude was really lanky, and had a matching mesh Nike shorts and t-shirt outfit and a wet elastic headband. He had an MP3 player dangling from his neck and a pair of running shoes. He told me he was preparing for a second marathon. I know he had to be a runner. Certainly not a NASCAR driver.

Homer · Guest

Could be exhaustion from the flight but that does not explain all the complaining. It may contribute to it but the person seems pre-disposed to complain according to the post you wrote.

To answer your question...yeah sometimes you can tell.

I remember working in a Hakwan a while back (round 2001-2002) and this girl from BC was hired. She arrived on a Sunday and was scheduled to start working one week later (well 8 days to be exact). She got a studio appartment like we did in a decent area of Busan. A small but clean place with brand new appliances.

The first monday comes along (she has been here 1 night) and she shows up at the school in tears because her appartment is "small" and she doesn't know how to call home.

Well the director helps her call home (i.e. shows her how to place a long distance call) and then has to listen to her whine to her mom in her office for 1 hour.... Laughing

It went downhill from there....she complained about everything during that week, worked two days and ran into the night.

This was a good school with a kind director who went out of her way to help her teachers....but that girl just was not meant to live here. She ran home to mommy after a week of steady complaining about everything under the Korean sun...so yeah..sometimes you can tell.

This is nothing compared to my third roomate...tunafish sandwich man....wow he was something.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Ced · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: Korea

Chicoloco · Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Location: In the ring.

Attention: Friendly Hagwan Bosses.
- Are you sick of flying foreigners to Korea to work at your school, only to have them vanish when they get their first pay check?

- Tired of searching back alleys and drunk tanks on Monday morning for your wayward native teacher?

Fear not - help is at hand: Waygook Hunter.

- Your pesky native teacher back in the classroom by the start of first class or your money back.

- Call now and receive a set of these fashionable electric dog collars absoultely free. Let's see the foreigner make a break for Fukuoko now!

**As recommended by the Ilsan Hagwan Owner's Association**

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

met this guy from Kenya once...I assumed he would be a runner

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Usually their hand starts flashing.

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

shantaram · Joined: 10 Apr 2007

I saw a reverse runner happen once. A Korean girl came to Australia to learn English (without knowing a word of English- I don't even remember her saying "Hiyee"). She stayed at my friend's house for one night before freaking out and fleeing to the University in tears, looking for other Koreans (although I'm not surprised given the state of the house). She then proceeded to complain about how 'rural' the area she was living in was (suburban by Australian standards) and how she was fed up with being surrounded by so many Asians. She then did a runner back to Korea and according to my friend she had therapy to deal with her experience.