Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alabamaman]

I wrote a note to my boss yesterday asking very nicely that he bring my diploma into work today. There were no problems and he gave it to me. He asked me, "Why do you want it back?" I replied, "Because I want it back." I have other copies as well that I brought with me when I came to Korea.

I'm just curious as to what responses other posters may have heard from their employers.

[ontheway]

My diploma is safe at home. Nobody in Korea has ever seen it. I still have and use the certified photocopies I made at the Korean Embassy, so long ago (wow, it was the 20th century then).


Alabamaman, when you say you have other copies of your diploma, do you mean that you have duplicate originals or do you mean photocopies.

[PhD]

My employers never got to hold it their hot little hands. I took it with me and when they wanted it for official reasons, I gave them a certified copy. End of story.

[alabamaman]

[RJjr]

I sent mine, along with transcripts and other documents, from the United States before I flew here. After arriving in mid-June, I asked for my diploma. The response was, "Oh, I'll get for you tomorrow." I asked a few times every few weeks after that and was told the same thing each time. My employer still has my diploma.

In October, I was pretty upset about some payroll issues and was so Hellbent on pulling a runner that I paid 67,000 won for a Vietnam tourist visa. I definitely would have left, but a co-worker was upset about the payroll issues (since they affected him as well) and talked with the boss about them and they were resolved. The issue with the diploma was a sore point for me at the time, and I was just going to leave and let them keep it.

After the pay issues got resolved, everything else has been great at my hagwon. I really have no complaints whatsoever right now, and feel like the place I work is probably one of the best hagwons to work in Seoul. Everything is square on pay. Actually, they've done better than I could've expected, because they deposited the return airfare into my bank account when I still had 43 days remaining on my contract. They also buy us pizza, wine, and nice meals ever so often. They bought us doughnuts today.

Recently, outgoing and incoming teacher checklists were created, and one of the items on the outgoing list was that the employee's diploma would be returned. I really don't think it's appropriate for them to keep the diplomas, but since everything else has been going well, I'm not going to complain about it to them.

[Samantha]

Didn't have to ask this one for it they haven't seen the original. My first contract they gave it back to me as soon as I asked for without blinking an eye.

Did anyone else notice that the OP scewed the poll towards the negative side? I mean he didn't offer the option of "Ok, here you go." or "Sure no problem, let me find it". Either of these options would give more realistic results. (Just my 2 cents worth).

[Peter Jackson]

The only people who need to see you diploma (or certified copies from a Korean consulate) are immigration. Once your Visa has been issued, there is no need for your school or hagwon to hold your diploma. Some places may say they want to post it so parents or whatever can see it. For this, a simple photocopy should be sufficient.

In all reality, most parents don't really care about one's diploma as long as the person is western.

[alabamaman]

[Samantha]

[alabamaman]

Please respond here at

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1180364#1180364

[FXAdam]

"Do you want it right now or after you are done for the day?"

I said "Now." and it appeared in my hand instantaneously, no problems at all.