Korean Job Discussion Forums

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

I made an aside to a middle-aged man about being worried that my school's principal may not give me a Letter of Release as promised because, well, the country is quite corrupt in its dealings with waegooks. The guy became very angry and told me to watch what I say because I could get severely beaten for "saying false things about Korea." He then went on to say that this country is less corrupt than most nations in the West.

I pointed out to the guy that ALL of the Korean television news programs and English-language newspapers and many of the most famous ones around the world constantly run stories and editorials about the Republic being a very corrupt place and xenephobic, etc. The labour thing then went into a tirade about how all of the newspapers and television news programs are incorrect because the government is "doing a a good job" keeping corruption at a very low level, etc.

How many of you agree with this guy?

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

He is not going to agree with you even if he knows it is true. It is his country and Koreans are very nationalistic, and I believe are often in denial, at least with foreigners. It is not very tactful, though you would expect that the Labor Board has heard all the horror stories and would be the first to admit that the hogwan system hurts the image of their fine nation. (being sarcastic.)

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

While I don't agree with his opening both barrels on you, I think the whole issue of corruption and other things are making the labor people here somewhat touchy...Lesson learned about what not to say, even in passing...Pass it off and move one...you did nothing wrong and he was probably just having a bad day...Cheers

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

Actually, come to think of it, he asked me why I was worried about not getting the letter. So, I then told him why.

R

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

They don't always see what is important as being important to them...You have a legitimate concern, and were simply asking a questions...But, as I said they were probably just having a bad day to start with...Keep the chin up and good luck in your endeavors...

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Minor corruption isn't a big problem in Korea. But big money certainly changes hands higher up the food chain.

I mistakenly offered a 10,000 won 'thank you present' to a Post Office lady last year. She wasn't keen to help me (rules etc), but I convinced her into going across the street to the Thai Embassy and picking up my passport and posting it to me. I thought 10,000 won was appropriate - but she got really offended. Oops - this isn't Thailand.

mack4289 · Joined: 06 Dec 2006

deleted

garykasparov · Joined: 27 May 2007

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

One man's meat is another man's poison.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

It was a pretty passive-agressive tack to take with the worker, dont you think?

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

No I didn't smarty pants. But my adult students told me I could have offered food or drinks to thank her for her help.

I was grateful. That Post Office lady saved me taking another day off work (and paying my hagwon 240,000 won for absence) and 2 X 4.5 hour bus trips to Seoul. So I thought 10,000 was cheap at half the price.

buymybook · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Location: Telluride

The OP stated that the Labor Office worker/public official asked about getting the work release. The OP may have went to far but let's compare...The Labor Office man said... "because you could get severely beaten for "saying false things about Korea."

What a horrible thing to say as a so-called public official/government employee.

The OP should have asked whether that was a direct threat? And...Which is worse, A person making a true statement, or someone/people beating someone else for speaking?

Public officials have also said VERY STUPID things to me in the past.

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

It's hot or cold. Sometimes they want to do their jobs and other times they get huffy because you woke them up. Rolling Eyes

garykasparov · Joined: 27 May 2007

Was this really a matter for the OP to take to the labor office? I stand by my original statement. Why is the OP's employer refusing to provide a LOR? Is there a clause in the OP's contract that stipulates the employer must provided a letter of release under certain conditions and the employer isn't abiding by the labor contrac? Has the OP found another job and the employer isn't providing a LOR?