Korean Job Discussion Forums

root555 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006

So- I have been worrying about this for quite some time: my flight reimbursement from my public school. However, I have been told by many that I should have no problems with this being I am not at a hogwan. But yesterday- I was told by my boss that the school is NOT going to pay my full flight home. She said that the education office in my area has a 'policy' that indicates that the teacher is paid only 75% of a one way flight- using Korean Air as a guide for the price. And the teacher is expected to pay the difference. Of course, my contract doesn't state this- is says the WHOLE flight. Their reasoning for using Korean Air fares as a standard is because "They give the most expensive quotes." However, after searching for cheaper fare- I've found that so far Korean Air has the cheapest quotes! I can't say I'm surprised by this- as my experience in Korea all year has been that I get f***ed over when I least expect it. I teach in the Gyeonggi-do province. Has anyone else in the public school system heard of this????????

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

root555 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006

How old is the 75% policy? Was it changed in the last year?

Reason I ask is because I am the 2nd foreign teacher that my school has had, and my boss told me that last year they had 'problems' with the old foreign teacher when it came to him getting his flight reimbursed. All I know is that it came down to him screaming at the vice principal- and having to sit around Korea for 2 extra days than when he absolutely needed to leave, and being late for some other commitment he had abroad.

root555 · Joined: 09 Aug 2006

And...they also said that I couldn't get money for the airfare because I am only completing a one-year contract, and that they would have been able to give me cash had I intended to stay longer.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

My 2007 GEPIK contract says:

6. If Employee completes the Term of Employment without the intention to renew and leaves Korea within 10 days from the expiration date, Employer shall pay the airfare for Employee's one way return ticket.

There's nothing in there about being paid cash. The only clause in the contract that even says anything about money is if you renew your contract and don't' take the round trip airfare. Then you get the money for a round trip ticket. However, thats ONLY if you renew the contract for a year.

According to my contract, you only get paid airfare if you leave within 10 days after your contract ends. I wonder why the 75% reimbursement clause is not in my GEPIK contract. I signed this one back in March.

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

bosintang · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:29 am Post subject:

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

[quote="ttompatz"][quote="bosintang"][quote="kimchi story"][quote="ttompatz"][quote="root555"]And...they also said that I couldn't get money for the airfare because I am only completing a one-year contract, and that they would have been able to give me cash had I intended to stay longer.[/quote]

And they are liars to boot. Call Wenise.[/quote]

They are liars, but it's not Wenise - Dain Bae has taken over. You can find him at http://cge.ken.go.kr/ or pm me for his number.[/quote]

This is the 3rd guy in less than two years, right? Goes to show how much importance they put in the position. Just a face to hold back the floodgate, with no real powers to do anything other than respond to emails with consoling messages.[/quote]

umm... standard one year contracts.... and Wenise was there for a year... David Nam was there for 2 ... they are both foreigners...

Additionally, it is a rough job being the baby sitter to 900+ foreigners [b]who do things like destroy hotel rooms with fire extinguishers, pee in the halls and pass out on the lawns[/b]....

I don't see anything strange here....[/quote]

LMFAO, I was there for the last 2 out of the 3, and, yeah, I gotta agree: the stress with that job must be incredible.

Bear256 · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Location: Anacortes, Washington USA

I have had several emails with the new

GEPIK Coordinator (Consultation)
Int'l Exchange & Co-op. Affairs
Schools Policy Division
Gyeonggi Prov. Office of Education

and found him quite helpful in addressing issues concerning tickets and who pays what when and such. Give him a try.

http://cge.ken.go.kr/

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

It would be nice if GEPIK actually filled that position from the ranks of the Native Teachers.

Bingo · Joined: 22 Jun 2006

I was drinking with a F/T laast night who teaches with GEPIK. He is renewing but with a new school. Within the last week either Wenise Kim or the new person gave him really bad information re. airfare. They said that, since he was starting at a new GEPIK school he would not receive any flight money in lieu of the flight home. They said it would be paid at the end of his next contract. He put the same question to his school, without informing them of Wenise Kim's position. The school said that they would pay 75% of a Korean Air flight. It was a damm good thing that he didn't take Wenise Kim's word for it. He would have been out 700,000 won.

Just another example of Korean inconsistency, vague answers, and lack of transparency / clarity when dealing with foreigners.

I'm not necessarily blaming Wenise Kim (she works within a Korean system) but do not take her or her successor's word as gospel.