Korean Job Discussion Forums

[spencer23]

Hello,

My fiance and I have been teaching at a hagwon for 5 months, since day one we have both noticed that as soon as we enter the building that our eyes become instantly irritated. Not only we have noticed it but it also has been mentioned to us by co-workers and students.

I have mentioned it to our director and he said that it has something to do with the wall paper (this is a new school). The school is on the second floor so the director actually leaves all the classroom's windows and doors open over night to "air out" the rooms.

Over the past month my eyes have gotten progressively worse. When I was in my early teens I was diagnosed with allergic conjuctivitis. Usually I only have a few bad flare ups a year but for the past few weeks my eyes have been really bad. Even the special eye drops prescribed to me by my Ophthalmologist now no longer work. My eyes are always red, itchy and sore. The only option is to take myself out of the environment that causes these flare ups (the hagwon), so that means my only option is to resign.

I know my director will not understand my situation and even though I only have to give 1 months notice I know that it will be very hard to get a letter of release from my director. I really want to stay in Korea. Also I dread knowing that I will have to go through a month more of irritated eyes.

So what I want to know is do you think that the immigration board would release me from my contract because of my medical circumstances or do you think I may just have to resign and go teach in Taiwan/Japan etc?

Any advice would appreciated

Thanks

[Pak Yu Man]

Give your notice and leave. It's not worth your eyesight is it?

[spencer23]

please someone give me some advice!!!!

[Jizzo T. Clown]

Both of your eyes get irritated? Are you sure or do you just hate your job? Maybe one of you is getting "sympathy" allergies. .

My advice? Quit and go home.

[spencer23]

Yes both of our eyes hurt Jizzo. Everyone who goes into the building comment as stated. I am not looking for sympathy just advice about what my options are if my boss will not give me a letter of release. I also don't hate my job. My boss and co-workers are fine and the job is decent enough.

As stated I want to stay in Korea, if I didn't why would I worry about getting a LoR? I don't know why your advice to me is to go home? Your cynical advice was neither helpful or witty.

[quilter]

Explain to your boss that the conditions are making you sick and that you want a letter of release. The worst that can happen is he can say no. If he does say no then you may have to take an extended holiday for a while and come back when your contract has expired. Look at it as the chance to travel around Asia for a few months. You will lose a several months pay, but I can think of worse things to do. Either way you will have to leave the country to get your visa renewed with a new company.
If your boss can't understand your health concerns, and he obviously knows there are air quality issues if he is leaving the windows open overnight, then I think you just have to move on and come back later.
Sorry, but it's the best advice I can give.

[regicide]

[Jizzo T. Clown]

Wasn't trying to be witty. He asked for advice and I gave it. If he doesn't have the nutz to make his own decisions, I figured I'd make it easy: quit and go home. You don't wanna hear that advice? Then don't ask.

What would you think if I came on this board and said "My school is causing me to be sick...what should I do?"

Hell, you're an adult. If you're sick, complain to your boss. If he won't take care of it, leave. If you can hack it, stay. What else can a stranger say? Do you need someone to hold your hand when you take a piss too?

[articulate_ink]

Consider going to the doctor first. Get it documented that you're having problems with your eyes, and this is the cause. Then give notice. It's not worth your health. Environmental illness is a real issue. It might not be widely recognized as such in Korea, but then, people here believe in fan death. My sister developed multiple chemical sensitivities after moving into an apartment that had been fumigated with insecticide before a fresh coat of paint had been allowed to dry, and the cumulative toxins wrought havoc on her immune system. Don't allow it to get to that point.

About halfway through my first contract in Korea, I had planned to leave for another job. I already had an offer. I ended up buying into the mythology that prevails on here, around how impossible it is to get a letter of release, and as a result I waited and went through incredible angst over how to go about telling my director. In the end, all he said was 'You've got a better job offer? Why didn't you say so?' No, they're not all that supportive, but still: your health is not a negotiable point. Obviously just airing out the rooms isn't solving the problem. If something in your workplace is interfering with your health, then that needs to come first. Get the documentation and then announce your intention of leaving. If the director is difficult about it, then there are other options you can pursue. Remember, you are not an indentured servant.

[Ilsanman]

Quit. But don't burn your bridge. Documentation is a good idea.

[jeffkim1972]

The only advice i could give is that you must make your own decision and not rely on anything from the hagwon owner. Koreans have this tendency to say "it's ok, you'll be fine" to everything from ignorance rather than from experience or knowledge of the situation. so you'll probably receive no sympathy or empathy from his part. They are not really capable of pursuing things on a deep level. the attitudes towards health here are still sort of rustic.

So you must make the decision, don't wait for him. If your condition is clearly visible, meaning redness or watery puffiness, just tell him, you can't work here because of health and you must leave.

if the school is financially healthy and have a good track record of teachers finishing contracts, etc then i'm sure it will be less of a problem. But if the school is struggling, then you'll probably receive no cooperation.
you could contract 10 of the most deadliest diseases while working there and they will only think about their bottom line.

[dmbfan]

[wo buxihuan hanguoren]

Are you white? White people are not as evolved as Asians, and that is why you have hairs on your fingers.

It is your white inferiority, not your hakwon.

On the plus side, at least your country (whichever white man's country it is) probably makes better milkshakes than Korea does.

[butlerian]

[wo buxihuan hanguoren]