Korean Job Discussion Forums

midwest · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

I have been here 6-weeks and have been refused a release from a contract. The director, on my 3rd day in Korea attempted to seduce me. I work with his wife too, and I think she suspected his attention to me and now dislikes me. For 3-weeks he was hyper-critical of my work and now he denies that. I tried to explain that I needed to leave because I was unqualified and not because of the passes he made to me. Moreover, he refused to get my alien card, even amid a recent promise. I still have no alien card.

Even though I asked to be released so that I could take a new job, he has refused to permit that even though he originally agreed. I see migrant legal services, has anyone else got a suggestion? Today is our payday, and I can tell he will not pay anyone in the school because he is afraid I will run away and he won't have a teacher. I need help. If Lee is reading this, he should figure out a way to take some of the power away from these unscrupulous business owners! They are not always right, they harass, cheat, and lie.

rhinocharge64 · Joined: 20 Sep 2006

Are you sure that he's got your alien card, have you been offically processed and been issued with an E2? If he does have it, it's illegal what he's doing. I would tell him that you want releaseing asap, you need to get out of there, it dosen't sound safe. If you are on an E2 try getting a release, if your not and thus illegal your free to walk. Is there a foreign worker's office in your area? If so, go and speak to them and get free advice. I would say the Labour Board will be a waste of time, what your trying to be prove is very difficult. Don't take that the wrong way I have an idea of the kind sleazy scum you work for. I'd like to take a blow torch to his... well I'm sure you know the rest.

Take care and good luck

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

RJjr · Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: Turning on a Lamp

You might end up needing to panhandle outside the school between classes.

yeremy · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:30 am Post subject: 50 Won's Worth of Advice

If your boss won't give you a Letter of Release, why don't you give your director notice that you will leave your job, then work until that time comes and leave? I think that will help you with any questions from the KIS, and if they ask then you could level with them. If your boss doesn't go to KIS and cancel your visa, just go to another country and get a job until your original visa period is up. Once your original contract period is up, then simply get another job and return.

I think that you do have to get out of that job, but you shouldn't threaten to take him to the Labor Board, or elsewhere unless you are really prepared to take the Korean system head on. A while back, there was an interesting thread about a hagwon guy (Zen Kimchi) who did hold his hagwon responsible for some things, but they turned around and filed a legal counter-omplaint against him, which made life very ugly for him for a while. If I remember correctly, he found the counter-complaint very difficult to fight.

At the very least, you should go somewhere where you can get really good legal advice about what you can and cannot do. Best of luck.

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

Already done.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=109383&highlight=

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

Well, here is another option.

You have 90 days to obtain your ARC card. If you do not get it by then, then you visa will automatically expire.........and you will be free.

But, it does sound unsafe. Don't beat around the bush. Stand up for yourself and do what you need to do.

Best of luck.

dmbfan

gangpae · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Location: Busan

You are in a very bad situation, because you are working without the proper documentation ie. an E-2 visa, hence you are working illegally and subject to a fine and/or deportation if immigration finds out. If you go to the police and file a complaint you'll probably get deported! If you have your passport in your possession you are in good shape - you can just leave, and you should.

What if she doesn't have her passport? Any suggestions?

This is what I would do:
If you have given your passport to your employer to have the E-2 paperwork processed you can still leave. He may well have passed it on to immigration or he might be holding it, either way I would go immigration and say something along the lines of - 'I came to Korea to work for Mr. ? and gave him my passport to apply for an E-2 visa. However, after taking a look at the school and apartment I've decided it just isn't for me.' And if they have your passport they'll give it back to you. If they don't they'll probably help you to get it back.

I know that most embassies say that they can't help teachers in disputes with hogwans, but I am 100% certain that they will intervene to help in cases of sexual harassment. Contact your Embassy.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

And yet the korean government thinks the only thing that needs to be fixed about their education system is us...

Korea sparkling!

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

midwest · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

midwest · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

midwest · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

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

It won't expire automatically. You'll need to go to Immigration and tell them he refused to get your ARC and you want the Visa canceled. You'llneed to make a big issue out of this at Immigration in early February, and Immigration may STILL give him a chance to get your ARC even after Feb 15. They give hogwan owners breaks like that.

midwest · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

how do you know it won't expire automatically?