Korean Job Discussion Forums

[maisonderik]

So I have just finished a contract with and employer, I had found a new job and things were working out. We went to the Immigration Office and did a visa transfer. However, the date on my contract does not start until March 1st. This past week I had moved to the new location only to find the apartment was horrible and the school was being very difficult in giving driving directions. When I got to the school the same day I realized that it was not the place for me. The following next two weeks are supposed to be my training period and then I would start teaching as of March 1st, the date of the contract in which I signed. So, I have told my employer that I no longer wish to work there, this was the day in which I moved into the new apartment. She was upset and asked why, I gave her the reasons and she said she would call me back, she never did. So, on Friday I went to the apartment to get my things only to find out that the apartment was empty. When I called the director she explained that my things were in the office and that I had too pay them 200 won in order to get them released to me. It was the money that they were out for the visa stuff. I paid the money and agreed to come and get my belongings this coming Monday. However, I have asked her for a release letter and she is being a little shaddy and telling me that yeas she can give me one but she is in an awkward situation and so on. I guess my main problem is that how do I get the release letter. I really want to be nice and I have done research on the internet and can't really find anything other than these documents from the Ministry Of Labour, stating that the school has to go to Immigration if I am not working there otherwise they are legally responsible for me while I am here and they coulg get seriously fined if they don't go within 14 days to report that I am no longer working there. So if anyone has advice as to what to do I would grestly appreciate it, also I have found a new job that starts on the 1st of March and I know I need a release letter to work for them. One more thing is that my contract never started and technically I didn't breal it, right?

[plus99]

no i think its fair to say you broke the contract, not that that condones what their doing.

[winterwawa]

You broke your contract. She doesn't have to give you a letter of release. Maybe you feel justified in your actions, but you should have done more research into the place before you signed.

[polonius]

You did break the contract, you should have given her the proper notice. I understand why she is pissed. Why didn't you go check the place before hand to come up with this opinion. I sure hindsight is 20/20. At any rate, here is the standard Letter of release. Copy it, fill out the info, it is in English and Korean. Take it to your employer and ask her nicely to sign it. If she refuses, you can always remind her that she sponsored your visa, and she is responsible for you until you are released from your visa. Also note that you will have to go through the new procedures now, as you didn't work for the past employer for more than 9 months. So get your criminal check and medical check done.

LETTER OF RELEASE

Letter of Consent to Release Foreign English Teacher

Name of Teacher:

Nationality:

Passport No.:

Address:

Telephone No.:


The above-person has been working at our school/academy from ______________to ____________________, in the position of Foreign English teacher. We hereby give our consent to the transfer of said person to work for another English school/academy.


Dated:

Name of English Academy:

Address of School:

_______________________________
Representative


SEAL

_____________________________________________________________

외국인 영어강사의 양도 동의서

선생님 이름:

국적:

여권번호:

주소:

전화번호:

위의 사람은 저희 학원에서 부터 까지 영어 강사로
이 사람이 다른 영어 학원이나 학교에서 일 할 수 있다고 승인 합니다.

날짜:

영어학원 상호명
영어학원 주소


대표자

/도장/

[spliff]

You're complaining about a measly 200 won...

[Crack Baby]

[Thunndarr]

Summarizing as I read the OP.

The OP finished the last contract, had signed a contract that was to begin in March, proceeded to move to the new apartment and check out the school, and realized that the apartment and the school both sucked. Now, the new contract hasn't even started yet, but the OP has been asked to pay 2 million won (200 won obviously means 200 man won) to get a letter of realease, paid the money, and still hasn't gotten the letter of release.

What's to be done?

[captain kirk]

If it's a NEW visa the procedure that is the clincher, which locks her in, is the obtaining of an ARC card. That must be done before three months are up.

That's not the case with the visa transfer? I got a visa transfer but they kept my old ARC card. Probably because the dates on it show a one year span (that's all used up a week from now). Same Visa number that lasts two years instead of one? I've never been on a Visa Transfer before so dunno. Do I even have to apply for an ARC card or will they send one in the mail when they return my passport in which is the Visa stamp for year two?

Seems odd she needs a Letter of Release when she is two weeks away from even starting work.

Is there an Immigration doctor in the house?^^

[Ryst Helmut]

Advice?

Paragraphs.


!shoosh,

Ryst

[air76]

Clearly it was a bad idea to not check out the school if you were in Korea already, but that doesn't give them the right to treat you this way. Especially in light of the fact that you paid them back what they spent on your visa (probably more.)

The last time we lived in Korea there was an organization of lawyers in Seoul that represented teachers across Korea who were mistreated by their hagwans. I don't remember the name of it, or if it still exists, but it was a free service and maybe someone else reading this can give you more details.

As a last resort....if you have a problem and no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-team

[maisonderik]

Thank you qall for your help and opinions. Just to clearify things, I had to pay them the money they were out for the visa and transportation fees and such which was 200 man won. This was in order for them to release my belongings which they went into my apartment when I was not there ans took out and put into their school offices. Tomorrow I have to go to collect my belongings and that is when I need to collect a letter of release and my diploma which they have. It turns out that I know someone at the school from going out in Seoul and she has advised me that she wished that she had contact with me before becuase she would have told me never to work there. All this being said I am going in tomorrow to get those things and I am going to be polite and friendly. The friend that I have there is getting me the Hagwon owners number as well as the previous directors number so that if things do not work out I can pull a trump card on her. I really don't want any of that to happen and all I really want is for her to do the right thing and give me those documents. I have paid her the money she was out that is the least she can do for me.

[StephannieK]

what it really comes down to is this.

1. you get the letter and are free to find another job

2. you dont get the letter and are locked into this visa for a year, unable to work anywhere.

If you fall under #2 (and no one wants to stand under #2 your only option to break the visa vise is to leave the country and come back as a tourist.

Important things to remember if you chose this loophole:

1. immi laws are changing, you will have to have your papers in order, spic & span and explain to the new school everything, so they can go to bat for you with immi.

2. changing to a different provence may help

3. as you leave the country, (since you dont yet have the ARC) you must point out your visa stamp in your passport to the exiting immi official and tell them you are leaving for good. they will mark "used" on the visa and enter you into the computer. this is the key part in breaking the school's visa visegrip.

I personally did this in 2004 when my school refused to fix my ondol heat and it had been several weeks & a Jan. snow was starting up when I walked. (lack of accurate accounting for the previous 4 paychecks didnt' help my mood either)

How this loophole will pan out with the new regs is anyone's guess. Would an apology to the school & 'grin & bear it" be possible for 9-10 months for a smoother transition to another school?

best advice: remain calm, dont show anger, research carefully before making a move.

[jeffkim1972]

This might sound like a stupid question, but why didn't you clear your things out of the apartment before you dropped the hammer on them?

Another person going through a traumatic experience with a sofa.

Maybe some of your should have brought your mothers to Korea as well.

[cruisemonkey]

[captain kirk]