Korean Job Discussion Forums

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

I've read some wack jobs on this board, but this takes the cake! I understand wanting to trust your boss and thinking he's an angel etc..... but let's get real please. THIS IS KOREA!

I have a bad hagwon as well, not as bad as yours... he's not paying my pension, my apartment sucks, late payment almost every month, and my schedule alway's changes. Not to mention he made me work on a Saturday and didn't give me overtime... Nice guy, but sketchy!

If I were you, I would just run it, do a run to Hong Kong, come back on a tourist visa. Get privates until you get your CRC and whatnot and apply for a position in March. That's what I'd do.

But get out of fantasy land and look at the real picture, YOU'VE BEEN DECIEVED, PLAYED, AND STUCK UP AGAINST A WALL BY A DIRECTOR WHO LAUGH'S EVERYTIME HE THINKS OF YOU.

shifty · Joined: 21 Jun 2004

Things are not good in the old S of A and about to get exponentially worse.

You'll find just how bad when you have to shell out for a tank of gas.

Manticore · Joined: 20 Nov 2007

Dear posters,

As I said in my �Update� post replies to the effect of �your boss is scum, bail now� are kind of antiquated at this point. I am very aware that the guy could be a conniving bastard and that I could be setting myself up for failure.

However, I actually believe he is terrible at management and his employment practice and policies are absurd. If this guy is a criminal, I am in a position to put him into a world of pain by blowing the whistle on him. He isn�t stupid, he doesn�t want this.

Whistleblower � I have my ARC, I am registered to the guys old school. I know this is illegal. He claims he has permission from immigration and education and relevant authorities. Once again it makes no sense for them to bust him, he looses me and doesn�t have his foreign teacher he promised for the school�s opening. Furthermore the kindy lose me which will damage if not kill business with them. This could lead to irrevocable loses and perhaps his school won�t even open because of investors (the kindy director) withdrawing his financial interest.

Regarding my tax, medical, pay issues - the guy is a moron, sure, but I have only let this slide to give me time to think. I will get those issues sorted ASAP by taking a hard line with him.

I can see that some people have a pretty intense attitude of all bosses are evil & all recruiters are bloodsuckers. While it�s certainly true in cases, you guys repeating this rhetoric - which I am very aware of - is simply not helpful. As I stated in the first paragraph of this post I�m not turning a blind eye to how bad this could get. Bailing now as some posters suggest would be very inconvenient and a waste of time and money.

So please, I hope one of you guys can appreciate my perspective instead of criticizing everything, and if you have anything inciteful to say, I�m all ears.

(PS. Easter Clark � are you trying to get me to rant about SA Smile

I have lived there for 21 years, it is a beautiful country with many attractions, a great vacation destination. But for a white male like me it offers NO FUTURE.)

spirit2110 · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:13 am Post subject:

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:13 am Post subject:

spirit2110 · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:13 am Post subject:

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Teachurrrr · Joined: 21 May 2008 Location: Parts Unknown

Manticore, some really good advice has been offered, especially from Fresh Prince. You don�t want to bail. Good for you, as there might be real consequences if you try to return to Korea even after the visa period has expired (or maybe not � each case varies). You want to stay, that�s commendable, but you have been put in a situation that will not go away.

Right now, everything must be very complicated. You are new to Korea and the ESL side of Korea, so you probably do not know your rights, where to go for help, or whom to trust. Even experienced teachers get stuck in this jam. I assume the language barrier will also be a factor especially since it is often used as an excuse when a teacher needs help to correct a problem that is being caused by those the teacher works for. You need specific answers to questions that are probably being intentionally delayed and negotiated while empty promises are made over and over to placate you.

Your boss and recruiter (agency, whatever) are playing the odds that you will continue to consider their options. They even have you concerned about the financial aspects of their business and you hardly know these people. Most of the posters here can see right through this. It�s a ruse.

Professional people, from whatever country or culture will do their best to make you comfortable, answers any questions, and help you. If these things are not happening, they are confusing you. It is their purpose. Every day you stay, they are making money and putting you in harm�s way. The longer you wait or trust that the people involved will come to their senses, see your point of view, or help you sort out the problem they intentionally started to begin with, the more they succeed at your expense.

When you are illegal, you are at their mercy and they know it. They will keep negotiating with you until you can�t take anymore. When you choose to walk away or get help, they will caterwaul and probably accuse you of vile things and think nothing of it. You are easy money for them. It's business.

If you want to stay in Korea, you will have to face the situation. The only way you will get this sorted out is to go to immigration. Literally ASK FOR THEIR HELP! First, explain that you were purposely put in an illegal situation. Second, make the statement, "I really like Korea. I just wanted to teach. Promises were broken. What can I do?" Third, directly ASK THE OFFICIAL FOR THEIR HELP! I have found in Asia that if you need help, ask for it. In my experience, if I do not know the procedure or suspect someone is purposely blocking me from solving a problem, I ask for help outside the school. Most people will try to help you here, even government officials.

Now, if you follow this advice and go to immigration, one of two things will happen:

1) Immigration will get involved and sort out the situation for you. Of course lies will be told about you, but the officials are not stupid. They know what goes on. If they choose to help you, they will sort out the situation in your favor and you will be able to take another job in Korea.

or

2) They have a bad feeling, yes � feeling, about you that day and decide to detain, fine and/or deport you for breaking the law even if you were ignorant to the fact.

It will go one of two ways. The longer you wait the more likely option number two waits for you.

Assess your situation. If you have no money to 1) support yourself over the next month or longer, 2) pay for a plane ticket home, if needed, or 3) pay possible fines, then choose to remain in your current situation, suffer it, save money, and do your best until the time comes that you are no longer useful to them, get caught for being illegal, or improbably survive the situation all together and stay in Korea. If you have the financial means and/or desire to face possible positive or negative consequences, go to immigration and ask for their help.

It�s not an easy choice, but maybe it�s better than what you face down the road. Good luck! (My apologies for the long post. My summarizing skills are weak.)

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Immigration does not get involved in contract disputes. The only thing they care about is the breaking of Immigration law. And ignorance of the law is NOT an excuse. If he goes to Immigration he most likely will be deported regardless and they may or may not go after the school

The labor board is the place for contract disputes. Throwing yourself on Immigration's mercy is a very bad idea.

merkurix · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Not far from the deep end.

OP, let me get this straight: Because your boss has not opened his hagwon that you are supposed to be working in, he is pimping you out to morning and afternoon private kindies because 'he promised them a native speaker'? Your boss is filth and he is a lawbreaking scumlick:

From a Korea Times published on June 18th of this year:

Imrahil · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject:

Manticore how naive are you? Do you honestly think your boss gives a crap about you? He doesn't! There are countless threads on this job board about hagwan bosses lying, stealing and manipulating their teachers, especially new ones! Lots of people have given you very good advice in this thread. If you are just going to ignore their advice then STOP POSTING YOUR COMPLAINTS! People have tried to help you here but you have chosen to ignore them and believe you boss who only cares about the money he can get from using you.

merkurix · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Not far from the deep end.

shifty · Joined: 21 Jun 2004

Can someone please summarise the "good advice". Some of the "good advisers" has been countermanded by others.

To me it's mostly "one size fits all" that's on offer. If OP gets off the tiger now he loses wholesale, while If he perseveres, there is a calculated risk worth taking in my opinion.

He's quite entitled to compare his notes with Dave's people, even if it serves only as a sounding board. Some posters I'm sure have succeeded in rationalising his thinking and he has expressed gratitude to them.

gangpae · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Location: Busan

Whatever dude. If it's right for you keep doing it. But remember you're a knob and don't deserve the advice you've given.