Korean Job Discussion Forums

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

So my former employer has threatened to sue me because I left his hagwon and therefore damaged his business because some students are leaving. This was after I gave him over 30 days notice. Actually, I gave him 60 days notice as is required in the contract. He then told me that I couldn't work there after 5 weeks. I said OK. Then, the day after my last day of work(last Saturday) I went to get my letter of release, and he said that his new teacher didn't arrive. He wanted me to work part time and pay rent for the next 2 weeks. I said I would think about it, but then I called him an hour later and said "No, I can't do it". He told me to be at work on Monday, or I'll be in big trouble. I said, 'Don't count on it." On Monday, I got the following letter, which is rather funny:

The other teacher gave your aptkey to me. How much shocked i am!. If you do not worktoday here, i will notice imigration office that youhave escaped. I will sue you of all of my losscaused from you. You should be responsible foreverything in the future.

So my questions are these:

What is the process of suing or being sued like?
How long does it take?
After a judgement is made, how is payment retrieved?
Have you ever heard of a teacher being sued in Korea?

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

Only animals and slaves escape!!! Shocked

Join Me · Joined: 14 Jan 2008

In five years I have only heard of an instructor being sued one time. That was for slandering his former boss on the Internet. I wouldn't worry about your boss.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Almost all of the time its a complete bluff when the school threatens to sue... And anyway if you didnt break the contract then you have nothing to worry about. Did they break the contract in any way?

I would write a letter back stating the contract clauses, the date you gave your notice, that you didnt break the contract etc, also including anything he may have done to break the contract and that you will counter sue if he goes ahead with it.

i4NI · Joined: 17 May 2008 Location: Seoul

You have evidence of him saying he's going to lie to immigration.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

He's bluffing.

Don't do the man any favors.

If he said that to me, I'd probably go to immigration myself, or pay a lawyer to give him a call. What an ass.

I'd also be recording everything he said to me.

And what the hell does he mean by, "you escaped?" Were you in jail?

Tathen · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

I don't think he's bluffing because I think he's really crazy. That's one of many reasons why I quit. Also, I never got reimbursed for my visa run or my 2 weeks of summer vacation. To boot, his academy is a total failure and I don't want to work a year and end up not getting my last check, airfare and severance.

He will spend tens of thousands on a lawyer to sue me for less than he can claim in a case that has no merit.

I've already seen him waste 30k on a curriculum that he will never and has never used. He is the epitome of everything FTs think is illogical about Korea. He is emotionally driven and doesn't consider the outcome of his decisions.

Never dismiss the threats of a madman!

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Then strike first. Take him to the labor board over his failure to pay you.

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

Visa run wasn't in print on the contract. he did say it in an email though. Can I go to labor and complain about vacation? I never heard of that. I've only heard about them ruling on severance and salary.

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:14 am Post subject:

That's a terrible situation. I feel bad for you. You've been having a really rough time for a while. My 2 cents of advice. If you want to continuing teaching in Korea, get a PS job, if not, just leave and start a new life elsewhere.

Contact the labor office tomorrow, then check with the tax and pension offices if your scoundrel employer paid in. Then proceed from there. Good luck.

expat2001 · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

TheChickenLover · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Location: The Chicken Coop

Emails are proof of intentions. If he promised you in an email and he doesn't, you can use that against him.

If you resigned via email and you have a record of him acknowledging this via email, then the email time stamp is proof enough.

You're in the clear.

If he's as nutty as you think, perhaps you should change and become somewhat unpredictable and nutty yourself. You're in a bad spot now, may as well have some fun with it.

Chicken