Korean Job Discussion Forums

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Today I had my weekly lunch with my boss. I was re-offered a contract for next year, and ended up signing it.

However, she said that the rules for retaining teachers at Universities have been "reinterpreted". The upshot is that you are no longer limited to teaching two or three years at a Univ., and that if they like you you may teach a few years (she wasn't specific on this, just multiple years, however the contracts are still for one year).

The upside is increasing pay raises as you stay at the same univ. and better "conditions' (which I was promised, though I have no idea what they might mean).

The bottom line, if this is true, is that if you have a job you like you may be able to stay there long term. The guy who taught in my dept. before me was forced out due to immigration rules. So this could be a good thing, if true. I can't vouch for it, as I always take the info I get from my beloved Korean paymasters with a grain of salt.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

There aren't any immigration rules about staying at a university. I was at my last university for 5 years.

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

To be honest, I'm only going on what my boss says. What univ. did you teach at? I teach at Seowon Univ in Cheong-Ju. and the guy who taught here before me apparently was forced out. Maybe they just didn't like him?

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

I've got nothing to hide, I'm proud of the job I do at my school. However, if you're gonna post something on this website that isn't the same as what my boss told me this afternoon, I want to know ifs ands, and buts.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

My university also has not term limits. There is no law, just stupid university policies.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Unfortunately, no info about term limits, but the best place to ask would be at: http://joeseoulman.blogspot.com/2008/02/im-very-happy-with-my-job-and-have-no.html

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Okay, yeah, I think they just forced the guy out because they didn't like him. When I first took the job, she said "would you like to stay here 4 or 5 years?" I of course hesitated and said hmm, it depends.

It's dissapointing a woman I really like would dissimulate but I guess that's the way the game is played.

She has to deal with the univ. bureaucracy, however. Anyway, at least if you're an effective uni. teacher you can earn a secure place in your school, so the upshot is encouraging.

DrunkenMaster · Joined: 04 Feb 2008

Some universities have a renewal limit. There seems to be more of them in the Seoul area. I've never been able to find out why, and one guess is that it has something to do with keeping foreign teachers from gaining more labor rights, higher salaries, or mature pensions. Some schools have stopped doing it too, which might be the case with you, OP.

In other news...

(by government decree)

Full-time lecturers are now assistant professors. Now all you jackasses with "Professor" on your business card can feel more confident that it's not a complete farce, even though deep down inside, you know it is.

Teaching English FiftyFifty or Headway to freshmen does not a professor make, my little fatties.

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

This is definately a gray area in the law. The Roh Muhyun Government passed a law saying (I can't remember exactly) but if you work for the same employer for 2 or 3 years, you become a permanent employee, making it much more difficult to fire.

So, how does this effect FTs - that is the gray area of the law. Where I work, we have been very clearly listed as "Guest Lecturers" in our contracts, hence not regular employees. Does this mean we are exempt from the law? That is the gray area.

There have been plenty of FTs who have worked at their universities for more than 3 years. Could they sue for some kind of permanent status? If they could get a lawyer and a judge to take the case, it could be very interesting.
I am unaware of any legal interpretation of exactly how this law might effect foreign university Instructors, especially those with F-visas.

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

No term limits here, either.

Our uni is growing the number of waygooks it has. Our president is big on the idea of required English classes for a greater number of students. Word is, there will be 2 more waygooks hired in the next few months. We were at 2 just 4 years ago. Now it's upwards of 7 ... soon to be 9.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

My best guess is that this is to stem the tidal wave of people fixing to take off should the won not shore up. You never know what's coming down the pike: after the won levels off, they can just as easily go back to term limits, and you'd be SOL.