Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hagwonnewbie]

I thought I would share my recent story of changing jobs mid contract as some of it may serve as useful information for those considering switching positions.

I started a hagwon job 6 months ago in a new academy. I gave my 60 days notice after 4 months for various reasons. Mostly, the boss was dishonest about a number of things and didn't want to honor his contract. Also, he made a lot of mistakes and failed to attract many students, so I wasn't confident that he was going to even complete a year. I did, however do everything I could. I worked late in the office making materials, came in on Saturdays and even stood on street corners handing out cookies. Unfortunately, I became the target of my ex-bosses frustration, probably because I was the most vocal critic of the failed ideas and curriculum my boss had invented. (I was always respectful, and I tried to offer alternative ideas for new classes, ways to organize, text books, activities, and so on.) The first day of the summer camp, the boss totally freaked out on me and not anyone else. Why? That did it for me and I handed him my letter of resignation that Friday evening. He used to tell me I was late, but I would be looking at the clock and say, "Oh, but I'm on time." He told me he could fire me anytime he wanted because I had been late 15 times, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I felt it was time to go, despite the fact that I had always been paid.

Soone month later, he suggested that I leave earlier. I was quite happy with this suggestion, but when I did leave, he went directly to immigration and complained. I actually saw him in the immigration office and refuted his allegations in front of the immigration officer. She suggested that I try to work it out with him, because she said it would be very difficult to make a new visa. Nonetheless, I cancelled my visa and got my exit order. My new job applied the next day, but the application was denied because of his complaint. Immigration said they must at least investigate his complaint that I had broken my contract. One week later immigration came to my new academy and arrested me for doing "illegal lectures". I was taken to their office, questioned and released. They returned to my academy to see that I was not continuing to work without a visa and spoke to my new boss. The new boss explained to them, as I did, that I was simply teaching a sample class as part of my unpaid training. They believed him and completed their investigation.

Immigration said that to make a new visa, I must first leave the country, then apply, then wait for my confirmation number. They also required a new CBC, even though I had already submitted one back in March. I also had to do a medical check again for my new ARC. It was a hassle, and I'm wondering if it was worth it when I consider the drastically reduced won.

Basically I thought would share that for anyone who is considering bailing on their current job. If you're unhappy at your current job, you can leave at anytime. It doesn't seem that anyone can really stop you from working here if you are legit and willing to go through the motions. Apparently my boss made dozens of complaints, that were full of lies to several different offices and even wrote his city councilmen and mayor to put pressure on immigration to bar me from the country.

[DrunkenMaster]

What's the name and location of your old job?

[Tobias]

[wylies99]

Congratulations, OP. Good job. You can stand up for yourself and wnd up in a better job. It just takes courage and brains.

[Tommy]

How did you cancel your visa - didn't you need a Letter of Release?

[Beej]

The scariest part of the OP's story is that he had to re-submit criminal background checks and health checks. I thought immigration assured us that this would be a one time thing?

[Tobias]

[gteacher]

[hagwonnewbie]

Ya, well, I should have seen the signs.

Red Flag number 1:
As soon as I arrived at that academy, I mentioned to Mr. Kim (my ex-boss) that I had to leave the country in a few days because my visa was about to expire. (Before I accepted that position, Mr. Kim had sent me an email saying that he would pay for my visa run flight. That's one of the reasons I choose the job.) He kept putting off the subject and finally told me that I had to pay for my own ticket because teachers at all academies are responsible for their own visas and visa runs despite our previous agreement. I argued with him for maybe 10 minutes on the subject and retreated from my position saying that it would be OK. (I figured it was only 3 or 4 hundred bucks, and I didn't really have any other options unless I wanted to move again and find another academy. However, in retrospect, this probably would have been the best decision.) As a result, I managed to get out of the country only an hour before my visa expired.

Red Flag number 2
The boss failed to attract more than 10 students in the first 3 months of opening. (It was a start-up academy) I also had to stand in front of my own apartment building on Staurday morning and hand out cookies and acost passer-byers who seemed totally disinterested.

Red Flag number 3
The boss invested 40 thousand dollars in a useless inapplicable set of cd roms that were supposed to be our curriculum. It was such a joke. He even went to a conference in Dubai to learn how to use the so-called curriculum . When he came back, we asked him what he learned and he showed us some videos he made with his point and shoot camera that had no audio. It was such a joke. In 5 months there, he managed to fail at every hair-brained idea he could concoct and blame the failed results on the teachers. The best one was a science class where the students would grow a plant and give a doll to the plant. He said the students( 7 graders) could write about their feelings for the plants for 1 hour every day, for 5 weeks.

Red Flag number 4
The boss had no idea of what materials were appropriate. He would have me teach Little Bear one week and Sherlock Holmes the next to the same class.

Red Flag number 5
The 3 Korean teachers there mysteriously disappeared. When I asked about their absence, he grinned and said they didn't do a good job, so he let them go.

Red Flag number 6
This is the best. When I brought up the upcoming summer vacation he told me that I couldn't take my vacation until after I had worked one year.

There were a lot of other issues (incorrect pension payments, irrational behavior, violent outburst, bogus accusations, etc.) that seem less significant now, but I kind of knew that I was gonna have to bail from the first red flag. I tried to ammeliorate the situation through diplomacy and coming in on the weekends, but it was useless. I just couldn't sleep at night knowing that the academy was going to fail eventually, and I would probably get left holding the empty bag.

It's funny, during the meetings we had, the boss would only make eye contact and talk with me. The other teacher just looked down at the desk and never said a word. I was like, "hey, what's your opinion about this issue? His response was, "I don't know. I 'm just thinking." Of course he's still there trying to get through the year. I think he's in a better position since I left because he's the only native speaker now.

[wylies99]

Yeah, that sounds like a typical hagwon, especially the parts about the useless textbooks and CDs.
They waste lots of money on CRAPPY textbooks and expensive leases in large buildings and then try to make it back by cheating teachers.

Why can't the Hogwan Association teach them how to buy GOOD textbooks and run their businesses in a PROFESSIONAL manner?

[Tobias]

[hagwonnewbie]

The ex-boss just told my ex-coworker that he couldn't continue to pay him the same salary. He suggested that he take an 800,000 won a month decrease in pay if he wants to stay.

I found out that I was replaced by an Indonesian woman who is now living in my old one room with her husband. Also, the ex-boss fired the bus driver and has a for sale sign on his car.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Tobias]

It gets even foggier, and the truth is obscured even more....

God only knows what the TRUTH is.

[Hotpants]

I've had a similar kind of issue before in which 1 day after signing a contract, I changed my mind about the job and said sorry, I wouldn't take it. The director went ape and made all sorts of threats to get me barred at immigration from getting another job. I decided to go to immi myself to find out whether he had any power to do this. Their response was basically that unless they have evidence that you have illegally broken rules set out by immi - eg, such as teaching without a work visa - they cannot refuse an individual based on mere complaints from school owners.