Korean Job Discussion Forums

BroodingSea · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Location: North Shields

Hello there everyone. Well, I've been meaning to write this note for some time. And at 12:00 PM on a Saturday in the north of England, complete with hangover from last night's sojourn into a typical wasteland nightclub, I'm compelled to do so. I was in Korea in 2006 for 5 months. Teaching at a Hagwon. I left abruptly (midnight run). It was a very emotional time foe me back then with the death of someone close to me. I wrote a goodbye note, left it on my apartment table and packed. I still remember the trepidation that morning as I quietly picked my way down the stairs of the apartment block with my luggage. It was 5:00 AM. Light outside. I took a taxi but was paranoid that someone who I knew and worked with would see me leave. I was due into work at 2:00 PM, the time the plane was due to take off. The plane was actually delayed 20 minutes at takeoff. At the time I was experienced the acute fear and desperation that the delay was because of me. I was 'owed' 2 weeks pay, and I hope that covered the cost of my return ticket. Some of you may criticise me for this. Some of you understand. But I can accept it all the same. We do things that we feel need to be done at the time. And people we love override all.

Well, I arrived home. It was a tricky time but I completed my PhD (I had been writing up while I was in Korea) and started work (eventually) for a media company. It was a good job. Responsibility, decent pay. I got my own place and was 'making my own living' as they say up here. And then a redundancy. Our office was closed and I was offered the chance to relocate to London. I was never keen on this idea. I like the sea, being close to it, and the comfort of quite places. PhD post-doc work is proving to be difficult to find abd I'm not so sure the PhD was ever a good option (massive ammounts of debt, mere glitter to a CV). So now I'm 'here'. No strings. No kids, marriage, mortgage. The growing season is over and all my chilli plants have been cropped. Good jobs are difficult to come by, and those ones that offer a degree of separation from just getting by, are even rarer. I'm 30 years old. I've began to doubt myself in lots of ways but one sentiment put to me by a friend pulls me back: It's just experience. I like that sentiment, in some ways. I've always checked by this board from time to time. And in those long late afternoon hours, sat in an office, I've recalled the late nights and neon; the hot soups and quiet places; the raucous weekends and invigorating evenings of Korea.

I've recently looked into returning to Asia. I've practically been offered a job in Japan for next year. But I have that germ-seed inside about Korea. Is it because I'm currently without 'direction' as my dad would say? Perhaps so. But similarly, it could be simply about the experience of life - simply exploring other choices (I've always loved travelling). I'm thinking of returning to Korea - for the experience - yes - but also for the pragmatism of financial reasons. That's the pressing concern now. I wonder how things would be if I were to apply for a position? Seems massive changes have been made on the system in recent months (criminal checks etc). Not that this is a problem, but I feel my sudden departure may be, from my last visit on 2006. I envy a lot of you, out there. I recall my first and last visit to Itaewon, on my final weekend in Korea. I met an American guy, a Vietnam vet who had been out teaching in Korea for 17 years (I think). I got into Itaewon at 1:00 AM and the cash points were closed and I was caught out big time. He lent me money till the next morning, and we explored some intriguing but bad places in those small hours. It's an experience I look back on in strange wonder. He was a good guy and I believe he gets on here from time to time. Anyway, that was a pointless digression (much like my last visit, or projected current one perhaps?).

My question to the community here. Do you in any way empathise with my situation i.e. have any of you returned to Korea because of a downturn at home (e.g. job loss etc)? Have any of you been in a similar predicament (thinking of returning etc? - given my circumstances and departure last time)

I give it over to you.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

You ran off with just a note on your dresser. Even in our countries, you would be sued for being an ass, and rightly so. I am sorry about your loss, but when I lost my father, I gave as much notice as I could, took some time off to visit family, and then went back to work. What you did was wrong, weak, and selfish. But everyone makes mistakes in life, me included. I just hope you learned from it, especially considering you have a PhD.

BroodingSea · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Location: North Shields

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

BroodingSea · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Location: North Shields

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

A few years back, a teacher came to me on a Wednesday morning. He told me his brother had passed away. He said that he was really sorry, but he had to go home that Saturday. He was in his tenth month. He said he understood if the company wanted to penalize him for breaching the contract.

I suggested to my director that we pay his plane ticket home for him. As I talked with my director, the topic of severance came up. We both agreed that he should receive a pro-rated bonus. I also took him out for beers on the company card that night.

He went home, taught for awhile, and is now back in Korea because he didn't like the system back at home.

You won't have any trouble getting a new visa. I know a couple people coming back to Korea because they were unable to make waves in their home countries. I went home back in 2003 and hadn't planned on returning. Well, 3 months later, I was back and have been here since.

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

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

laogaiguk is mostly right. You used a personal tragedy for your own benefit. You could have gone home for the emergency and returned and fulfilled your contract. You didn't.

Japan, Korea. It doesn't make any difference. You were unhappy here or you would have returned and finished your obligation. What makes you think your next trip East will be any different, whether it's to Japan or Korea?

BroodingSea · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Location: North Shields

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

blaseblasphemener · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:34 am Post subject:

Life is about making mistakes, learning from them, and hopefully not repeating them.

I think some people go a little overboard on hating on the midnight runners. Some people just can't handle situations, and finding themselves in a foreign country, they make a selfish decision. Most regret it once the smoke clears.

I doubt that the OP would do the same thing again. Lesson learned.

Whirlwind · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Brooding, don't listen to these other posters. They probably had decent jobs their first time. Don't listen to them. Like you, I was a runner and I just left a note. They were damn lucky to get even that from me. They gave me no respect at the job and I shoved it back in their faces. I found out later that they were shocked and couldn't believe it Very Happy

. I've never felt the least bit bad about it.

I'm the opposite of you in this situation. I've had my fill of Korea and am leaving soon. Life is about experience, that is the core of it. Screw living somewhere for money. Screw living somewhere where you work for 50 years and get a retirment party. Life is about mobility and experiences. You have to do what makes you happy. You're 30, that is damn young. You can have plenty more experiences in life, why settle for working in one place. Yes, the visa requirements for Korea now are ridiculous and a joke, but they nonetheless are pretty easy to follow. If you're posting on this forum, I think that tells you something. You've got the desire to come back and give Korea another shot. Hey, life is short, you might as well. That's the thing, life is so freaking short that we should gain as many experiences as possible. As for you getting a visa after a midnight run. I got mine no problem after I did the deed. Yours was way back in 2005, I would say that you're probably safe and would have no problems. Regardless of what you decide, make the choice that makes YOU feel good(not others).

MrRogers · Joined: 29 Jun 2008

yes, and you might want to think of going somewhere else where the money is better (your salary might be measly here after conversion) and where it might be a fresh start and more interesting

asian sensation · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

I'm sure you will have no problem finding a job in Korea with a PHD. I would look towards the Universities with your credentials.

As for the midnight running, I can care less if you left the job without the "contracts" required amount of days. I had a fall out with a hagwon job in Korea but I didn't do a midnight run because I was having a ball confronting my senior staff on everything they did that was illegal and unethical. I wasn't too worried about money at the time, so there wasn't too much worry for me. In the end, they were nervous about what they did and paid for my flight home even though I didn't complete the contract. So to each his own, I don't see how it's any different then quitting any other job. If they were good to you and you screw them over then you will probably have some guilt about it. If they treat you lousy, who cares....