Korean Job Discussion Forums

greedy_bones · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: not quite sure anymore

This is a long story, but bear with me.

I have been teaching in Korea for just under three years. My first year was ok, but I didn't save much money because I wasn't making that much, took a trip to Thailand, flew to New York for a wedding, had to replace everything I owned when my aparment was robbed, and finally overslept on the day of my return flight. My second year, I saved a bit, but also spent a bit on travel, a laptop, etc... My third year, I didn't save anything, because I changed jobs twice, and lost a lot of money sending money back home to pay for student loans.

During my third year, I worked for an ok school that payed moderately well and was tolerable, but quit after six months because I hated the highly structured curriculum and wanted to actually teach rather than go through a prepared lesson plan that I thought was worthless. Everything went well with my leaving, and I was paid in full. I found a new job that was supposed to start a month after I left my previous job.

Everything sounded pretty good about the school except for the pay which was a little lower than what I was looking for. I agreed to take the job because the hours were very low and there would be opportunities to make extra money with privates and extra work through the school.

I had some extra money, so I decided to take a vacation/visa run to the Philippines. While I was in the Philippines, my visa number took a week longer than it was supposed to, so I had to change my flights and remain for another week in order to get my visa. I was told that I would be reimbursed for this by my recruiter.(I know I'm and idiot, and shouldn't have trusted anything a recruiter told me, but I had previously used a very decent recruiter who told me the truth about everything and actually helped me out at work.) The trip ended up costing me more than I had originally anticipated, and I ended up having a lot less money than I thought I would.

I arrived in Korea and moved into my new place. I wasn't given my schedule until day 1. I looked at the schedule, which I was told would be from 3-7:30 and have about 90 hours per month, and noticed that I was teaching from 2-9 most days, and 12:30-9 on one day. I was to teach 38 classes a week. I brought this up to the director, we argued for a bit and he adjusted it to make it a little better, and he promised I would teach fewer classes the next month. I hesitatingly agreed and remained there but browsed through job ads while teaching. Towards the end of last month, I saw some great ads, and was informed of another job in March at a school that a friend of mine worked at. I saw my schedule for February which had me teaching more hours, and tendered my resignation, giving a little over the required 30 days notice.

The director was pissed, and I agreed to have the recruiters fee deducted from my last paycheck. I don't agree with this, but my passport is still at immigration, and I didn't want to deal with any huge hassle with immigration and have a smooth transition to my new school. I figured, if I am a little bit accommodating, my boss would be more likely to not screw me over. Last week, everything was going fine, I found a new job that will pay a high salary, but won't pay for airfare or housing, other than the key money, and starts in March. My plan was to be very frugal this month, take the lower pay next month, stay in a cheap hotel for the first month at the new place, and move into a nice apartment after the first paycheck in April.

Thursday, I was paid, minus a huge recruiter fee. So, I had half a paycheck. Yesterday, my boss calls me into his office after my last class and tells me not to come into work on monday, because he found a new teacher who will start on monday.

So, now I have a little over a million won to last me until April, have to pay for housing, and a Fukuoka trip. Any suggestions?

madoka · Joined: 27 Mar 2008

I'm assuming that you can't rely on credit cards, friends or family to bail you out for a couple of months?

Have you looked into a hostel in your area?

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Couchsurf and bum off the charity of your friends?

greedy_bones · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: not quite sure anymore

In retrospect, I should have remembered that logic and honesty is not the best policy when dealing with Korean employers. I should have just said, "My mother is really sick."

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

Learn to take a job and stick to it for at least a year. You screwed yourself with all this changing. Why not teach in a public school.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

I think he wants more money than public wages will offer.

greedy_bones · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: not quite sure anymore

madoka · Joined: 27 Mar 2008

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:17 am Post subject:

Being greedy AND a pushover is not a good combination. Laughing

darkhorse118 · Joined: 12 Jan 2009

asams · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

the fukuoka trip is for his visa run - he's actually worrying about the right thing

it's not a vacation. OP, you may be able to talk a new school into paying for that trip since they'll get out cheaper by sending you to Japan instead of bringing someone all the way from the US

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

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

kaosjin · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

You are in this position after three years here. I suggest you stop whining and go home.

Scamps · Joined: 01 Feb 2008

I think you'd better find a roommate or go to the couchsurfing website to find people willing to let you stay at their place for free or maybe a small charge.
I'd take the ferry to Fukuoka.
You've got to live frugally. Do you need any tips on how to do that?
I can help you...