Korean Job Discussion Forums

[last goodbye]

I have to go next week. Anyone know what happens? I hear the 2 parties go in front of some kinda "judge," plea your cases, show documents, etc.. and at the end they give a decision. Anyone know, any advice?

[jlb]

Been there. I won, but the labor board doesn't have a lot of power to enforce their rulings. You have to go even higher. Anyway, my hagwon just wanted it done and so did I, so I agreed to a little bit less just so I could leave the country and not have this hanging over my head anymore. And the hagwon doesn't even have to show up at the appointed time, since there's really no penalty for not.

So what I'm saying is this: Be prepared for it to drag on for weeks/months. And bring a Korean translator of course.

[last goodbye]

So did you represent yourself? I will, but wanna speak to a lawyer first- to go over the contract and the laws.

What did you take with you to the meeting? HOw many times did you have to meet and how long did the whole thing take?

I was canned for "not signing another contract" and have it written in an email- so it seems pretty cut'n'dry there. Now it's a matter of what that entitles me to- as it doesn't say on the contract. So, I want 1 moths pay and most of my severance (as I worked there 10 months).

[goesslry]

then you have nothing to worry about. you don't need a lawyer. just bring a korean translator. I've gone through it and won. Most all teachers win. The labor board is fed up with hagwons taking advantage of foreigners. Anytime a contract is changed, it makes the previous contract null and void, so you could quit right there. If you have the email in writing, you will be fine. They are pretty neutral to everything, so if you are in the right, don't worry.

[last goodbye]

I am definitely in the right. I saw a lawyer and he said I should win too, but that it'll take 2-3 months. . I don't care about the time, I can wait. How long did it take you? I am just worried they will worm their way out somehow.He also said these hogwon types make a lot of probs and don't know the laws and are now getting screwed for it.

Tell me more about the process. The lawyer said after the first meeting, it's pretty much us bargaining on paper via the labour board. Did you ever actually go to court? How was it settled?

[Trip]

There's a sticky about this and a Midnight Runner podcast.

[Countrygirl]

My husband has been there twice. He's Korean and he's been screwed real bad by hogwan owners/bosses/jerks. Hard to believe but us foreigners are actually treated better than Korean workers.

The labour board works hard to get workers decent compensation. Also, most hogwan owners are so arrogant that they always get caught in the lies they tell.

The last hogwan that my husband brought to the labour board had been there enough times that the labour board started it's own investigation of the hogwan.

Just bring your email printout and any other documentation or dates of what happened and go from there. The labour board will tell you exactly what you have to do next.

Also, why don't you ask for some of the airfare since that should have been calculated in the last six months of your job? Otherwise the hogwan owner still saves money on firing you.

[last goodbye]

Airfare wasn't part of the deal. I signed it here in Korea. I will ask for 2 months pay, severance and the "annual paid leave" (anyone know how to say this in Korean?).

I was told that for the first meeting, I only have to bring my "demands"- but not proof-i.e. emails, etc. That comes later, when the paper work starts flying back and forth.

[jdog2050]

[last goodbye]

Jdog... You saying I should bring stuff like emails (translated into Korean) I have from my boss- ones that give the (lame) reason for firing me, telling me not to come to work anymore, etc? Anything else you recommend?

I have my "demands" in Korean and will take someone who can speak both.

[jdog2050]

[last goodbye]

Cool, I have those!!!

HOw long did your case take? How far did it go and what did you get?

[jdog2050]

[wylies99]

Many Hagwon owners don't show up at the hearings. Make sure you get to present your case even if the owner isn't there. If you show up with a written statement (in Korean) and the contract, you should be fine. Also bring along your updated bank book to prove that no deposits were ever made to your account. Sometimes teachers even have text messages from their employers. Bring your phone to show the Labor official. They may make you sign a statement about the text messages, but those are admissible as well as copies of emails.
Make sure you bring a stamp to seal your statements for the Labor official.

Also, make sure you justify everything you're requesting- financially. You should itemize it and list it on a separate page to make it easy for the Labor official, like this- (In Korean, of course)

Wages owed- 4.5 million won
Illegal firing- 2.5 million won
Flight ticket reimbursement- 2 million won
___________
Total- 9 million won

You WON'T receive money for "pain and suffering" no matter what anyone in an Itaewon bar may claim. You can only win for actual money owed to you that you can prove.


BTW, it won't be very formal. There are many other Labor officials all in a the large room, with other cases being heard at the same time. I was in the middle of a hearing when an angry migrant worker "flipped out" on a Korean employer.

[wylies99]