Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Aprince]

I know there are 100 questions on here regarding contracts, but none seem to have the answer I need.
I am working at a PS and gave my resignation last week. I gave one month. I am leaving April 14th. Working until April 14th will make me be here for 6 months and 2 weeks. The school says that I must pay back the cost of the flight here in addition to not getting back my 900,000 won security deposit on the apartment. In the contract, I do not see where it says this, especially since I will be working for over 6 months. Can they legaly charge me for the flight and security deposit?
Thanks

[Otherside]

My understanding of the contract is that you will NOT have to give the money for airfare back as you have been here for 6months or more. (find the airfare clause in the contract).

However, depending on your contract, you may be Shit outta luck with housing deposit. GEPIK demands 2months notice, as you have given less than that, legally you would be liable to lose your housing deposit.

I have a friend who left after 5.5 months (long story, personal reasons) and he gave the school 2 months. He did recieve his housing deposit back, but he forfeited the airfare. These 2 figures practically cancelled eachother out.

[Aprince]

Thank You.
I am hoping that I will at least not have to pay back the airfare and lost the deposit. My principal stated last week that if I would not stay til the end of my contract he wanted me to finish at the end of March. If he makes me, I will not be here for 6 months, and I will have to lose the security deposit. He has not made up his mind yet, and no one has mentioned it again. I am unsure if I should bring it up or just to keep teaching and hope they dont notice when April rolls around!

[Otherside]

[Aprince]

I hate to run as well, but I feel as if the principal is giving me no option. He is having the co-teacher tell me that since they will have my apartment it is my responsibility to find someone to sell it too and if I can not I have to pay these extra fees since they have the apartment. He also stated that it is my responsibility to pay the fee to find a new teacher. I tried to explain during a meeting with him and my co-teacher that it was not in the contract. Nothing got resolved at the meeting. The principal would talk and get upset for about 10 minutes, then all my co-teacher would say was He said he is mad you are leaving. When I would talk, the principal would just laugh during what I was saying and the second the co-teacher would try and interpret he would cut her off and start yelling. It seemed a bit disrespectful. He seems to be too stuborn to change his mind, all he cares about is the money. It is my understanding that the actual school loses no money, it comes from the ROK and either way certainly not from his pocket.

I hate to do it, but if they are trying to take the security deposit and airfare, I may have to run. I'm crossing my fingers they dont take the airfare out of this months pay. I guess I will find out tonight.

[JJJ]

Now this is a good discussion on why you should just suffer for the full 6 months and then give notice and suffer a little more. I mean personally, if I had a business I would make sure the contract stated that you had to work a full 6 months first before you could give notice and get the money back(or not payback the airfare). This 4 or 5 months then telling them you are leaving at exactly the 6 month limit in order to try and not pay for them getting you here is why you are having difficulties. Good luck.

[Aprince]

Today I recieved a notice from my school principal.

It states that I have to pay back real estate commision, house renting problems, 300,000 won for the new English teacher to have, recruiter fees, rent on the apartment, and a list of other fees...most of which are in Korean. When I asked them to be translated she said it was too difficult.

I am working for over 6 months and the school has said I do not need to pay for my flight here but where did all of these other fees come from? When I state they are not in the contract all the co-teacher says is that the administration office and the Principal say I have to pay these fees. I have asked her to call the Suwon Office of Education about this, who knows if she will.

Have you ever heard of being assessed all of these additional fees?

[tenchu77491]

Call them out on it, bring their charges to a legal place with your contract or bounce from Korea and get a new E-2.

[nomad-ish]

it looks like there's no way you're going to get the housing deposit back, and even if you were to, all the additional fees would cancel it out quickly.

have you contacted the GEPIK supervisor for your school level yet? if they can't help you, my advice is to be calm and respectful, show no sign of running, and then leave right after pay day. although i'm sure it won't feel good leaving under these circumstances, it's a lot better than the alternative (riding out your notice and getting ripped off badly).

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Aprince]

My boss is refusing the sign the necessary "official documents" for my ARC to be canceled. In addition, he is requesting that I submit my families medical exam results. I am leaving due to serious medical issues within my family. I have explained that is a violation of privacy in the US to give someone else's medical results in addition to the fact that I do not have them here. He is refusing to sign paperwork until he sees them. A supervisor at Suwon education office has even called and told the principal that I am correct and it is not required of me. He does not seem to care.

This is all in addition to the 4 million won he wants me to pay before I leave.
Who would I contact at GEPIK for help with this situation. It seems to me the principal is just being stubborn.

[Aprince]

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