Korean Job Discussion Forums

intoutdoor · Joined: 05 Jan 2009

I spoke with a recruiter today who said she spoke with immigration, and further said that immigration notes that unless you have stayed with your hogwan for more than 9 months, you cannot break contract and get another hogwan job, even if you have a letter or release. I have only been at this hogwan for 2 months and am in search of change. Has anyone had any experience with this?

stuck · Joined: 26 Mar 2009

It's true. My ex-coworker broke his contact at the 6 month mark and then had to get a brand new one. He had to do a visa run to Japan. If you're transferring to a public school then you can transfer with a letter of release.

katepult · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject:

You can't transfer your visa unless you've complete a large part of your contract. You'd need a new visa. If you don't leave the country, I think you don't need the criminal check again, but I'm not sure. I don't know if the visa process has changed since last Sept.

I'm fairly sure that you can legally get another job, but many hagwons won't hire you because you broke contract and they'll see you as a risk to hire. Maybe that's what the recruiter means.

I've broken hagwon contracts after 2-3 months and was able to get another job at a new school with an inexperienced director, but a lot of schools lost interest after hearing I had a letter of release.

Also, if you quit before 3 months is up, the recruiter usually has to refund their fee to the school and loses money on you.