Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bixlerscott]

Hello fellow ESL'ers. I guess it's been a tad bit over 2 years since I got on here so please excuse my lack of contribution to the site though I read on occassion. Thanks in advance for your info on leaving EPIK.

I've been teaching for EPIK in an elementary PS for over a year now and looking to leave in August as I had extended until August 31st. It's very vague on how to do final preparations as I can't get an answer about anything despite inquiring off and on for a month on how to go about planning so I can buy my outbound ticket and know I'll be paid before I leave. Becuase of this uncertainty, I'll have to pay much more for a refundable air ticket in the event I don't get paid so I can postpone my flight should I get into a snafu. I had thought that because EPIK is not a new government program, they'd have a standardized system for administering the program from a higher level than my school, but it appears, "wishy washy." I'm also the 1st teacher my school had so they don't know even as much as I do about it so I'm trying to educate my co-teacher and accountant on the process, but it's, "we'll ask up about it," with no follow up. I also couldn't get any answers out of my area coordinator other than, "you'll have to make final arrangements with your school," as he doesn't know anything more than I do other than saying everyone preparing to leave are asking the same questions which are still up in the air. Hasn't this been done before? If so, how's it supposed to work? We'll I can't ask veterans locally, becuase they're gone, but maybe they're on this site working other jobs after leaving EPIK.

I'm trying to find out if I can just take my Summer vacation during the last part of August and just leave like on August 20th instead of taking it in the 1st part of August, but I'm not getting any answers as they say, "We'll ask up to the coordinator about it," but nothing never is confirmed to allow me to buy my flight. The benefit to the school would be me moved out when the new teacher arrives in late August rather than crossing paths with him/her in the apartment on my way out.

The real biggie is how to get an agreement on final pays such as final month pay, severance, get them caught up on paying pension to NPS, and outbound airfare. I can't get an answer on how and when I get my money as I get the, "we'll ask up to find out," reply. They have to have instructions from their higher ups to do anything as that's protocol; not me telling them how to do it as they can't do what I say even if they want to. Everything has to get an official, "yes," with specific instructions to be OK'd.

I'm also taking the very long way home instead of just a direct flight home so again I'm asking for the equivelent of a one way economy class ticket home.

How is leaving supposed to work with EPIK? Being that they have to have orders from higher ups, is there any official document other than the contract so they can do their work in paying us? Placing decisions surrounding each FT on each individual PS doesn't work as they can't operate independently like a hagwon might do. Like Koreans typically do, they're waiting until the last minute to look into these matters, but I need plans made now as I'm a man with a plan to plan ahead. We need the POE's of each province to adminster the money matters after they issue the contracts. I just don't want a snafu at the very last minute.

[cruisemonkey]

I won't answer until you reduce the size of your avitar.

[bixlerscott]

OK, done.

[schwa]

Assuming you're with Gangwondo epik, heres the lowdown on official policy. [Other provinces vary.]

Its acceptable to use owed vacation time at the end of your contract (ie leave early) but it has to be cleared with your school. Contact your area coordinator. He can probably persuade your principal (if you cant) to schedule vacation duties accordingly. Its reasonable to expect a firm schedule by now.

Dont expect to pocket your severance & flight reimbursement before you leave. In practice, schools are taking from about a week after contract completion up to a month (official max). You need to leave a bank account number with your school's admin office & they'll transfer it all to you (less transfer fees).

You're on your own to cash out your pension. You need to visit your nearest pension office in the month before you leave & arrange it personally. Likewise, they'll transfer it to the account of your choosing.

You wont get a home-flight cash equivalent if you're not heading there. Read your contract. If you're taking a long journey home, the program will pay for the first one-way leg (up to an equivalent distance). You might be required to fax your boarding pass to prove your claim.

The reason the ending procedure isnt well-established is because a large outwave of teachers completing contracts is still relatively new. Elementary schools only came into the program the same time you started. Middle school teachers have been following the above procedures on completion of their contracts for a year or so now & none have been short-changed.

Your area coordinator will confirm this info & answer any other questions. But basically, thats the way it is.

[BS.Dos.]

I'm in pretty much the same position OP, my contract ends August 28th and I've also got 2-weeks vacation before I leave. However, unlike you, I want to stay until the end of my contract rather than try and head-off 2-weeks earlier sometime around mid August.

The other reason is that I'm not sure that I could leave earlier being as semester 2 starts on August 24th, which means that your school may want you in for the first week of term.

[bixlerscott]

Thanks Schwa. Right, the elementary schools are only seeing their 1st wave of movers and leavers as I too am the 1st FT in my 2 schools. I guess there's a lack of communication on all levels except my level as the POE could communicate downward a bit. Heck, you can't even get Francesca in Chuncheon to respond to email.

I was finally told today by my area coordinator that I would be paid what an economy class ticket home costs, but still not details on who issues the money and determines the calculation nor when. I know severance is supposed to be paid by my school accountant on last payday, August 25th.


It's NOT OK to be told I'll be paid after I leave as you can't access a Korean bank account from abroad nor do schools send to home accounts. I'm trying to get Chuncheon to fix this problem by paying us on our last pay day of August 25th. They're making it a wait until the last minute to see situation, but I can't wait until the last minute as I'm a man with a plan to plan ahead for what my plane plan is to be. To give back to you and the forum, I'll keep you all posted on how it transpires.

[marlow]

[bixlerscott]

Thing is my coordinator told me schools don't pay into your home account like NPS does and Korean bank accounts are inaccessable from abroad. My coordinator stated, "They pay on September 1st. Maybe you can have someone here wire it to you?" I'm like, "No, that's unacceptable as my visa expires the 31st of August, I need to know what date to buy my air ticket, and Korean bank accounts are inaccessable from abroad; it's only reasonable to get this problem fixed by paying it on August 25th payday to be ready to fly on August 31st. I think if the Koreans can understand what we're going through then they can easily set things straight in a way that makes sense. If I'm not ready by having banked and cleared all my business matters, I'll have to cancel my flight, get a visa extension, and then pay even more for a new last minute air ticket. That's just an unnecessary double whammy." He agrees and is looking into it getting this issue fixed. Sounds like Korea is being a big moron on this.

Can we go up to Seoul and state this complaint to the MOE since Chuncheon seems nonresponsive and even canceled the last business meeting with no rescheduling as to avoid something?

[Tobias]

One thing you can do is get a (changeable) plane ticket that leaves in September sometime. You'll take this ticket to the immy office near you in early August. The immy guys will give you a departure extension on your visa, which is usually 30 days. The departure extension is free, and you can even do it via the internet if you can take a pic of your ticket, upload it, and send it to the immy office.

A DE will allow you to stay around as long as you need to get things tied up. After you get squared away, you then can change your ticket and get out the next day if you want. The only issue is what to do about accommodations between the end of the contract and your departure date.

PS--One final note about plane tickets and departure dates. Some agents will give you static over changing a ticket and may even claim you have to pay a surcharge to change the departure date on a changeable ticket. No worries. Just do an 'end-around' by calling the airlines directly and have someone there change it. I've had to do this twice.