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joyfulgirl
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 5:55 am Post subject: LOR/quitting - Advice/Help needed |
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Hi,
OK...so, if you are working at a hogwan that isn't that enjoyable...meaning, you're paid on time, but you hate teaching kindies, and what not....AND you've just received a job offer from a university in seoul, which is what you really want to be doing...
SO...you ask your principal at the hogwan if you can leave in september, instead of march . this gives them 2 months notice, and you will pay back your airfare, will give a good recommendation for the school to future interviewees for the positon, etc..etc..trying to be as sensible and mature as you can about it.
BUT...the principal looks at you funny and says...um, probably not. but let me check with the owner...but, doubtful you can leave...
WHAT do you do then?
just say.."oh well...i asked!" and finish your year at the hogwan...and try for uni again in march.
OR can you quit - i.e. give notice that you're LEAVING in September, not ASKING to leave in September, without a letter or release, and then still be okay for the visa in september at the university??
I'm not sure about quitting and visa things.
thanks in advance for any helpful advice!
Last edited by joyfulgirl on Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ihaveseoul2
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:55 am Post subject: |
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Call 1345. (Immigration Hotline)
My understanding is that with 2 months you can terminate whether they like it or not as per the terms of the contract. They will likely try to with-hold as much as they possibly can from you. Essentially, if they refuse to negotiate acceptable terms to leave you have to go to the labor board (1350) and file... and then to immigration by yourself to terminate. Once you have done that you will get a 30 day exit order and you can start the paperwork to receive your next visa from your other job.
If you are going to a public school/university, I am under the impression from my discussions with immigration this week that you do NOT have to leave the country for a visa run but please confirm with them. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:12 am Post subject: Re: LOR/quitting - Advice/Help needed |
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| joyfulgirl wrote: |
Hi,
OK...so, if you are working at a hogwan that isn't that enjoyable...meaning, you're paid on time, but you hate teaching kindies, and what not....AND you've just received a job offer from a university in seoul, which is what you really want to be doing...
SO...you ask your principal at the hogwan if you can leave in september, instead of march . this gives them 2 months notice, and you will pay back your airfare, will give a good recommendation for the school to future interviewees for the positon, etc..etc..trying to be as sensible and mature as you can about it.
BUT...the principal looks at you funny and says...um, probably not. but let me check with the owner...but, doubtful you can leave...
WHAT do you do then?
just say.."oh well...i asked!" and finish your year at the hogwan...and try for uni again in september.
OR can you quit - i.e. give notice that you're LEAVING in September, not ASKING to leave in September, without a letter or release, and then still be okay for the visa in september at the university??
I'm not sure about quitting and visa things.
thanks in advance for any helpful advice! |
Well here is my take. I basically did the exact same thing you described, and just 2 weeks ago today as a matter of fact. I gave a 60 day notice. Almost the exact same reasons for leaving too.
I also said all of the mature things you said. Then the owner told me I could not break the contract. But he just bought the place in February and does not seem to know a lot about the laws, or my contract. Heck, he didn't even know I got vacation. (but that is another story).
I told him by giving 60 day notice I was not really "breaking" the contract, I was working "within" the contract and the labor laws of the country. He tried to say if I left I would never work in Korea again. I said, and this is true, that immigration had told me as long as I give proper notice they will let me cancel my visa with or without a letter of release. Of course if you do it this way make sure you have all of your documents in order to submit for a new visa. A letter of release makes it so much easier.
Anyway, the next day he came back and said he would give me the LOR if I paid around 1 million won for my incoming flight and 1.5 for the agent fee he had paid. No way, says I. My incoming flight cost less than 350,000 won because I had a relative in the airline business. And nowhere in the contract does it say anything about me paying an agent fee. BTW I will be just past the 6 month mark when I leave. He said he would have to think about it. He does not speak English so all of this was through a co-teacher.
Long story short, without any more negotiating, 6 days later he gave me the LOR. If he tries to cheat me out of any money on the last pay I will deal with that at the time.
To recap, if you give proper notice, minimum 30 days but better if it's 60, you can leave. Try to document it somehow like sending a copy through the mail. Yes, it is possible they try to cheat you out of some money, but since you will still be in country there are resources available to fight back.
Again, that is my take. There are others on the board that may have differing views or experience. Take it all in and make up your own mind. |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| ihaveseoul2 wrote: |
Call 1345. (Immigration Hotline)
If you are going to a public school/university, I am under the impression from my discussions with immigration this week that you do NOT have to leave the country for a visa run but please confirm with them. |
That's good to know, and answers a question I had too. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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Mine said he'd give me a LOR and then when the 30s were up he said he 'couldn't' for whatever reason. I had a list of all the parents' phone numbers. The next day I rang two with a bilingual friend and told them I wished to discuss some 'issues' about their children's education. By the time we got off the phone with the second parent, the supervisor had heard from the boss who had heard from the first mother and was promising me a LOR asap.
If you can demonstrate that you can *beep* them over far worse than they could you they'll cave in. I should say that in my case I think I was more than justified in quitting because of the complete disrespect and lack of professionalism I was repeatedly shown, and had no moral qualms whatsover about screwing them over if need be. |
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