Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eunjeong]

Hello,
My boyfriend (as I was unaware) was teaching illegally in Korea.
His hakwon turned out to be quite horrible, they treated him horribly and he tried to run away to another city. Unfortunately the place he worked at has his passport number and they are threatening to make it difficult for him to stay in Korea. As he is planning to stay in Korea, I was wondering if he is at any danger, or if it would be possible for him to just get a new passport and the number will change? Any advice is needed. He is supposed to go back there tomorrow to resolve the issue but I'm not sure if it will be safe for him to go or not...

[Straphanger]

Not enough info, but I'll give it a shot.

The old hakwon hired an illegal teacher, and they're going to go to immi when that illegal teacher does a runner? I doubt it. Tell your boyfriend to get legal ASAP and forget about the old hakwon.

[ThingsComeAround]

Shame
Shame
Shame

Shame on (the both of) you!

Your bf should have done his homework before coming here. He isn't going to get ratted on by this hagwon, as they would put themselves in hot water legally. He should leave the country and apply for an E2 visa from another country (can't get the visa in-country, EVER) He might have to goto his home embassy for an interview, and that would be worst-case scenario. If that happens, don't mention the rotten hagwon.

If he has been in-country past his tourist visa allows, then it is

[eunjeong]

basically by run i mean he left the school and he just wants to study. the school has been calling all his old contacts and saying they are going to force him to leave the country. he's also planning to take the korean proficiency exam in september, so he just wants to focus on his korean studies.

[Straphanger]

[coralreefer_1]

I'm just curious...can the guy get busted for teaching illegally in the past? I mean if the hagwon calls Immi..will they just come to arrest him point blank or do an investigation on him, follow him around and such?

If he got a legitimate visa to study Korean before he was reported and then they came to him, could they still deport him for teaching illegally in the past?

[Straphanger]

[joshua7choi]

Don't be scared that the Hagwon'd call police to arrest your boy frined... if they do they'd also be punished by the civil laws. The punishment is that the Hagwon would be no longer able to hire foreign teachers for 3 years. This is a professional suicide. (In addition, Korea govt really is unhappy with Hagwon's illegal activitiy ever.)

I think your boy friend needs to contact ACRC 1588-1577 asap to be protected in advance.

Anti-Corruption & Civil Right Commision
=> http://www.acrc.go.kr/eng_index.jsp

[Emeliu]

Are hagwons really that hard up for teachers that they have to hire illegally?

And has your boyfriend graduated with a university degree?

[Straphanger]

[Gnawbert]

The embassy can get him a new passport if that's all he needs. I've spoken to the American embassy about this.

And as others have pointed out, the school can't really turn him in without turning themselves in, so it sounds like a silly bluff. I wouldn't be surprised if they kicked up quite a stink, but didn't follow up on the threats.

If it's just a clear cut situation of he needs a new passport, just contact the embassy and explain the situation. And as others have said, it wouldn't hurt contacting some form of legal commission, like the ACRC.

Good luck!

[eunjeong]

his boss started to call me today and threaten to have my boyfriend forcefully deported. i dont know how they are planning on doing that, but i'm worried because he signed a contract with his passport number.

[Hyeon Een]

[phoneboothface]

Why couldn't the hakwon give an anonymous tip to rat him out?

Why did he give up his passport number if he's working illegally?

[Emeliu]

Why do hagwons hire teachers illegally, treat them like s**t, and expect them to stay when they know for a fact they can't do anything about it when they leave? Man, I don't understand lol.