Korean Job Discussion Forums

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

I currently just started to work at a new hagwon over here in Korea. It's been 2 weeks and I have to say I feel completely miserable.

After letting them know I when I was arriving, they never replied and I had to stay in a hotel for a day. I was then picked up the next day and was taken to a love motel to stay for a week until the guy I was replacing moved out of his officetel. I was then told I had to go to another center for training (hour away by subway) without any info on how to get there (never taken a subway before). I found my way after getting lost for a bit. After training at the other branch, I realized the center was a bit unorganized (I could live with that). I then move into my officetel which is completely disgusting. There were about 50 fruit flies, numerous moths and mosquitos, the floor panels were peeling, cabinets were covered in food, and the hot plate they gave me would not even reach the outlet. Every night I see older ahjusshis either playing their lucky with young female "escorts" or knocked out laying in front of my hole-in-the-wall officetel. My windows open to walls that are about a foot away so I have no access to natural sun light. The hagwon was supposed to help me get my ARC card, exchange my US cash to won, open a bank account with me, and discuss my pension, severance, and insurance. None of that has happened. I was literally thrown into my crappy officetel without anything or any knowledge as to what to do.

I start working at the branch and learn that they have a new curriculum and that all the printers are broken. All the lesson plans were made incorrectly as well. Everyone is in complete chaos and going crazy. I later learned that employees were fired, transfered, or switched to part-time because of stupid reasons. I was also told that there have been numerous managers, the place hasn't even been open for a year. Students are quitting and teachers are leaving. I remember hearing on my first day in the faculty room "This is the worst school ever." and another person saying "I agree".

Is it possible to just quit after 2 weeks? I have been accepted to another job with Avalon/Langcon in Pyeongchan. From what I'm hearing, the branch is good and will take care of me better than how the company I work for currently is treating me. Can I just let them know and leave right away, or do I have to give them a 30 days notice? The avalon job starts during mid September. I currently have an F-4 visa as well. Sorry for the rant, it's just that my experience in Korea has been terrible so far. All my co-workers are telling me to leave before it's too late.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject:

You can always quit - you're not a slave.

However, in order to work for another company before the end of your current period of sojourn, your present visa must be cancelled (you must have worked for nine months in order to have sponsorship of your visa transferred to a new employer), and you must obtain a new visa. Your present employer can cancel your present visa, or you can do it by leaving the country... and making sure it is cancelled on your way out. To obtain a new visa, you will have to start the application process from 'square one'. However, depending on how much influence your prospective employer has with Immi., things can/may be 'expedited'. Wink

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject:

I missed the F-4 'part'... LOL.

With an F-4, you're 'gold'... say "Bye bye" to your present boss and "Hello" to your new one. Cool

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

Just quit man, that's the whole advantage to having an F4. You're in a privileged position. If any of that happened to me I would have been screwed.

What exactly has your boss 'given' you? e.g. airfare.

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

The company still hasn't paid for my airfare, they put me into a motel for a couple of days, and I've been living in my officetel for about a week now. I've officially worked there for a week as well. Will I get paid for the week I worked and hopefully have whatever I owe taken from the work, or will I not get paid and still owe the company anything.

The contract section about termination states:

Termination by Employee. If employee resigns or otherwise voluntarily terminates his/her employment before the end of the current term of this Agreement, the amount Employee shall be entitled to receive from Company shall be limited to his/her base salary accrued through the date of termination. Employee will irrevocably forfeit any benefits accrued during the term of this Agreement, and will be required to pay back to Company any such benefits received. Employee shall terminate its employment, effective upon giving thirty (30) days' prior written notice of termination to Company. If employee terminates prior to the expiration date of this Agreement (1 year), then Employee shall reimburse any and all expenses Company would have spent including but not limited to the expenses related to the visa process, apostilles, travel expenses for the flight tickets from USA to S. Korea and any security deposit and rent for lodging. Company shall not pay for the flight ticket back from Korea to USA if Employee terminates prior to the term.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:21 pm Post subject:

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:43 pm Post subject:

Absolutely not!

Never quit... get fired; and use the 30-days, statutory 'Advance Notice of Dismissal' to your advantage. Wink

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Chances are a school in that much trouble isn't going to go after you for anything.

What has our new institute had to say?

Usually, in a spot like this, you have a chance of getting the new boss to square things away with the old boss.

But, since you don't need a release letter because of your visa status, just go. You'll probably lose pay for the amount of time you've worked so far, but the way your institute sounds, you probably would have gotten stiffed on a month's pay if you gave notice and completed the time required.

In your situation, if the school is how you described it, I'd just do a runner. I'd ask the new boss to give me an advance or maybe cut a deal where he'd give you half your airfare money that your first boss has stiffed you on and that the new boss would have to pay for somebody new out of country. --- and I'd just write off my old school. I probably wouldn't let me old boss know where I was going...

t1m1ty · Joined: 24 May 2009 Location: Bundang

But would running be ethical? I wouldn't want to put myself into any type of situation where I could be hit back. I'd rather say I want to quit and be yelled at. I really do want to leave this company as soon as possible. Would it be okay to just say I want to quit because of the shi**y way theyre treating me? I don't even care if I don't get paid for the work I did or for my flight ticket. I'd probably get my flight ticket paid for by avalon