Korean Job Discussion Forums

[johnbsh]

Help! I have to leave my job here in Korea, because my boss is being psychologically abusive and I just can�t take it any more. But I�m afraid that if I just fly-by-night, I might be stopped by immigration at the airport and prevented from leaving the country on account of not completing my contract and not having appropriate exit clearance from my hagwon director. (I know I�d need a letter of release to transfer to another school, but do I need a similar document to just leave the country altogether?) I�m also very afraid that if I give the boss appropriate notice, he will make my last few weeks here totally unbearable, and probably renege on my final salary payment as revenge for my disloyalty.

I have done 5 months of this, and I know I can�t finish my 12 months without losing my mind. Workplace bullying is illegal where I come from, but in this country it seems to be the modus operandi, and it certainly is at my school. I�m trying to understand what I must do to get out of here. I�m basically an honest guy, and I don�t really want to disappear without warning, but I�m afraid that my survival might require such drastic measures.

I thought about trying to get another job here in Korea, but since my current visa is tied to my current hagwon, I don�t know how easy this would be, not to mention risky � I could be jumping out of the fry pan into the fire.

Coming to Korea was a big mistake for me, and I just want to admit my mistake and get out of here before I go completely crazy. I just want to go home. Someone, please give me advice.

[frankhenry]

Get your monthly pay, gather your things, go to the airport, turn in your ARC, and leave.

[crossmr]

The day after your next pay cheque go to the airport and leave. Immigration won't stop you. Leave on a Friday night. it'll be Monday morning before anyone has a clue you're gone and you'll be home safe. Do a search for midnight runner you'll find lots of stories and lots of the same advice.

[ttompatz]

[Rory_Calhoun27]

nothin' wrong with a midnight run... made my life improve immeasurably when my first coteacher did it.....

[smoggy]

Hi,
I was hearing dreadful comments about ECC Seongseo by the locals, and then one told me that the school was being sold. The sale was finished by Mar.1, and the new owners want a new 1 year contract. I left before the new owners took over. I learned that the new owners don't have to honor the contract. I am glad that I left right after pay day. I have had no problems from the old school, and in fact have a job for Sept. 2010. You will have to wait until your ARC expires.

I will never work for a Hogwan again, but the International Schools are much better from what I have been told.

[Zaria32]

As you go through immigration leaving the country, ASK them to cancel your ARC and your visa...you don't have to explain why. You can usually get a new visa without waiting for the old one to expire, because it's been cancelled. This doesn't always work, but it usually does.

[Troglodyte]

With midnight runs, what is more common? To book flights a few weeks in advance (and get a cheaper ticket) or book the ticket with a departure 2 days later AFTER getting paid (but be covered if pay is late that month)?

I'm curious what most people who have left have done.

[lifeinkorea]

If you have worked a few months, you should know the pay schedule. If it is a hagwon, it may change. So, for a public school I might chance it. For a hagwon I would wait if you aren't going far. Check where you will fly to. I am in China and the cost was only about 170,000 won. So, in my case it would have worked out better if I had waited. I didn't do a real runner though, but I didn't notify anyone I was leaving either which has surprised them a bit based on their emails they have sent me.

It's funny, I gave them 2 months notice. They asked me to work a 3rd month and extend, and then they wanted me to sign another resignation letter. After all that, when I leave, they email "Oh, you left Korea? We will let immigration know". Well, yea, duh

[Gibberish]

Why not just get a job at a new school? Did you know that they can't keep you from quitting and going somewhere else? You can just find a new school, and then repeat the visa process with them, and bang, you're sponsored.