Korean Job Discussion Forums

AndrewL · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Location: Incheon, Korea

Let me preface this with this statement: I don't want to raise hell over this. I'm just perplexed about why I was told what I was.

We get the 5th of May off as a holiday. We also get the 6th off and the 7th off - or at least most teachers do. I was informed I won't have to work those days, but that's not to say that my school won't make me work those days if they get a wild hair. That means if there's no work, there's a 5 day weekend.

I found out I can go to Singapore for nearly free with the air miles I have. I found flights and have one on hold in case I want to book it. I verified today that I have all 3 workweek days off, but I made a mistake: I mentioned I was planning a trip to Singapore.

My main Co-Teacher told me that teachers are not allowed to leave the country during non-national holidays or "during the semester." I politely asked her if this was a school policy, an MOE policy, or an immigration policy. She said it's an immigration policy and that it's illegal to leave during non-vacation or non-paid-vacation times (I assume she means during the week) with my visa. She asked me if I knew anyone else who has gone out of the country on time off like this - I told her yes. She insisted that it's illegal.

I don't quite believe this, but I'm not sure what is true, either. Like I said, if I can't go to Singapore, I still have my miles and can go somewhere in Asia with them during my summer holidays. I'm cool with going to Jeju for my 5 day weekend in May, but what gives? There's nothing in the contract about leaving the country or anything about vacation days aside from national holidays and paid vacation leave (and misc. leave).

bish · Joined: 09 Jun 2007

She is talking shit and if she wasn't then how could she stop you anyway? I have been to Japan on these holidays before...

mogbert · Joined: 10 May 2004

I was also allowed to return home for my brother's wedding around Nov. They gave me two weeks off! I was in a great situation back then.

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

Haha, she is spinning a yarn. It's funny because she chose pretty much the most implausible lie. Why didn't she just say it was an MOE policy? Just go on your trip and have fun. Life is too short to worry about guff like this.

AndrewL · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Location: Incheon, Korea

So 3 for 3 pretty much says she's full of it.

Any more elaborate responses?

I wonder if she was just trying to give some sort of excuse because she thinks it might be unfair to those teachers that have to (edit:) do desk work on the 7th and 8th.

Worth talking to the VP? Asking the MOE?

Seoulio · Joined: 02 Jan 2010

That's pretty much exactly what it is.

She is 100 % lying, you can come and go as you please as long as you show up to your desk ready to work on your first day back they CAN NOT do a thing.

Previously they didnt want you to go because of Swine Flu outbreak, and if you left the country you had to observe a quaratine, so many companies tried to initiate a "NO VACATION policy even on your vacation. This too was illegal.

You can check with JOn Pak ( if you are with SMOE) they even had a policy a few months back that said that while they could not stop you from leaving the country, if you lied and didn't observe the quaratine then you could be fired, and if you used days off for a trip then you observed the quaratine and had to use your sick days.

Lots of whiny teachers in SMOE complained about that one.

Your school does not own you, you are free to come and go as you please. The contract nor the rules of conduct make any mention of vacation or what you can or can not do ( besides employment ) or where you can or can not go on your own time.

They are trying to scare you into not going.

Don't mention it to the VP you'll make a mountain out of a molehill, just tell the teacher that she can look over your contract and it says nothing, so you are going. The VP knows he can't stop you so there will be no issue.

if the VP comes to you with the issue, then you can act forcefully if you want to. For now just tell the teacher it's not her concern, nor is it illegal.

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

Next time, don't let her know your future plans.

AndrewL · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Location: Incheon, Korea

Thank you for the detailed response. It just baffles me as to why they'd try to scare people out of going. I thought it sounded fishy. I'm going to confirm that I do not in fact work those days (with my VP), and book the trip if I don't have to.

Seoulio · Joined: 02 Jan 2010

ticktocktocktick · Joined: 31 Mar 2009

Tell her your'e off to Jeju, and then just go to Singapore. Just make sure you've got the appropriate re-entry addendum to your visa. Maybe that's what they're worried about.

AndrewL · Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Location: Incheon, Korea

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

Cool, a 5 day weekend? Shocked

I'm excited. Really? April Fools! We have school on May 6th and 7th.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

furtakk · Joined: 02 Jun 2009

definitely not telling the truth. i've had many friends go to fukkoka and such over three day weekends.

DrugstoreCowgirl · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject:

My teacher said the same thing to me when I mentioned I was going to Hong Kong for a weekend. Saturday and Sunday, not even taking a day off of work. She said I'm not allowed to leave the country without permission from the govt and I said that isn't true, so she looked it up and of course, there is nothing saying you can't leave the country on your time off.

Have fun in Singapore.