Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Space Cowboy]

Hello everyone. Long-time reader, first-time poster. Let me first say thanks for all the helpful advice I have received through this forum previously.

I was recently hired by a private university. In the interview, I was quoted a salary and several other perks. However, when they sent the contract the other day, the salary listed was significantly less than the salary told to me in the interview.

Has this happened to any of you? Is this a situation where I am expected to negotiate? I plan to challenge this, but am not sure of the most effective way to go about it. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Seoulio]

Pretty Clear Cut

1) you either want the job despite the cut and say nothing.

2) You don't want the job for that pay and tell them to pay you what they promised or they can shove the contract up their ass.

Theres a chance they had a secretar do it and she simply typed in the wrong amount.

So bring the salary to their attention and mention that you were told youd get more. Based on their reaction you respond with either choice 1 or 2

[Space Cowboy]

Thanks! You make it sound much more cut and dry. I hadn't even considered that it could have just been a secretary's mistake.

Does anybody else have any input for me?

[ttompatz]

[aishiii]

This has happened to me and all it was was a case of them forgetting to update the contract.

Remind them what you agreed upon and I'm sure they'll realize their mistake.

[the ireland]

There is a good chance it was an old contract and they just got someone to e-mail you it without changing the pay scale on it. I would just send a friendly e-mail / phone call to them asking them if they want you to change the salary or would they like to send a new one with the correct amount on it.

[Space Cowboy]

*dried

That settles it. I'll send a friendly note and see what happens.

Thanks again for all the feedback. After some of the issues I've read about on the Korea boards, I will be taking no chances with the terms of my employment.

[VanIslander]

Classic bait and switch.

I had an employer try to do that with accommodation. I had to insist on what was agreed to.

I went to buy a scooter a couple of summers ago and the dealer was to order Blue, knew I wanted only Blue, and I was given a Pink scooter, the dealer thinking that of course I would accept it because that's all they were able to get on short notice. I refused to buy it and he was very puzzled, bothered. I know of others, Koreans, who say that when you buy a new car you can indicate whatever specs you want, but if the car delivered is different then you are expected to accept it anyways.

[Dude Ranch]

You never know in life unless you ask. Often time that is all it takes.


They often recycle old contracts to use as a template for new employee contracts. It could simply be that they left in the amount for the previous worker and did not update it to reflect what they had promised you.

Ask and see.

[Hawkeye Pierce]

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[Hawkeye Pierce]

[littlelisa]

[Goon-Yang]

[ChilgokBlackHole]