Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TK421]

I'm having one hellish time at my school, as is my girlfriend and three other foreign teachers. I'm in Busan, we're all miserable, our school breaks our contract, makes us work 9 classes a day even though my contract says 6, and gave my girlfriend and I a single studio apartment to live in. We've been here four months and even though we agreed to try the single studio, it's not working and they won't give us an alternative even though the other couple gets a two bedroom connecting studio.

The school is run terribly, it's so disorganized, and us foreign teachers are not respected on bit.

Anyway, we want to stay in Korea for the year, but we want/have to find a new job or else we'll go crazy from this stress. Can I get a job at another school without it being a gigantic pain? Will any school let us do an eight month contract instead of a full year? Do I need a new visa? Can I do a midnight run from my school to another school if I'm already employed by the new school or is that crazy?

These are some of the questions I need answered. I plan to go to a nearby neighborhood somewhere in Busan if possible. I figured it's easier for the school because they don't have to provide us with airfare over here, and they a lot of hassle is lost by hiring someone already here.

How can this work? Can it work? What should I do? gaaaaahh!!!!!

[Tux]

I think if they let you transfer the visa you can change schools but they might not let you do that easily as it is hard to get a foreigner. E-2's are pretty much owned by the school they work for unfortunately.

Things could get messy if you try to quit.

Any others care to comment on this? I'm not 100% as I have never been in this situation I'm relying on second hand info from Dave's posters in the past.

[broken76]

You can do a Visa transfer after 6 months (on a 1 year Visa) but will need to get permission from your current school to do so. From your comments the only major thing that the school is doing wrong (illegally) would be the extra classes but then again I don't know what it says in your contract or the actual conditions so won't get into it.
If the school refuses to grant a Visa transfer the other options would be to quit and return home to get a new Visa or pull a runner. If you pull a runner there is a good chance you'll get a blackmark on your immigration record so it should be pretty much the last resort.
As for shorter contracts it is possible but chances are you will miss out on benefits such as full airfare and also the severance pay. Severance pay only kicks in after 1 year of employment and is legally not prorated for anything under a year. Most schools who hire for short term will also not pay for full airfare but this can generally be discussed and prorated when signing a contract.

[Tux]

Bail to Taiwan IMO.

You own your own visa and so if an employer tries to screw you around you can quit and get another job. You can get into an apartment with one months rent as a deposit or go flatting with some others for much less. My brother wants to come to Asia next year so I am strongly recommending Taiwan to him. Get a job with a big chain and then quit after a few months if you dont like it and get other work.

You have a degree so the ESL world is your oyster.

[AsiaESLbound]

That's too bad the visa is tied to the school. If the job or teacher is not a good fit for the school or co-teachers, it's a lose, lose situation. So if I want to quit my job over hating it due to a bad co-teacher, I have to leave Korea. Too bad I didn't bring extra criminal background records as to allow me another job elsewhere assuming all other Asian countries require a background check from home.

[skgirl]

dont' think you can since the school is the one that sponsors you. smoe should be able to give a letter of release then have you sponsored by next school. they're not helpful unless they want to be though. good luck!