Korean Job Discussion Forums

[proopser]

I haven't found a post that exactly answers the questions I'm having...maybe I'm just bad at searching. Anyways, please help, those who know what you're talking about.

I am at a hagwon and have been here for over six months. Things have gone south with my director when I tried to renegotiate something in my contract. I would like to resign so that I can get a new job asap. My contract states that I must give one month's notice but does not state that my director is required to issue a letter of release if I am quitting.

My questions are:
If I instead get fired somehow is she required to issue a letter of release?

Is she obligated to issue a letter of release if I follow the guidelines of the contract for resigning?

Having been here for over six months do I hold some sort of advantage visa-wise?

Is it possible to pick up another teaching job (preferably public school) without a letter of release?

I hope somebody can set me straight! Thanks.

[Troglodyte]

Can you tell us the details of the disagreement? Or the contract re-negotiation problem?

Has your school ever withheld pay? Do they contribute to your medical insurance? Pension? Taxes? i.e. Have they ever done something they shouldn't have?

You're school doesn't have to write you a release letter. You might be able to negotiate it with them, but it will surely involve you paying back your airfare and some other fees that the owner deems appropriate. If you quit then you'll probably have those same fees deducted from your pay. Depending on the contract, you might not have to pay back the airfare but in reality it will depend on your boss' character.

If you quit or you are fired, then your visa will be cancelled. Your boss doesn't have to write you a letter of release, but if you're visa is cancelled, you may be able to get another one, with a visa run to Japan. Do you have a copy of all your documents ready to apply for another visa? Check with the immigration office of the city that you want to work in. Ask them if they will allow you to get a new visa. I'm not sure what the minimum time limit is for getting a second visa if the first is cancelled. (Or if there still is a limit.) People do it, but i'm not sure what the official rule is. Does someone else know this?

[proopser]

The disagreement was simply me trying to renegotiate my contract to end 1.5 months earlier in order to make it back to the states for a wedding without having to come back here afterwards for three weeks. In exchange for letting my contract end early I was willing to take a cut in my final bonus. Boss wants a cut in final bonus and is also unwilling to pay my plane ticket home as stipulated at 12 months in the contract. My boss has sometimes been late paying me but doesn't currently owe me anything.

I have a clean slate at the school except that the boss doesn't especially like me, I've gotten a couple complaints from parents I guess. I was concerned about getting a release letter in the respect that I may need it to get a new teaching job here in Korea, anyone know if they're mandatory to have?

[proopser]

Still searching for answers on this one...

[oskinny1]

So you want to leave your contract early. Leaving your contract before the 12 month mark means you are not entitled to your 1 year severance (it's not a bonus). You are also not entitled to a ticket home.

Other than the late payments I think you are getting a good deal. He seems willing to give you some of the severance, which s/he doesn't even need to do, especially if you have been getting complaints.

Just work 9.5 months and then give your 30 days.

[ttompatz]