Korean Job Discussion Forums

schlotzy · Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Location: South Korea

A really good friend of mine came to Korea about 2 months ago to work at a hagwon. She's loving her school and finally getting settled in. Today, the head Korean teacher told her she has to move to another branch of the hagwon because "another teacher is leaving at that branch, and this branch doesn't have the money to pay you." This new branch will require her to commute for over 30 minutes on the bus each way every day as she will remain in her old apartment, right beside her current hagwon.

It seems a little bogus to me as she is working a full time schedule right now, and it's not like all of those classes of students are dropping out. It's a major hagwon chain. Also, this other teacher just happens to be leaving after my friend has recently arrived and been trained.

Anyways, my question is regarding the E2 visa laws. Can they force her to do this? Is it illegal? I know our visas are tied to the schools, but I understood that they belonged to each branch specifically. Is that correct? Would she be working illegally at this new branch? Is this a contractual agreement that varies from school to school? Thanks for the help!

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

1) she needs to check her contract and see what address is provided on there as for where she will be working

2) she needs to discuss with the director any implications regarding her visa and make sure they notify immi that she's at a different location if that's where she winds up going

3) 30 minutes is really not that far; an inconvenience, yes, but again, look on the contract and see what it says. probably a 5-10 minute taxi ride on days when she wants to skip the bus. maybe even a bike ride away?

4) suck it up and do the best she can, it could be worse, believe me.

schlotzy · Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Location: South Korea

Well everyone knows it could be worse..it's not like we haven't all heard the worst hagwon stories ever. BUT...that's why she did her research before taking the job. She checked out the location, talked to teachers working there, wanted something close and in that specific location. I know it's not the end of the world, but taking a bus for over an hour each day really sucks when you specifically chose a place close for a reason. It seems really, really unfair.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

I've had commutes as long as 2 hours, mulitple buses and trains, so it's hard for me to truly sympathize, but that being said, she can try and discuss it with the director and maybe they can/will move her to a closer apt. it's happened before - but - again - there may be issues with the new place.

just tell her to get an ipod or other mp3, download some tunes, carry a book or newspaper and hop on the bus - it's really not that big a deal!