Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ppcg4]

Hey guys,

I am considering coming back around the end of fall. Here's my situation:

I taught at a school that saw a big drop in enrolment about half way through my contract, and so there weren't enough kids for me to have a class. Needless to say, they found a reason to fire me. After literally wrestling with my boss for my last paycheque (she tried to physically take it out of my hands), I found another job.

This employer is kind of a jerk. Won't give me a good reference, and is over 2 months past due to pay me my severance.

All in all, I have about 1.5 years of teaching experience in Korea. I'd like to come back, but not being able to provide a reference for my past teaching experience will very likely create a problem.

Any advice on how to approach this?

[cert43]

Hi,

Do you have state-mandated qualifications? If so, try international
schools ( real-subject teaching) or go elsewhere ( China or Hong Kong)....

Your previuos situation really says alot about how foreigners are viewed over there..as unequals..

Were you allowed to file and win against your boss? Find a wonderful lawyer to take your case?Did you ever get your money? The answer to all of these is more then likely..no, right?

Korea will always be what it is and they will always be what they are...

[ppcg4]

Hi Cert43,

Thanks for not jumping all over me, calling me a bad teacher, as is what I've come to expect from these forums.

The thing is that I really love Korea, and enjoy the culture and atmosphere. I still have trust in my boss that he will come through with the money. He keeps saying he doesn't have time to get to the bank, but he promises that he will get me the money. I've been in contact with my old coworkers and they say the school is doing well, with lots of kids and increasing enrolment.

I just wonder what my chances are of coming there without a decent reference from any of my previous employers. Would it be better to simply not mention them at all?

[PatrickGHBusan]

OP...If I was you, I would drive by the whole line of argument being provided by cert43 ..I mean : Korea will always be what it is and they will always be what they are...

That is pretty wide sweeping for someone complaining about discrimination....

So in more practical terms, your previous employment history in Korea should not prevent you from getting a new job. If your previous employer did not pay you all the money he owed you, file with the labor board, contrary to what cert43 was implying, no one can prevent you from filing a complaint against a bad employer or from winning your case if it is well supported. As with any legal challenges however, it is not easy nor does a result happen overnight.

The bit about international schools is useful. If you have certification, I too would advise you try these schools.

You could also apply with EPIK or other Public School programs if they are still accepting applications.

You can work with recruiters as well or simply fly over and look for work from inside Korea. This will have several advantages, the least of which is not the ability to visit schools in person.

You could simply remove your previous Korean employment from your resume but then you will have a hole in your employment timeline to explain...

[ontheway]

[ppcg4]

[ontheway]

[cert43]

Ok...

Just trying to give the best advice possible. Hope you get your money.
Didn't mean to imply that ALL Koreans are raciest ( just the ones that
were experienced over there in Korea).
For example, why do full "Foreigners" ( waygooks) only qualify for
E-2 visa, but yet another kind of "gook" ( hanga-migook), get an
F-4 when yet thier still considered a "gook" under Korean terms.

Yes, there are certain Koreans that are ok ( like the ones State-side are actually seem halfway normal)

and the whole envelope thing just proves it's ok (under Korean terms) for illegal doings to go on ( why wouldn't it be put in a legit bank account, anyways)?

Re: International Schools? This is a better option all around ( would be more like what you were used to in terms of ("normalacy"), which under my experience, was not defined under the Korean terms.

[ontheway]

[ppcg4]

The reason for cash is that I didn't have a chance to get a bank account set up there until a couple months into my contract. She always paid me on time, but man it was a pain to have to face her each month. She always laid out my deductions (bills, etc) and gave me a paper 'receipt'. In that way, she was good, but I ultimately got screwed because enrolment was down.

[cert43]

Oh ok..

and mybad it's: hangukgye migugin

and wayguk.."guk"( not gook)

[PatrickGHBusan]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[cert43]

You missed the entire point..
I know what a residency visa is...and yes,I know what a"foreigner"visa is( E2)...and yes,I know what a marriage visa ( F-2) visa is.

Tell me this: Why are F4'S ( Hankuk Miguk) termed "guks ( foreign)"
but get a non-restricted visa and not a regular "foreign" E-2 visa( way-guk)...There is no difference in a "korean foreinger"and a
"white foreinger"

If Korea is so non-discrimatory against foreingers then tell me why Kids who aren't fully and outright "Korean"allowed in the Korean Public School System?and you know what is considered "normalcy"and what is not.

Maybe if you don't beleive me: you should go ask a half-guk.

[IlIlNine]