Korean Job Discussion Forums

david · Joined: 31 Oct 2003

I worked six months at a GnB in Jinju, got fired for being unorthodox, obtained a LOR, and scrambled to find work. I didn't get a great vibe from the hogwan that hired me, but I needed to begin working. Three months in and I was losing the plot; So much so that I travelled to Fukuoka for three days of R and R.

I missed my early morning ferry back to Korea and rescheduled for noontime or thereabouts. My cell phone was in Ulsan so all I could think of doing was sending an e-mail to my recruiter, getting on the boat and hoping. ( I probably could have dug up the recruiter's phone number, but didn't and arrived at work three hours late. I saw a payphone just inside the gate at the ferry terminal in Fukuoka. The ferry.

I saw a few more after arriving in Ulsan, but walked past them and caught a cab to the bus terminal and was at work by 6:00. I missed three classes in total.

I was fired a week later. They gave me a week which was later extended to two. I protested and even sent an e-mail to The Ulsan Labor Board, but my e-mail wasn't returned and my recruiter explained that his push for two weeks notice was the best he could do. I got paid Friday for five weeks and four weeks were paid in full while the fifth week earned me 350,000 won. ( 550K was the hope. ) I am on an E2 visa, have an ARC, and updated everything at immigration before beginning work in March 2010.

Do I have a case that can easily be resolved in my favor or is my one late day w/o notice all they need to justify the termination of my contract? I've already re-ordered my docs for an E2 visa, but am wondering how to deal with the last ten months on my resume. I completed two year long contracts prior to my last two jobs and am generally a good teacher who is more than patient under trying circumstances in the workplace.

How should I go about things on my resume? How should I go about things with the school in Ulsan? ( They would have expected a month's notice from me. ) Help if you can!

jrwhite82 · Joined: 22 May 2010

Ouch. So you missed half a day's worth of classes without notifying your director? That is reason for someone to be fired IMHO. I don't think most directors will fire someone over that, especially if it only happened once. But if he was already unhappy with you, then you just gave him a perfect reason to let you go.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Wrong account shared computer....

mcviking · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Location: 'Fantastic' America

Honestly you might just want to cut your losses. Your feeling burned out it might be time to just call it a day in regards to Korea. Go home get some real R and R and try again. Maybe check out China or Japan, but it sounds like your just having a rough time here. I hope things get better for you, best of luck.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

less than 6 months of full time employment with an employer and you are (under labor law) considered to be a "probationary" employee and they do not need to give notice nor do they need a reason to terminate your employment.

You MAY have some leeway depending on the working of your contract but if there is nothing there about termination for cause then you are "SOL" and had better find a new position ASAP.

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