Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Solarian]

So, when I was first applying to come here, I read a website that gave you the basic run through of applying for the visa, getting a job, etc... They said that it's possible to send a notarized copy, but that most people just send the original, as it's simpler. Being a naive idiot, I believed them.

Flash forward to today, I have only one week of work left, so I asked my boss to give me back my degree. He said sure, and then grabbed this binder, which looked supiciously small. He then opened the binder, and I was shocked to see my degree folded. Then I looked more closely, and I noticed that he also... hole punched it... Like the fucking daily log that we print here. He hole punched and folded my original degree that sat in a frame on my wall for two years. Upon picking it up and examining it, I also noticed some stains along the edges. The man metaphorically wiped his ass with my original degree.

Right now, I'm absolutely livid. I want to march into his office, take a dump in one of his desk drawers, lock it, and then flush the key down the toilet. The thing though is, it's not worth it. I'm still waiting on my last pay, my flight money, my severance pay, etc...

Just please... for the love of god, if you're applying to come here, go to a lawyer, get a notarized copy of your degree, and put your real thing back in the frame where it belongs. Common decency is not as common as you'd think.

Oh, and don't work for a hagwon. Those are the only two pieces of advice I have for anyone thinking about coming here. I'm really serious about that last one. I enjoyed my time in this country, but if I could do it all over again, I would work in a public school. If I couldn't get a job in a public, I'd just stay my ass at home in Canada. Hagwons just aren't worth it. The only upside to working at a hagwon is, you'll learn to be a far more patient person. Or you'll snap, kill everyone and then yourself. I only have a week left, so I hope I don't end up going that route.

I don't want to get into a long winded post of what happened at my hagwon, but it was pretty much everything that could happen. I'm truly proud I managed to last the year here. There are 10 Koreans that can't make the same claim (there are only 6 teachers in my hagwon, including myself, so that means that in less than one year, two people quit from each teaching position, we're on the 3rd set of teachers now)

[Rothbard]

Letting him hang on to it for a full year was mistake number 17. Send him the bill for a new one.

[northway]

[markhan]

Why do some in this Dave forum absolutely do a dumb thing and blame others of its consequences?

When I first came to Korea, I had to bring some kind of proof to authenticate my degree to get a visa to attend school in Japan. Did I bring my original degree? Hell freaking no!!! I called my former college and asked an administrator to send a document with a seal stamped on it. With this, everything went smooth for a visa process. Back then, the Internet wasn't commonplace as now. So how did I get the information? Well, common sense dictates that you don't carry one and only original document to a foreign country and give someone you have never met to take care of it! I mean, there are reasons why there are notarial services everywhere in the world! Jeez, people, COMMON SENSE!

[akcrono]

[yfb]

Sent my original degree twice now with no problems. Even if it got damaged, I could just fill out a form and get another copy. Sorry if you're from a university that's stingy with diploma copies.

[akcrono]

[Solarian]

It has nothing to do with how difficult to get it replaced. Other than the insane wait time (10 weeks), the process is a fairly simple one. It's all about how incredibly disrespectful the act is. It's a massive slap in the face to treat someone's diploma like that. I asked around too, it's not like it's something that is "okay" in Korea. Koreans frame their diplomas too. My coworkers were just as shocked when they found out. I don't know if it's an issue of simply him being an inconsiderate douche with delusions of godhood again, or if he simply considers waygook diplomas to be worthless. Either way, I'm just sending out a warning to anyone coming. Don't send the original. I'm out of here in a week anyway, he can't mess with me anymore.

[DeMayonnaise]

Eh, my diploma is just sitting in the diploma holder on my desk back home. It's just a bachelor's degree with a worthless major. Not frame worthy.

[ttompatz]

You do realize that as of next Wednesday an original degree will no longer be accepted by K-immi for the visa application process?

Everyone will have to send a copy (with either an apostille or K-consulate certification).

.

[AsiaESLbound]

That is a total lack of respect for the OP.

1. It should not had been a problem to get it back shortly after arriving in Korea.
2. It should not had been hole punched, folded, and stained.

I had no problem getting my original degree returned in original condition a few days after arriving, because they intended to do me right.

[TeeRev]

Well this is my second year in Korea and I am leaving in 2 days. Getting my diploma back the first time was no problem- received it the way I gave it- in good shape. So this time I asked my employer a month or two ago about getting it back and she played stupid... Said she has no idea where it is.... She doesn't have it... That the immigration office must have it.... But they won't have it anymore.... Maybe she can make a phonecall... whatever.... So they LOST my diploma. I don't get it back. What the hell can I do? The OP has good advice. Hakwons suck and i'm angry.

[Englishee]

i dont know which country you guys applied to, but unless things changed in the last couple months, you DON'T need your original degree to apply here...

all the recruiters (good ones anyway) suggest you send a notarized copy.

at the end of the day, its no one's fault but ur own.

[Englishee]

[mm]

Maybe he didn't realize it was your original diploma??

I worked at a hagwon my first year here, it was lovely. Guess it depends on the hagwon and maybe your attitude.