Korean Job Discussion Forums

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

The longest I've ever had to wait for hospital test results in Korea has been two days. I did have to wait one day to actually take the test because the test required 24 hours fasting prior.

Gazpacho · Joined: 06 Sep 2010

ok. My director paid approx. 1.1m for my flight out here, I flew with KoreanAir but the KA website offers approx 1.9 for the flight back. Any idea on the best flights out of here?

le-paul · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Location: dans la chambre

if you fly via hong kong its alot cheaper. I got a 1 way for 350,000 (incl tax) last nov.
and no, they wont/cant chase you up.

Gazpacho · Joined: 06 Sep 2010

i'll look into that. Emirates were offering around 1.3m but 350k is much more appealing!

My visa is single entrance, what kind of discussion can i expect at the airport, will they only ask if i'm returning? I've actually heard of people being held at the airport until a phone-call from the director has 'released' them.

Gazpacho · Joined: 06 Sep 2010

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

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Guy worked here for a year, comes back, & after one week decides to run. "It's not the job. The first trip was novel maybe the second is a mistake."

Clearly didnt put much thought into his actions.

So shaft the new boss. Bunch of Daves posters jump in & say thats okay. Run! No consequences!

New boss loses more than million won & is stuck without a teacher.

OP is a selfish jerk, imho.

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

Just leave. No consequences, unless you want to come back. But if you don't...just leave. As far as running, thousands have done it in the past and, undoubtedly, thousands more will do it in the future. I once knew of a runner who didn't even get out of the airport. I don't think you could technically call him a runner. He got into Incheon airport, got freaked out(probably by everyone looking the same), booked a ticket and flew back home. Never even left the airport. So, people run in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons.

Troglodyte · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

I'm not going to pass judgement on the OP for deciding to leave. He's an adult and can determine for himself if it's the right thing to do (morally and practically).

Regarding being detained at the airport, that's BS. The only thing they'll detail you for at the airport is if you were charged with something seriously criminal like drugs, assault, etc. In those cases, you'd be restricted from leaving the country. The immigration guys don't care about labor contracts. Labor contracts do not bind you to stay in the country. It's completely legal to break a contract. There may be penalties for doing so, but it's not criminal. Similarly they aren't going to hold you at the airport for not paying your phone bill or parking tickets before leaving.

Just because you signed a work contract doesn't mean that you are legally obliged to remain there for the duration of the contract. You didn't sell yourself into slavery. Either person is allowed to break the contract. If you break it then, there will be some penalties, but that just means that the employer would have to pursue you to recover the money owed him/her.

It's too expensive and complicated for your boss to try to get you to pay him back after you leave Korea. Here, he could do it easier because you're in country, subject to the same legal system. Abroad, you're still responsible but it gets a lot harder to implement, therefore it gets more expensive. Just like employers know that once we leave, it's VERY difficult to recover money they owe us, the same is true in reverse.

Don't worry. If you leave, there will be no problems at immigration. You'll just get some nasty calls and emails from your boss and recruiter when you get back home.

Gazpacho · Joined: 06 Sep 2010

Thanks for the clarity people.

schwa: I understand your point but the director isn't the only one out of pocket here, my flight home plus the money i spent for the visa will prove a greater loss to myself. But I've just got to go. The thought is pretty much cemented in my head now.

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

plato's republic · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Ancient Greece

You could still leave but do the decent thing and give a month's notice, thereby giving your boss some time to find a replacement. If you explain your reasons for wanting to leave and if he's a reasonable person he won't make your last month in the ROK a living nightmare.

asylum seeker · Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Location: On your computer screen.

toby99 · Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 4:55 pm Post subject:

[quote= "Troglodyte"Similarly they aren't going to hold you at the airport for not paying your phone bill or parking tickets before leaving. [/quote]

Have any idea if they'll stop you from re-entering the country if you left with, say, an unpaid phone bill?

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

This is my 2 cents worth.....you're a coward if you don't have the guts to tell the owners you are leaving. Period. Some of you go ahead and flame me...but you are cowards and can't even stand up to something as simple as leaving a school/country.
If you feel you have been screwed over...by all means, leave! But have the balls to tell the idiot school bosses that you are leaving...they can't stop you and nor will immigration unless you are wanted for some crime.