Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BaldTeacher]

I pulled a runner 5 or 6 weeks ago. Before you get all judgemental on me, keep in mind that I was screwing over no co-workers, I was the only teacher there. I was only hurting my witch of a boss. Basically, I would not have been able to remain at this place, but it was written right into the contract that release letters weren't provided. I was going to do the Fukuoaka thing, but decided to come home, take a TEFL course and a few other courses, then come back some time after X-Mas.

My question to you is- if you're familiar with returning to Korea after a runner- what was your experience and what's the best way to go about doing it without the witch trying to get money from me if/ when I get back?

I'd try to word this better or provide more details, but my brain is tired from study and other things.

[liveinkorea316]

Yes coming back to Korea after a runner is definately possible. Many people have done it.

The main trick is to be able to get a job. I believe some posters have just left their previous time in Korea off their Resume because you might run into problems at immigration if you left off your Resume the time you worked in Korea - since they know about it because of your Visa.

There are two options with regards to your previous experience - tell the truth or make something up. If you tell the truth to a new employer they might not employ you because you seem like damaged goods - they might call your previous employer and get all the bad info from her.

The other way is to come up with some story for your new employer that necessitated you leaving early last time such as family committments or something cute like you got homesick or could not handle the weather or food before. But assure your new employer you can now.

You could try both approaches and see which one works best.

If your new employer contacts your old one then she is going to be able to find out your new location, possibly. However, she might have trouble getting any money from you since she would need to do so in court where you could argue your case. She may not want to. She might have learned her lesson.

[BaldTeacher]

Thanks for the info. For the record, I have successfully completed another contract before the one I pulled the runner from and I got good recomendations from them.

It's a shame that it had to come to this, but I had no choice. To get into this would take a whole other post.

However, I definitely want to come back to Korea.

I plan on going back to Korea on a tourist visa so that I can meet the employer and see the school in person. I never want to get suckered into something like that again by lying recruiters.

By the way, when I left, I didn't specifically tell them to cancel my visa, but I did tell them that I left my job and was leaving Korea permanently.

[ttompatz]