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fromipanema
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:33 pm Post subject: Legal consequences of midnight run? |
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Can anyone tell me if there are any legal consequences to pulling a runner?
From everything I've heard, most people never hear back from their hagwon/public school once they split (aside from angry emails). Anyone ever heard or encountered legal issues from pulling a runner and going home? As in, their school tries to collect the recruiter fee and airfare in court? |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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I've met plenty of people who have run and heard about many more on expat forums. I've never heard of any having legal troubles. The only thing that i've heard of is the angry emails (and occasional phone calls if they know your number).
I'm sure it has probably happened at some point, but I've never heard about it myself and I'd never worry about it if i was planning to run. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| fromipanema wrote: |
Can anyone tell me if there are any legal consequences to pulling a runner?
From everything I've heard, most people never hear back from their hagwon/public school once they split (aside from angry emails). Anyone ever heard or encountered legal issues from pulling a runner and going home? As in, their school tries to collect the recruiter fee and airfare in court? |
IF you are in Korea then they do have the legal option to sue (but I have never heard of it happening).
If you are outside of Korea there is NO LEGAL consequence and if they sue in Korean court there is no way to collect from you if you are out of Korea.
Feel free to quit and move on at your convenience.
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imoscardotcom
Joined: 01 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| fromipanema wrote: |
Can anyone tell me if there are any legal consequences to pulling a runner?
From everything I've heard, most people never hear back from their hagwon/public school once they split (aside from angry emails). Anyone ever heard or encountered legal issues from pulling a runner and going home? As in, their school tries to collect the recruiter fee and airfare in court? |
IF you are in Korea then they do have the legal option to sue (but I have never heard of it happening).
If you are outside of Korea there is NO LEGAL consequence and if they sue in Korean court there is no way to collect from you if you are out of Korea.
Feel free to quit and move on at your convenience.
. |
What if one's contract says something like: the employer reserves the right to pursue legal action against the teacher in their native country or something to that effect??
Is that a possibility? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:06 am Post subject: |
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| imoscardotcom wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| fromipanema wrote: |
Can anyone tell me if there are any legal consequences to pulling a runner?
From everything I've heard, most people never hear back from their hagwon/public school once they split (aside from angry emails). Anyone ever heard or encountered legal issues from pulling a runner and going home? As in, their school tries to collect the recruiter fee and airfare in court? |
IF you are in Korea then they do have the legal option to sue (but I have never heard of it happening).
If you are outside of Korea there is NO LEGAL consequence and if they sue in Korean court there is no way to collect from you if you are out of Korea.
Feel free to quit and move on at your convenience.
. |
What if one's contract says something like: the employer reserves the right to pursue legal action against the teacher in their native country or something to that effect??
Is that a possibility? |
Nope. There are jurisdictional issues and your home country WON'T rule on extra-territorial civil claims (not even thinking about the cost of them trying to pursue you in your home country against what they may hope to gain in the claim - IF they could even collect.)
bottom line = not a hope in Hades they will pursue you beyond a nasty phone call or e-mail.
.
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fromipanema
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:31 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks everyone, for your replies AND for not making me feel like a terrible person... It's not going to be my life's proudest moment, but another six months in Korea is a mental impossibility. |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 2:35 am Post subject: |
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| imoscardotcom wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| fromipanema wrote: |
Can anyone tell me if there are any legal consequences to pulling a runner?
From everything I've heard, most people never hear back from their hagwon/public school once they split (aside from angry emails). Anyone ever heard or encountered legal issues from pulling a runner and going home? As in, their school tries to collect the recruiter fee and airfare in court? |
IF you are in Korea then they do have the legal option to sue (but I have never heard of it happening).
If you are outside of Korea there is NO LEGAL consequence and if they sue in Korean court there is no way to collect from you if you are out of Korea.
Feel free to quit and move on at your convenience.
. |
What if one's contract says something like: the employer reserves the right to pursue legal action against the teacher in their native country or something to that effect??
Is that a possibility? |
Some thing my father once quoted for me "Bullsh!t baffles brains" (sorry Moderators!) People will use legal sounding arguments and threats of legal actions to manily scare Most people have no in depth knowledge of law and thus will panic. So the possibility of a hagwon getting you legally back home is next to nil - unless you do something serious that the Korean government wants to help track you down.
The difficulty and money needed to go after a teacher for a couple thousand dollars would not be worth it for most hagwons as lawyer fees and that would lessen how much they get back. |
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Radius
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| OP im just curious, what are some of the reasons you're quitting? |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 6:18 am Post subject: |
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| fromipanema wrote: |
| Thanks everyone, for your replies AND for not making me feel like a terrible person... It's not going to be my life's proudest moment, but another six months in Korea is a mental impossibility. |
You mean you are actually going to do it??? We thought you were just asking a general question!! YOU ARE A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE PERSON!!
Just kidding  |
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WadRUG'naDoo
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| Doesn't matter. They probably cheated you on something. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| imoscardotcom wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| fromipanema wrote: |
Can anyone tell me if there are any legal consequences to pulling a runner?
From everything I've heard, most people never hear back from their hagwon/public school once they split (aside from angry emails). Anyone ever heard or encountered legal issues from pulling a runner and going home? As in, their school tries to collect the recruiter fee and airfare in court? |
IF you are in Korea then they do have the legal option to sue (but I have never heard of it happening).
If you are outside of Korea there is NO LEGAL consequence and if they sue in Korean court there is no way to collect from you if you are out of Korea.
Feel free to quit and move on at your convenience.
. |
What if one's contract says something like: the employer reserves the right to pursue legal action against the teacher in their native country or something to that effect??
Is that a possibility? |
Nope. There are jurisdictional issues and your home country WON'T rule on extra-territorial civil claims (not even thinking about the cost of them trying to pursue you in your home country against what they may hope to gain in the claim - IF they could even collect.)
bottom line = not a hope in Hades they will pursue you beyond a nasty phone call or e-mail.
.
. |
In fact, even if you return to Korea later, they're not likely to pursue you. Just don't let them know that you've returned. |
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fromipanema
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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I definitely, definitely, don't plan on returning.
As for my reasons for leaving, I've been here almost six months and am getting steadily more depressed. I kept telling myself that would change, get better, but actually it keeps getting worse. I realize life is too short to be depressed and unhappy. Another six months sounds awful to me! |
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WadRUG'naDoo
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:09 pm Post subject: |
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| fromipanema wrote: |
I definitely, definitely, don't plan on returning.
As for my reasons for leaving, I've been here almost six months and am getting steadily more depressed. I kept telling myself that would change, get better, but actually it keeps getting worse. I realize life is too short to be depressed and unhappy. Another six months sounds awful to me! |
That's smart. I know so many people who stay in Korea too long and are worse off for it. |
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TheresaTheresa
Joined: 24 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| fromipanema wrote: |
I definitely, definitely, don't plan on returning.
As for my reasons for leaving, I've been here almost six months and am getting steadily more depressed. I kept telling myself that would change, get better, but actually it keeps getting worse. I realize life is too short to be depressed and unhappy. Another six months sounds awful to me! |
Good on ya for havin' the balls to know when to move on!
Recently did a runner (not my first:-) and while the weather is not lovely at home right now, I am truly glad to be home!
Have a happy New Year!
P.S. If you're heading back to North America and have an ISIC card you can get a great deal on tickets from STA Travel. |
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superNET
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:54 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| As for my reasons for leaving, I've been here almost six months and am getting steadily more depressed. I kept telling myself that would change, get better, but actually it keeps getting worse. I realize life is too short to be depressed and unhappy. Another six months sounds awful to me! |
Why are you getting depressed? You can PM me if you like. |
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