Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OnAGivenDay]

Hello everyone. I'm in need of fantastic advice. I have searched the forum, but I haven't found a situation that matches my own.

I've arrived at my hagwon two months ago and since then my contract has changed somewhat dramatically. My first paycheck was shorted $1,000, each month I'm required to contribute 100,000 won to my housing allowance, and my ten vacation days have vanished. I, of course, agreed to none of this and my boss merely ignores my coworkers and me every time we try to confront her.

When I was first talking with my recruiter I requested again and again to be in Seoul, but I was placed in Kwangju. While I did give the city an honest chance, I'm not really a fan and I spend most of my free time somewhere else in the country (in 10 weeks I've been to Seoul four times, Chirisan and Muju twice, and Pusan, Mokpo, and Jeju once).

I have an BSBA in Marketing and an MBA, which I believe qualifies me for University positions. I am willing to do a teaching certificate while teaching concurrently. Also I would be more than happy to teach within any field of business if companies are hiring. Though, I would again prefer being in Seoul. It would save me a lot of money in hotel fees visiting so frequently.

In short, I would like to be teaching adults in Seoul, getting paid reasonably close to the contracted total, working with adults. I need advice about leaving a breached contract early, the eventual visa complications, the probable trip to Osaka for a new visa, and any other problems one would believe I will run into. I understand it will be difficult, but on the risk:reward scale, the rewards appear to be much heavier.

Thank you very much!

[Ice Tea]

Are people really this desperate to work in Korea?

[conbon78]

Well first, you need your boss to give you a release letter. If you don't have that release letter, then you can't leave your contract and get another job legally in Korea. If you try to get another job without your bosses permission, then your boss can cancel your visa. Next, you have to get a uni job. The good ones are posted in April and October/November. There are some out now, but not many.

With regards to the issues in your contract, you can call the labor board and ask about what your rights are. You can also refuse to work unless your boss pays you the correct amount. I don't know if you can do that legally, but I know that I definitely wouldn't work anywhere if they weren't paying me enough. Finally, remember that contracts mean nothing in Korea.

[toonchoon]

don't think release letters work unless you've been at your current job for 9 months. i don't think immi actually will accept them.

my only advice, as crappy as it sounds, is to quit, and start the process from step 1. u will have to exit the country, hand in your ARC as you leave, which will cancel your visa. process is burdensome... they don't make it easy to quit and look for another employer in Korea. law/rules favor corporations and businesses and NOT employees / consumers (and def. not English Teachers). i don't think there's a way around this. lots of unis want some experience, so unless you have experience back home, you should maybe look into getting another job, getting some experience, then applying for uni jobs. that is if you're not able to get a uni job now. still, I think you'll have to start from step 1 - get your fingerprints taken and send them off to the FBI. it'll take a while. good luck.

[toonchoon]

[ttompatz]