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SCAshley
Joined: 15 Nov 2010
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 Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:33 am Post subject: Midnight run...can they find you? |
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Ok, so it's just about "midnight" for me and it's well under 6 months (2 months and 10 days) so I have a few questions...
1. Is there any way they can sue you or track you down or anything once you're back in your home country? I'm PS so they have a nice, large deposit, but I know there will be some outstanding bills (I'll pay everything I know of before I leave) so I'm wondering if the school or the utility companies can come after you? Probably too much hassle/money for them to try and track you down...I fully expect the angry phone calls/e-mails from my recruiter and school, but besides that...
2. My contract says that if you leave without notice (midnight run?) they will report you to Korean Immigration, but that shouldn't matter as I would leave on the weekend and they wouldn't even know I was gone until Monday. I remember reading something about this being a civil issue and not an immigration issue, so them reporting me wouldn't matter anyway-right?
3. How do you tell your school? Leave a note in your apartment so when they come check on you they find it? E-mail your co-teacher? How have other people done it?
Obviously, I know that this will cause a lot of problems for the school and I do feel bad about that, but I am so miserable here that I just need to get the h**l out of here, before I completely lose my mind. I know people are going to dump on me, which is fine, but if anyone has anything constructive to add, that would be appreciated. Thanks. |
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The Great Pseudo
Joined: 10 Mar 2011
Location: The Eye of the Storm
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:44 am Post subject: |
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1. Yes, I guess they could get interpol onto your ass, but let's face it no-one is going to go through all that hassle over a few bills.
2. It only matters if you want to ever comeabck and teach. Otherwise what do you think immi is goign to do? Not let you fly home coz you dont like your job?
3. Leave a note or email or call them from the airport.
And this ladies and gents is why people in their very early twenties should not come to Korea to teach (no offense op if I'm wrong but anyone able to travel overseas should alreay know the answers to these questions.) |
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SCAshley
Joined: 15 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:54 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you-I guess the practical side of me figured that, but there's always a nagging doubt that something could happen...Sad thing is, I'm much closer to 30 than 20, so can't chalk this one up to being young and naive. I did several months of research, but I guess all of the research in the world can't prepare you for every situation. Lesson learned! If anyone has actually ran and can tell me if there was any repercussions that they experienced, that would also be helpful. Thanks. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:59 am Post subject: Re: Midnight run...can they find you? |
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| SCAshley wrote: |
| Ok, so it's just about "midnight" for me and it's well under 6 months (2 months and 10 days) so I have a few questions... |
That's a bit early to bail, isn't it? If you don't mind, state the issue. Perhaps you're missing a solution that a number of posters here already know for your dilemma.
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| 1. Is there any way they can sue you or track you down or anything once you're back in your home country? |
No. They cannot sue you in your home country as that's out of the Korean court's jurisdiction.
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| I'm PS so they have a nice, large deposit, but I know there will be some outstanding bills (I'll pay everything I know of before I leave) so I'm wondering if the school or the utility companies can come after you? |
The "large deposit" is supposed to be for the housing the school has provided. That supposedly does not cover outstanding bills. Again, they cannot sue you. And you cannot sue them to get the deposit back either. Note that I may be mistaken on the stated purpose of the deposit but that's what I seem to remember.
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| Probably too much hassle/money for them to try and track you down |
Not to mention no court with shared jurisdiction between wherever you go in your home country and Korea.
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| I fully expect the angry phone calls/e-mails from my recruiter and school, |
Angry E-mail is easy to deal with: delete without reading. Angry phone calls, if they're originating in your home country and you are also in that country, again, are easy to deal with: you can sue the party originating the call or even refer them to the appropriate authorities for harassment.
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but besides that...
2. My contract says that if you leave without notice (midnight run?) |
That's exactly what's known as midnight run here: leaving without notice.
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| they will report you to Korean Immigration, but that shouldn't matter as I would leave on the weekend and they wouldn't even know I was gone until Monday. |
Basically, that's just the Provinical or Metropolitan City Office of Education notifying Immigration that you are no longer employed and, thus, your visa is invalidated. You will probably beat them to the gun on that score on your way out of Korea when you give the Alien Registration Card to the Immigration officer and inform him or her that you are not returning.
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| I remember reading something about this being a civil issue and not an immigration issue, so them reporting me wouldn't matter anyway-right? |
Visa sponsorship is most certainly an Immigration issue; however, if you do not intend to return, that will matter little, if any, to you. The financial issues are a civil matter, but see above.
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| 3. How do you tell your school? Leave a note in your apartment so when they come check on you they find it? E-mail your co-teacher? How have other people done it? |
Some people don't tell, others leave a note, some tell another foreign teacher in the same district, some E-mail the school. Like the old song, there are at least 50 ways.
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| Obviously, I know that this will cause a lot of problems for the school and I do feel bad about that, but I am so miserable here that I just need to get the h**l out of here, before I completely lose my mind. I know people are going to dump on me, which is fine, but if anyone has anything constructive to add, that would be appreciated. Thanks. |
Well, I hope you find the above constructive. I also hope you have availed yourself of what you should've been told during the orientation: If you have a problem at your school and cannot find relief at that level, use the chain of supervision, to wit:
- Supevising/Coordinating Co-teacher.
- Department Head.
- Head Teacher (some schools will allow you to bypass this individual).
- Vice-principal.
- Principal.
- School Inspector for the district Office of Education (subordinate to the P/MCOE).
- Supervisor of GETs at the Provincial/Metropolitan City Office of Education.
Since it's been just two months, I'd be surprised if you had taken your problem all the way up that chain.
Now, I guess this is what you'll see as dumping on you. You leaving the public school without repaying the resettlement and other allowances will make the rest of us public school NETs look bad and possibly contribute to making our lives a bit tougher. Is that fair? Of course not, but some people in authority will remember that you've done this.
Really, what's the problem? What have you tried to do to rectify it? |
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smartwentcrazy
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| we got yo t-shirt you done left yo fingerprints. you are really dumb. fo real. they gonna find you homeboy. |
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southernman
Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Location: On the mainland again
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:24 am Post subject: |
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Just do whats best for you, theres no point going through depression or major anxiety in any job..
The PS teacher (in name only) on Geoje before me was in her late 30's. She literally got from Changwon on the day of her placement to Geoje Island, freaked out and told my ex co-teacher to drive her back to Changwon. My ex co-teacher actually turned around and drove her back to Changwon, about a 2 hour drive. 
End of the day no one really gives a toss what you do, it's happened before and it'll happen again. I don't think anyone will dump on you, what's the point....
However, my ex co-teacher got ph calls from 3 Principals personally blaming her for the NET doing a runner. She also received ph calls from other teachers at the 3 schools and snide comments from teachers at my old school. I'm not dumping, just pointing out what your co-teacher will go through. If he/she has caused all your problems, the good job, because they're gonna have major grief.
So at the very least (if you co-teacher isn't the cause of your runner) send them an e-mail that they can then show to the powers to be.
Just check out old posts on this board about people pulling midnight runs for any advice or information you want. there's enough responses to satisfy your needs |
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Zackback
Joined: 05 Nov 2010
Location: Kyungbuk
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:01 am Post subject: |
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| Just run! Get out of this place. Tell no one. |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:16 am Post subject: Re: Midnight run...can they find you? |
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| SCAshley wrote: |
| I'm PS so they have a nice, large deposit, but I know there will be some outstanding bills (I'll pay everything I know of before I leave) |
Outstanding bills less than your deposit? Then don't bother paying them. That's what the deposit's for, right? You owe them nothing. |
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oldtactics
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:02 am Post subject: |
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| I know three people that have 'run' - besides a few phone calls and some angry emails, they can't/won't do anything. Obviously I'm not advocating bailing on your contract, but remember that it's just a JOB. You won't be held at the airport. Enjoy your flight! |
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West Coast Tatterdemalion
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:36 am Post subject: |
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No, you will not have any problem at the airport. None. People do midnight runs from Korea all the time. Actually, it's usually a mid-afternoon casual walk to the airport bus kind of thing. It has done many, many times before and will be done undoubtedly many, many more times in the future. I've known 2 people that have done it. Just leave on the Saturday after you collect your paycheck, pack your stuff, take the airport bus and hand in your ARC to immigration on the way out. They don't care.
And I hope one of the previous posters was taking the piss about Interpol being notified.  Interpol will not get involved with such issues as hawons and apartment deposits . |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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| SCAshley wrote: |
| Thank you-I guess the practical side of me figured that, but there's always a nagging doubt that something could happen...Sad thing is, I'm much closer to 30 than 20, so can't chalk this one up to being young and naive. I did several months of research, but I guess all of the research in the world can't prepare you for every situation. Lesson learned! If anyone has actually ran and can tell me if there was any repercussions that they experienced, that would also be helpful. Thanks. |
You're closer to 30 and think running away from your troubles is the answer? Granted we don't know your exact circumstances, but this is still the reaction of a sulking teenager. People pulling runners does little to alleviate the current ridiculous restraints of an E-2 visa in this country either. Are you absolutely sure there isn't a better way to deal with this? |
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Triban
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: Suwon Station
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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I'm guessin SC like totally means like SoCal or like South Carolina.
Like totally. |
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rockymtn
Joined: 01 Oct 2010
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| I think they send ninjas after you. |
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Zackback
Joined: 05 Nov 2010
Location: Kyungbuk
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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Don't listen to any crap about people questioning why you are running. They have all these requirements and rules for NET's here with little (and I mean very little) oversight into how crappy so many of us are treated.
My job right now is great but I have been in awful situations in the past and I just bailed. If they or anyone else didn't like it they can shove it! |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Zackback wrote: |
Don't listen to any crap about people questioning why you are running. They have all these requirements and rules for NET's here with little (and I mean very little) oversight into how crappy so many of us are treated.
My job right now is great but I have been in awful situations in the past and I just bailed. If they or anyone else didn't like it they can shove it! |
Yes NETs are often treated badly here; however, in 90% of those cases, there's a better solution than breaking contracts and possibly immigration laws. I know of cases where the NETs told their boss they were leaving and came out better for it, and situations where NETs pulled full-blown tell-no-one runners and screwed perfectly reputable hagwons, small privately owned businesses, out of enough time and resources to nearly put them out of business.
To most hagwons we are an investment worth protecting. Working with them is almost inevitably better than working against them.
The only situation I can imagine that would warrant a full-blown tell-no-one runner would be one involving abuse or threatening behavior. If you're working for EPIK, I can't imagine any situation that would warrant a runner. There are resources in place to deal with nearly any problem. |
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