Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sallymonster]

I recently posted about my situation in a couple of other threads, but I didn't get a lot of responses.

I currently work at a GEPIK middle school under the GEPIK contract. My contract ends in a couple of months, and I'm not renewing (my choice). I recently signed a contract with a hagwon, to start 2 weeks after my current contract ends.

During the two weeks between contracts, I want to visit my home country. The GEPIK contract states that at the end of my year I'm entitled to a plane ticket back to my home country. The contract doesn't mention that I can't get a plane ticket if I plan to return to Korea.

Unfortunately, my school says they won't pay for the plane ticket to the US for a "vacation", as they called it, unless I either renew with them (my school is private-public and may not be affected by GEPIK's hiring freeze), or return to the US permanently. My school found out that I was looking for work in Korea because I needed a Korean reference from my school.

I'm not asking my current school to foot the bill for the whole round trip to my home country and back. My new hagwon, in fact, is paying for my flight back to Korea. I can actually save my school money by buying a round trip ticket and asking them to reimburse half the cost.

Should I call my GEPIK coordinator about this? Do I even have a case? Should I lie to my current school and tell them I changed my mind about staying in Korea? (hagwon owner probably wouldn't appreciate having to pay extra for a one-way ticket as opposed to half of a round-trip ticket). Or should I just suck it up and cough up the 600-700 dollars for the Korea-US portion of the round trip flight?

Sorry this is so long, but I'm really frustrated about this. 10 more weeks until I'm out of the PS system!

[ajosshi]

[BoholDiver]

Better to ask for a cash settlement and then use the money to buy yourself a roundtrip ticket.

You could lie and say you changed your mind, and now you are going home. But no reason to lie. Demand your ticket or call the people higher in the food chain. Poop rolls downhill though. Be ready for a bad few weeks at work.

Korea. You want us to hate you, don't you?

[jrwhite82]

They are required to give you a plane ticket home (or reimburse you for one you bought).

They are not required to buy you a plane ticket to Thailand or Indonesia.

In your case, it is their contractual obligation to buy you a one way ticket to your home country. It says it plain as day in both English and Korean (the binding language of the contract).

[MacLean]

They don't have a leg to stand on. What you do after you leave Korea is none of their business. You have every right to come back to a new job. I've done it. It's none of the school's business. They are 100% obligated to provide you with the ticket. Phone the labour board today!

It's your flight ticket. They cannot deny it to you based on what you may or may not do after you leave Korea.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

You are making the right choice in getting out of the public school game, Sally. And you definitely have a case there. They owe you that plane ticket.

[Stan Rogers]

Just tell them you changed your mind and are going back to your country and not returning to Korea.

Then take the ticket to the airline and get a refund.

[BoholDiver]

Why should be have to stoop to their level and lie to 'save face'.

Lying is part of Korean culture, sure, but I won't do it.

[matthews_world]

Nothing wrong with the public school game. Teachers incur different problems based on how their VP's and P's interpret such situations.

If you have a case, take it to the Labor Board. They are the experts on Korean Labor Law.

[sallymonster]

I'm thinking of calling GEPIK first. Does anyone know the name/number of the coordinator for Suwon? I can't remember!

[Illysook]

I was thinking about applying for a position at the foreign language high school where a friend of mine works. She's leaving and will recommend me. The position would begin about a month after my contract ends.

I asked my coteacher about saving both schools money by purchasing a round trip ticket and she said that due to accounting practices, there would be no way to do this. Your current school is obligated to pay for your trip home and your new school must pay for your trip back to Korea. Of course, once your school pays for the first ticket, you might be able to work something out with the airline and save the second school money, but don't count on it.

[ThingsComeAround]

[TravelinSig]

[sallymonster]

[sallymonster]