Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bluetubeodyssey]

My boyfriend ran after a week at his job at a Christian Korean school after 1) the school took away all the literature/writing/grammar classes they told him he'd teach in the interview and replaced them with calculus, chemistry, biology, and SAT prep, and 2) the school refused to pay overtime for the 2 - 3 hours of mandatory overtime everyday, even though it said 20,000 won/hr in the contract, and 3) the teachers were hostile and broke into his apartment drunk telling him he'd better not think about leaving.

This was back in early August, and the recruiter just sent him a threatening email this morning demanding reimbursement for the 85,000 won which the school paid for the health physical.

We're trying to figure out 1) whether we should pay it and 2) if the threats are legitimate. Here is the email:

***************************
Dear [ ],


I got a call from the [ ] school and informed me that you owe 85000won to [ ]. I am requesting you to repay the money to him immediately. We also investigate about this school but, everyone is happy and even the new teachers arrived after you also. I don't see your action was appropriated, if there was anything they didn't honor your contact, you had to contact me before you left. Anyway Please repay the money to [ ].


Here is his bank detail. :

Name of bank: [ ]

Account number: [ ]

Swift Code: [ ]

AMOUNT: 85,000 WON



If you do not pay him back the money you owe him. We will report you to the US Goverment, FBI and Korean immigration. Maybe they can't do any action right away but it will appear on your record when you travel oversea. I hope you still have a personal maaner.


Thank you,

[ ]
***************************

Part of me feels like we should wire the money over because it was a cost to the school that he was supposed to pay, but the other part of me is so mad at them that I just want to say screw you and your 85,000 won. I just don't know if those threats at the end are substantial or a bunch of hot air.

What do you think?

[Kepler]

[DaHu]

What do you think, the FBI gives a rat's ass about some stupid school in Korea and are now debt collectors?

[Zackback]

What is the name of the school?

[PatrickGHBusan]

Nothing will likely come of this.

move on.

[brickabrack]

You don't have to do sh 1+_! eff 'em

[ttompatz]

They are blowing smoke out their butt.
They can't do anything to you in the states other than piss and moan.

They can't hurt your credit rating.
The FBI doesn't care.
The US government doesn't care.
Korean Immigration doesn't care.
The Korean police don't care.
It won't affect your overseas travel (to anywhere, including Korea).

There will be nothing noted anywhere other than the school's memory (they probably won't hire you again) and perhaps your recruiter's file book not to take you on again.

Sleep well and worry not.

.

[ChopChaeJoe]

Looks like they owe a lot more money than they are owed. They don't have a leg to stand on, legally or ethically. The case would have to be adjudicated before anything else. That will never happen. The FBI? Really?

[bluetubeodyssey]

Wow, thank you a lot, guys! I feel better at least knowing that they are empty threats.

I'm still undecided on paying it because the bank account is that of a guy who works for the school who takes the new teachers to their apartment and takes them to any appointments, like this health physical check-up; this guy paid the 85,000 won fee for the physical and that was supposed to be deducted from my boyfriend's check at the end of the month.

At least I don't feel pressured to pay it now. I just want to flip the bird to the recruiter for being such a d*ck!

Again, thanks for being so helpful, you guys are the best!

[ontheway]

[wylies99]

Save copies of things like this in case you end up at labor over other issues. You may end up at labor over pay issues and the fact that they sent you threatening, and over-the-top emails would damage their credibility.