Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Asiablue]

The public school I worked for did not renew my contract for a third year, explaining this was due to budget cuts. I was on good relations with my teachers and school, and until the budget cuts things looked good for a renewal. The school gave me early warning so I could look for a new job. GEPIK, on the other hand told me nothing. No letter. No phone call. Nothing.

In spite of all my efforts and calls to various recruiters, no jobs were found, nor were any even offered. Several told me "We cannot find anything suitable for you." I am a white male of 51.

Rather naively, I thought that the bonus money, air ticket fare, etc. would be paid to my bank account one month after my contract had finished. This was because of a story told to me by a teacher friend some years back. Administrative delay or some such thing. No big deal.Two weeks after the end of my contract period, I called my co-teacher for some information and she told me point blank I would not receive air-ticket money and that "we are finished with you."

I went to the labor board and complained, but they told me I needed a representative to do that for me. My visa was overdue and I needed to leave soon for various personal reasons and money would run out if I remained. At the very least, the school owes me air fare ($1,400) and possibly more. How do I fight for this from overseas?

[koreatimes]

Don't leave Korea without what you are owed.

[ttompatz]

Unless you have a friend in Korea who is able and willing to go to the labor board for you and act on your behalf there is no chance of making a labor board claim from abroad.

.

[tigershark]

i'll do it if you give me half? Are we talking severance and airfare??? If so I'm in@!!

[sulperman]

What about the Gepik coordinator? Did you contact them?

[Weigookin74]

If you're still here, go to the school and behave like a Korean. Get emotional and start screaming. Walk into the teachers room, principals room,e tc. Make them lose FACE. Because, although I'm generally a nice guy, I would turn into a complete A^&hole if I were being shafted like that. Bring the contrct with you and don't take no for an answer. So many Westerners get shafted here because they don't think like a Korean. They reley on the logic of the western mind. Baisically the school doesn't want to pay it because they want to use the funds for some other thing. Even with budget cuts, they are still legally obligated to give you what is in the contract.

I only say this if you can't go to the labor board. Always do that first. Failing that call the teacher and school repeatedly. Call their main number and keep yeling at them in English. When they hang up, keep calling back. Man, I guess I'm a total Ba%%^&RD when people try to screw me over. Ha ha.

[ThingsComeAround]

Hey OP- are the gears in motion yet?

[Malislamusrex]

If you negotiate hard enough a school asking you for 330k can turn into you getting 1.5 million.

Just don't get angry and threaten them with the worst case scenario.

[koreatimes]

[Malislamusrex]

for the OP that will be difficult, that's just FYI.

If he is in the country, sit down with the admin chief, tell him the contract, tell him you are in contact with the labour board and are reviewing your options. How you negotiate and how badly you need your job after that is up to the individual.

[I-am-me]

You need to contact the area supervisor for Gepik. They will help you get your money. The co-teacher in her limited english probably meant they have nothing to do with sendig you money. It's really not their money. It comes from Gepik.