Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daxdefranco]

Hi everyone, I'm leaving Korea for good on Tuesday morning from Gimpo. I don't need a letter of release, I don't need to play nice. No holds barred, just FYI.

I've been at a hagwon for 12 months, there have been some problems with getting pension paid and other small struggles, but things have more or less been par for the hagwon course.

My contract is now over, and while the school has paid me some of what they owe me, they still haven't paid ~3mil KRW. It was meant to paid in full the last day of February (Wednesday). On Tuesday, I received ~2.5mil KRW. When I called to ask about this, I was told I would receive the rest the next day. I didn't. While at the dentist on Wednesday, I also found that while money was being deducted from my pay for 'insurance', my ARC card wasn't registered. When I spoke with my director Kyu-bae (note, not the owner) he said I could give him the receipts and he would get the money into my last paycheck. Thursday was a holiday so no one was around to speak with and Friday when I finally got some answers, Kyu-bae told me that the owner's mother (first time I'd heard about her) had paid me 1.1 million on Thursday (which is true, I updated my bank book and found the transfer) but 'couldn't afford' to pay me anymore. I told him this was unacceptable, that we had both signed a contract, etc.

I was in Busan, and was planning to continue traveling/seeing friends before my flight out of Seoul on the morning of March 06. I've been forced to come back to Gwangju so I plan to be reimbursed for the cost of bus and motel as well as the other things. I went with a Korean speaking friend to the school this morning to help translate. My friend's wife owns a hagwon in Seoul, and she's offered to speak with the owner also.

When we got to the school, we asked for the money he owes and he said he can't pay because he has no money. He said we're free to sue him but he doesn't seem terribly concerned. He offered to pay me 1,000,000 each month for the next three months if I didn't contact the labor board, but when we asked for a contract and for the labor board to be a third party in a watchdog capacity, he rescinded the offer. Obviously he isn't trustworthy so this isn't a viable option.

My plan at the moment is to stay in Gwangju until Monday morning, go to the Labor Board and see what I can sort out. My flight departs early Tuesday morning from Gimpo, so I'll probably be leaving Gwangju Monday night. My friend has offered to act in a sort of 'power of attorney' capacity in the case that things need more doing on my end after Monday.


Itemized list of money owed:
2,600,000 - Final paycheck
2,300,000 - Severance
775,000 - Flight
561,500 - Deductions that I can't trace what they've gone to. At the time, I was told this was for insurance, but it seems I never had it. The dentist couldn't find it.
315,000 - Pension still owed by the school for the last quarters payment
108,390 - Dental bill reimbursement
42,800 - Bus tickets back to Gwangju from Busan
90,000 - Motel rooms in Gwangju tonight (March 02, 03, 04)
6,788,190 - Total


As I stated above, the hagwon has paid me 3,685,000 out of that. I realize I most likely won't (read: definitely won't) get reimbursed for the bus and motel, but I feel like it can't hurt to include it. I'm open to suggestions up to but not including molotov cocktails. Whaddya got?

[Wildbore]

The Labor Board won't consider a case until the employer is 14 days or more late.

Sounds like you need to change your ticket date, or give a friend permission to proceed with a labor board claim.

Also, the labor board will only help with wages and retirement pay, not with the airfare or other non-wage costs.

[YTMND]

[bbunce]

Your boss is well over 14 days late in paying into pension/insurance. I'd go to the labor board AND give your friend power of attorney to act in your behalf while you're gone. Did you get taxes taken out? If so, threaten to report them for not paying. If you're American, you should get all that money back. You'll need the tax id number of the business to actually report them. Good luck. Sure is nice to have friends who'll help.

[Julius]

[daxdefranco]

@YTMND, i'd like to thank you for your tireless pursuit of silly trolling. you're what makes dave's what it is.

@bbunce

[YTMND]

[YTMND]

[bbunce]

[Julius]

[Weigookin74]

Why are you paying dental? Shouldn't your insurance cover it? You should be given the NHIC card. You get covered for dental along with medical. Some procudures may not be covered, though. If your boss didn't give you medical and lied to you, then he better pay your bills.