Korean Job Discussion Forums

[julia_w]

Hey all,

So on Friday my dad lost his job. This means that my family will no longer be able to help me with my airfare to Seoul. I've already signed a contract with GKI Language School in Seoul and I'm supposed to leave a week from today. Any suggestions as to how I can politely go about asking for airfare upfront?

Thanks,

J

[plchron]

it is normal in this industry for hagwons to pay up front (and better for you than trying to recover money later). You should have asked for this from the start. But explain your situation and they will pay. Unfortunately if you let on that you are poor they might treat you poorly because they know that you have no where else to go.

[julia_w]

I just looked back over the contract and it's stipulated as follows:

"The institute will provide the teacher with private furnished living accommodations and will provide one-way
trip air ticket to Korea before the beginning of contract and return-ticket at the end of one-year contract. The
teacher is responsible for the monthly the telephone charges and all utilities (internet, electricity, water, gas,
phone ..)."

So, with that, I don't think it should be too much of a problem. I'll just apologize for the inconvenience and make sure to emphasize that it's in the contract. Sounds like a plan right?

[YTMND]

But don't stop looking for another school. I refused to pay for a ticket once and they never contacted me again. I got another offer with more pay 2 days later and that school not only paid for it, but the owner picked me up at the airport and let me stay with his family until we got a place for me to live.

[northway]

[julia_w]

Hey all, thanks for answering - everything worked out fine!

Best

J