Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eid]

Hi all.

I did a semi-runner from a Public School job about three years ago in South Korea, after being in country for only around three months. The reasons for this were personal and I don't really feel the need to discuss them here.

Before I left, I informed the POE that I was leaving and wired them the money that I owed them before I left the country (flight allowance that was pre-paid, settling in money etc.) I did, however, leave immediately and did not work any sort of notice whatsoever.

Three years on, after growing up somewhat and living and working in other foreign countries without problems (and in Asian cultures), I am planning on returning to South Korea to work, this time in a hagwon.

I'm prepared to run the risk of paying for the documents that I need to apply for an E2 visa and then being turned down because of not finishing my initial contract - though I don't know if it would come to that really.

However, the main question that I have for anyone 'in the know' is, do I mention this past period of employment in Korea to the recruiters when I start looking for a new job and to the schools themselves when I start doing interviews?

I still have the same passport and so I'm figuring that, somewhere along the line, either the recruiter or my new school will find out that I've worked on an E2 in Korea before but then failed to mention this to them during the application process?

Any advice on how to go about this?

Any information/advice that anyone can give me here would be most appreciated...anyone wanting to come on and have a go at me for not finishing my previous contract is welcome to do just that as well, but it won't do any good...no one's perfect and everyone makes mistakes.

Thanks,
eid

[sck2012]

Hey,

how's it going?

I'm not an expert, but I've worked in SK and have friends who have faced similar situations.

From personal experience I would suggest that you are honest and forthright from the outset. That being said, if you tell a lot of recruiters about the past from the outset, a lot of them will probably just overlook you.

What you could do is try and find a job without a recruiter by going directly to the hagwon. If you find a school with an open minded boss, explain the past and your newfound maturity, you can cover your back from the start. If some form of complaint was lodged at immigration and they inform the prospective school at the last, everything could fall through.

In terms of the recruiters, there are just so many of them you could email half of them telling the truth and email the other half not telling it.

If you want, I could give you a list of some good recruiters from personal experience.

Not sure how much this helps but good luck nonetheless!

[eid]

Hey, it's going all right thanks.

Thanks for the information, and of course it's helpful.

I know for a fact that nobody lodged a complaint against me at immigration, as I was told this would not happen as long as I paid my debts before I attempted to leave the country.

Although I will admit that I left in a pretty disrespectful manner to all involved - and think that I hurt a number of people who were working with me at the time - there didn't seem to be too much ill-will directed towards me and the POE even paid me half a month's wage into my British bank account two weeks after I returned home.

So I'm not worried about the visa, just about how to approach the issue with recruiters and schools.

I think your ideas are good with regards either talking directly to schools and explaining things, or going with recruiters and hedging my bets somewhat with regards the information that I give them.

I really regret leaving this way the first time round as it makes it more complicated now and not only that but I've narrowed my options down now to only hagwons, as I'm presuming no public school in the country will now touch me with a bargepole??? Anyone reading this and thinking of running...give it time and consider your future options better than I did.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your advice.

[eid]

[Troglodyte]

The school may or may not find out even without looking in your passport. It's always possible that they (or the recruiter) will ask at immigration and find out that you left after only 3 months. Then again, they might not ask or immi might not tell them. I have no idea what the odds are on that one but I've heard of both happening.

If you're in Korea looking for work, then they'll know for sure that you've worked here before. Otherwise you'd have to go back home to get your first visa --> interview at the consulate. After your first visa, you can get the next ones at any Korean consulate. Most people go to one in Japan.

I would just tell the recruiters/schools that you worked at a place for 3 months and it was horrible for whatever reason. Since you were at a PS, the recruiter might not believe you but I guess it depends on the story you tell them. If you're story is "I was homesick and left." then you're probably not going to get any offers (at least not ones that you'd want to accept).

As far as seeing it in your passport, you can do your own paperwork (getting the ARC) to avoid handing it over to your boss. If they ask to see it and you refuse (even for legit reasons) then they'll just assume the worst.

[eid]

Thanks a lot for the info.