Korean Job Discussion Forums

burnt_out_in_seoul · Joined: 19 Sep 2012

I want to tell you my story and ask for advice on what I should do about what happened to me at this hogwon.
I was looking for a full-time job that would get me an E2 visa. I met a seemingly nice hogwon owner who said that he had an urgent need for a teacher immediately. I told him that it was illegal, but he said he would start working on my visa and get me legal within a few months; he was opening up a second school.
I started teaching at his school the following week. Right away there were problems. The Team Leader began trying to call me between 11:30pm and 2:30 a.m. to tell me of changes to the next day's schedule. Apparently, this was common for him to do. But as I live in a basement, it was hard for me to get a signal down there. The next mornings on the way to school, I would begin receiving signals to the phone and there would be invariably 5 or 6 frantic messages from one of the Korean teachers in the middle of the previous night begging me to call regarding changes to the schedule.
Get to school and they are angry at me for not answering their nocturnal calls. I told them I don�t get signals in the basement, and they insisted that I give them my girlfriend's phone number so they can call anytime.
They had me working 9a.m. to 9p.m. some days with two 1/2 hour breaks in between. If a student was going to be late for, say a 10a.m. class, I had to teach them whenever they got to school for the full 2 hour class, even if i missed lunch.
They put me in classes where I didn�t know what I was to teach and who the students were. I was told 10 minutes before one class that it was a debate class. I told them I had no experience teaching debate and no materials. The Korean teacher talked down to me, asking me if I was not resourceful and couldn't I find materials on Google in less than 10 minutes.
I went to a TOEIC class and most of the students had no books. I excused myself and asked the hogwon owner where the students� books were and how could I teach the class without books. He looked at me with a hateful look and didn�t answer. The Korean teacher told me to make copies for the students, which I did. Several parents called to complain that I wasted class time making copies and the Team Leader told the parents that he would stop me from doing that. This made me look bad in front of the parents, who were not told that it was impossible to teach TOEIC without the materials.
I was threatened with getting fired several times without pay.
They ended up telling me not to come in at the end of the month. They paid me what they promised. They just wanted some white face to teach the kids before school started and also before the Korean-American kids left for the States.
I want to contact immigration on this. I want something done to this evil hogwon owner. He lied to me and lied to the students and students' parents. What can I do legally to get back at this hogwon without getting myself in trouble? I was looking for an E2 visa, but ended up just being tricked into teaching illegally for a month.

The Cosmic Hum · Joined: 09 May 2003 Location: Sonic Space

Keeper · Joined: 11 Jun 2012

It's a bit like someone saying they paid for pot but it turned out to be oregano. Now they want the police to right the wrong.

Sorry this episode happened to you but there is nothing you can get but in trouble with Kimmi if they find out about it. I agree that you need to move on now and next time do things legally or deal with the problems which may arise by yourself.

Dog Soldier · Joined: 29 Sep 2010

I' ve had my own issues with a hagwon but in this case I would say chalk it down to experience and move on. You got the money, use that to set yourself up for a decent job and move on.

It's not worth the hassle of going to immi, possibly paying a fine and then having a bad rep in your town (I'm assuming you are going to stay there and look for more work).

Yeah it stinks, but better to move on imo.

burnt_out_in_seoul · Joined: 19 Sep 2012

No, it isn;t a joke. And many people work a short time while the school gets the papers in order; it is a grey area.
I'd really like to burn this guy. No ideas?

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

YTMND · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Location: You're the man now dog!!

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 3:29 am Post subject:

JustinC · Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Location: We Are The World!

That sucks, and I'm sure a lot of people here can relate; they having also been in crappy jobs before. That's life, don't dwell on it. Move on, better things will come your way if you look for them.

Also you'll probably have equally or more sucky experiences in the future. **** happens. Such is life. You are one part of the richest and most educated populace in history. Just count your blessings.