Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stever1000]

Hello everyone

I was wondering how the paid airfare usually works with hagwons?

My partner and I are considering traveling SE Asia for a few weeks before we start work in Feb/March.

If we fly from Canada to Bangkok, then Bangkok to Seoul, will they just reimburse us 1,300,000 won?

Or do we HAVE to leave from Canada and fly directly to Seoul in order for our airfare to be paid?

Do we need receipts?

Thanks

[Airborne9]

Well what doest it say in your contract about airfare? I know public school contracts are a little more strict about the amount of money and where you are leaving from. With a Hogwon it should be easier to negotiate something. Tell them your plan and see what solution that can be found. More than likely reimbursing you for the equivalent amount of a flight from Canada to Korea (is that the 1.3 mil you�re talking about?)

[cincynate]

Every Hakwon is different. Some will reimburse you for the ticket, some will just buy it for you outright. You want to negotiate that with your hakwon before leaving. One thing that usually doesn't happen is they won't give you a lump sum.. i.e. "Just give me 1.3 million won and I'll take care of it". They don't want to pay any more than they have to.

[Skippy]

One possible brickwork you can expect to bang your head against is...

The schools reluctance to do something outside the norm.

School: So you want to go to Thailand first and then a couple weeks later come to Korea from Thailand. Why not just fly over to Korea from Canada directly a couple of says before. That is what we want!

You then could offer explanations again and again. Show them a plane ticket that is cheaper priced for what you want compared to a direct flight to Canada. Even offer to pay half of the ticket price. Just sometimes you will still get some schools unable to budge on the singular ideal that you should position you will come to Kore from Canada (with maybe a min layover in Japan or Hong Kong or wherever).

Even worse scenario is they will go yes and then cheat or mess it up. You can expect to get a reimbursement but only for the ticket from Thailand. Schools will be very reluctant to pay money for you to have a vacation with the GF.

Still, as many people said anything is up for negotiation.

[stever1000]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

The 1.3million won was a number I got from the reimbursement from public schools, I figured the cost would be similar.

I guess my biggest concern, is what Skippy mentioned. I don't want to worry about them agreeing to pay me the equivalent cost from Canada to Seoul, then changing their argument/cheating once we get to korea, and only pay from Thailand to korea. Is there any law on my side for this, or is it all up to the honesty of the school?

[ttompatz]

Work it out before hand.

A large number of hagwon contracts will pay from your current location directly to ICN. If you fly to BKK, spend a week in the LOS they fly to Seoul they may only pay for the flight BKK-ICN.

You might be better off taking a flight directly from YVR-ICN and spending your time in BKK on your vacation or after your contract is up (give you time to negotiate a deal for the trip home.

It is only (some) public school contracts that give a travel allowance rather than a prepaid or reimbursed ticket.

.

[stever1000]

[young_clinton]

You have to save your boarding passes. Those are proof that the flight was made. If you don't maybe a credit card reciept.