Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sparkles98356]

Hi All!

I'm hoping you can offer me some advice. This is my first time coming to Korea and I was offered a job in a kindergarten in Seoul. Everything went fine, I received my visa from the Korean embassy in London yesterday and my flight is booked for tomorrow. However, my recruiter contacted me this morning saying that the school can no longer afford a new teacher and I now have two options:

Cancel my flight and sit tight at home while looking for a new job, or come to Korea tomorrow and look for a job while I'm there.

I have the funds to survive a couple of months, and I have some friends currently living in Seoul who have said they would be happy to put me up for a while so I don't have to use hotels the entire time, I'm just not sure what the best option is and I'm not sure what the technicalities would be with my visa and such like. My recruiter has said he will help me whatever I choose to do, but I would really appreciate some friendly advice!

Thanks!

Sparkles

[YTMND]

[sparkles98356]

I know I'm maybe pretty naive, but I booked my flight because I'd signed a contract, sent my documents and got my visa. I was meant to be getting reimbursed from the school in my first pay. I thought this was standard for the majority of hagwons.

I'm aware I need to look for a new school, but I'm not sure whether it is best to come to Korea tomorrow with my visa, or cancel my flight (the school have claimed they will pay my cancellation fee) and look from the UK.

I'm sorry if I'm not making too much sense, I'm just a bit upset and know that there's plenty of experienced folk on here with some good advice.

[CentralCali]

Unless there's been a drastic shakeup at Immigration, you'll have to do all your paperwork in your country. You haven't actually arrived in Korea yet so you don't have the visa.

I'm sure ttomnpatz will correct me if I'm wrong.

Wait a moment! OP, you say you were offered a job at a kindergarten. When did kindergartens get permission to sponsor language teachers?

[cam83]

I'm from the UK - you say you have funds for 2 months, so I assume you have already spoke with friends living here... if not, have a dig through this site for relevant threads about cost of living.

If you have enough funds to get you through a month or so, I'd say come here simply for the fact that there is MUCH higher chance of getting a job because you will be in-country, which saves hassle and will put you ahead of someone equivalent who is outside of Korea. Hell, you can even go to schools directly. I'd say you could easily get a kinder job within 2 weeks - visa issue is no hassle really, you'd just have to have it amended for your new employer.

A quick look on this job board whilst at Heathrow... apply for about 20 jobs and let us know where things stand by April 1st.

Good luck.

[sparkles98356]

CentralCali - the school functiones as a private kindergarten during public school hours then an English hagwon later in the day. I'm not sure if that makes a difference?

Cam83 - thank you very much for the advice, especially about the visa. I really appreciate it. My recruiter had said much the same, but I just wanted to double check. My friends that live in Seoul have spoken to me about the cost of living so I'm certain I have a couple of months worth of money to survive. I suppose the worst case scenario is that I don't find a job before I run out of cash and have to head home. Thankfully my dad is kind enough to have offered up the return flight fare if that turns out to be the case. I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks agan!

[ttompatz]

Bad news and good news.

Since you have a visa in your passport, IF you come to Korea and enter using that visa you will need a LOR to move to a new employer. Your old employer (the one who screwed you) is under NO legal obligation to offer a release to allow you to take new work.

If you do not have a LOR you will NOT be allowed to change jobs AND you have a 90 day limit (since you need to get your ARC within 90 days and can't do that without an employer).

You will also NOT get reimbursed for your flight if you get the job after you get to Korea. It will be sunk money.

The good news is that if you do NOT come to Korea your visa will expire in 90 days and you can start all over again with a minimum of fuss (other than getting new documents).

Other options: China, Taiwan or Thailand.

.

[sparkles98356]

Thanks! I was hoping you would reply. My recruiter has told me that the school that screwed me over is more than willing to provide me with a LOR. Apparently they have suddenly decided that they can't afford another teacher. If it is the case that they do provide me with a LOR, I'm assuming I'm still tied to the 90 day rule? I couldn't afford to live longer than that minus any wages anyway.

Thanks for your help.

[ttompatz]

[CentralCali]