Korean Job Discussion Forums

[EZE]

[Smithington]

OP, what's the latest? I hope things are working out. Have you made further contact with the labor board?

[ktkt2289]

The latest is - I was debating whether or not to take it to the labor board, because I didn't want to start any drama. I went anyway (thinking what was the worst that could happen) and they didn't speak English.

So I went back the next day with my friend, and they told me I could take two routes. I could go the "30 days" route - where I seek compensation for the lack of notice, or the legal route, where I file a formal complaint. My friends translation wasn't too clear, and because I don't want a he said/she said situation, I just went the 30 days route.

BUT I will have to have a meeting with my former boss about this. And I'll have to find a translator to come, because my friend doesn't want to be involved (its a small city, they're scared of each other).

Safe to say, I'm not looking forward to it. But hey, ho, we'll see what happens. It'll be in the next few weeks.

[Scorpion]

Don't you just have another month left? If she hasn't given you the official "30 days" notice yet surely you are in the clear.

[Smithington]

[ktkt2289]

Hi guys,

Let me update you on what the situation is now.

So the 10th of October rolled around, and my boss handed me my last paycheck and made me sign a note saying I would keep that school confidential and secret. I did that in exchange for a release letter. I didn't see any point in fighting her by then. She had a new teacher in place and I didn't see how I could win.

So I moved out and started looking for a new job. I visited immigration, and they told me I had until my visa expired (Dec) to find a new job. So I relaxed a bit, and had a bunch of interviews.

I called labor and updated them about what had happened. They reiterated that she was in the wrong about not giving me 30 days notice and I should make a statement at the labor board.

I went there alone, and NO ONE spoke English. So I went back the next day with a friend and the man agreed that she was in the wrong. I'd decided by this point that there was no point fighting for severance and airfare and wrongful dismissal, as some people pointed out in this post, I had made some mistakes in the year.

All I was looking for was to get something for the lack of notice.

When labor told the boss I had been there, she called my potential new boss and told him what a horrible person I was.

I finally managed to find a great job in Daegu, and I visited there today. I signed a contract, and everything was wonderful.

Then I visited immigration. They told me that my boss had canceled by visa and my release letter because I had gone to labor. She said she would only reinstate the release if I canceled my meeting with labor and made a face to face apology to her.

So I had to leave Daegu (they kept my foreigner ID) and I frantically started making calls to the labor in my city. They don't speak English, so my friend had to call.

I got a letter that I have to fill out and sign and fax back to them, before the meeting with them is canceled. Then I have to go on Monday to my ex boss and apologise. She wants me to sign another letter saying I won't make any complaints in the future. She will then (supposedly) release the LOR.

So, fair to say, I'm feeling pretty damn crappy. I was having serious second thoughts about going to labor, and seriously considered just leaving it alone, but my family and other foreign teachers all encouraged me to go. And labor themselves had told me I was right and she was wrong.

I phoned labor service, and they told me they don't have authority over immigration. When I asked immigration what will happen if I don't have a LOR, they told me I cannot work in Korea anymore.

This whole past month has been a total stressful disaster. My plan now is just to suck it up, buy a cake, delivery that and an apology. I'm thinking now my approach should be to emphasize how upset I was at the sudden termination (which was completely true) but I know how angry she is at me, so I'm pretty sure I'm just going to have to sit there and listen to her berate me.

Any thoughts on this, folks? Did you know an LOR could be retracted?

[IPayInCash]

[knee-highs]

[hogwonguy1979]

[IPayInCash]

[Unposter]

IPIC,

No, you were being callous. There is a time for your shtick and there is a time to back away. Please learn it.

OP,

Do you really want to go back to your boss and apologize? When does your visa expire? You do not need a letter of release after that. You may just want to take her to the labor board at this point and then go some place else such as China until your visa expires or take a vacation (you've earned it) and then you can start looking for a job again.

Ask for help from Ttompatz on this one. He may know of some way you can get a new visa but if you really cannot, please look into other options besides apologizing to your old boss. Wouldn't you feel better about yourself if you just stuck it to her and walked away?

Good Luck!

[ktkt2289]

She clearly knows that she owes me something, or she wouldn't be furious that I went to labor. If she was innocent, she could go to the meeting and put her case forward and embarrass me. But with the apology she wants me to sign something that says I will not complain in the future, so she knows she's acted badly.

IPIC, I've stated repeatedly that I did what I did based on the advice of other foreign teachers and the labor office itself. Forgive me if I value the opinion of Korean labor law more than yours.

I would love to go ahead with the meeting at labor, and see what I could get. Now that she has canceled my visa, I have one month from the date she fired me, which brings me to Nov 11. I have 10 days.

I have a new job lined up. But if I left the country, do you know how long it would take for me to get a new visa? Would I even be approved?

Going to apologise to her is my worst nightmare, it breaks my heart because I know she's going to get off on it. It's unbelievable that a small hagwon could have so much power. Maybe I will look into taking a little vacation and coming back fresh.

[IPayInCash]

[hogwonguy1979]

op check into a d-10 visa and check with ttom about things,

also check into a libel lawsuit, yeah it may be a reach given you're foreign and she's korean but you never know.

ipic please find a shotgun...now

[IPayInCash]