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wandergrl
Joined: 09 Feb 2014
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 Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 5:07 pm Post subject: Pension After Running |
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I started teaching in June of 2013 and after 4 months of teaching I pulled a midnight run. I'm not proud of it, but (long story short) there was another American teacher there with me and just about every day after I arrived, he hit on me or made lewd comments. The breaking point happened when I woke up one night and found him climbing into my bed. The school had put us in the same apartment building and he'd jimmied the lock and broken in. Anyway, I fought him off and the next day at school I told the admin what had happened. They didn't seem to think it was a big deal and the next day announced that we would be team teaching a class together.
I ran that weekend and, being that I was nearly sexually assaulted, my mind was in a bad state, so I didn't apply for my pension, I just got on the plane and never looked back. The thing is, now I could really use the money. Is there any way I can get my pension money, even though I am back in the US and have no intention of ever returning to Korea? Or should I just let it go? I'm honestly not sure how much money is in the pension fund since all of my paycheck stubs were in Korean. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry to hear about your experience. Did you teach in a public school or in a hagwon? Unfortunately many hagwon owners fail to pay into a teachers pension so there is a good chance you don't have one if that's where you worked. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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| You're eligible if your school paid it. Presumably you've kept note of your ARC number. Google "pension refund from outside korea" & you'll find the info & forms you'll need to apply. It'll likely take months. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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| You were sexually assaulted if you had to fight him off. You need to contact the FBI or Interpol where you are at. I know this if you are an American and he was an American and if they believe your story, the guy could be put away for a long time. If this is not the case then you should contact Interpol. |
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candy bar
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| YTMND wrote: |
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| after 4 months of teaching I pulled a midnight run |
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| The thing is, now I could really use the money. |
At best, you are only looking at 800,000 won. If you got your full salary, then you got your 400,000 and the school never matched it.
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| Is there any way I can get my pension money, even though I am back in the US and have no intention of ever returning to Korea? |
I find your story a bit hard to believe because pulling a runner and leaving Korea is way too extreme. Wanting to collect on 800,000 is reasonable, but getting that plane ticket for more than that loss is a red flag.
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| the next day at school I told the admin what had happened. |
Your story just isn't believable. You had all that courage to come out and fight, tell others, but you left Korea? If you moved to an apartment and wanted to get another job, then I could understand a transfer.
Without the drama, the basic rule is you leave Korea ONLY when you get all the money you want.
Either you are bored and making this up, or you are really that naive and don't understand what to do. Your rent is due next month, what will you do in the location you are now? Do you have a job? What exactly is your situation? |
Yes. This story seems a little fishy. Too many things just aren't adding up. Too many oddities in too many situations. |
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wandergrl
Joined: 09 Feb 2014
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Hokie21: I worked in a large hagwon, so I am worried that they didn't pay into my pension.
schwa: Thanks for your help, I googled your phrase and it's really helped.
young_clinton: Thanks for the advice...what happened to me has stuck with me and I still have nightmares but if the people here don't believe me, why would anyone else?
YTMND and candy bar: Wow, I'm sorry my story doesn't add up for you guys, but really? Accusing me of making it up? I'm sorry I didn't go into every sordid detail about my experience, but I was asking only one question and it had nothing to do with what happened to me, I provided it as context.
Pulling a runner is way too extreme? You try dealing with months of verbal harassment and have it culminate in a near rape and let's see what your mindset is like. I would love to know what, in your opinion, is an appropriate situation for pulling a midnight run?
Yeah, I had the courage to report him to admin, but it was in hopes they would either get rid of him or (at the very least) keep him away from me. When they ignored my report (actually told me I wasn't pretty enough for him to try and do that to) and then tried pairing us to teach a class, that was my breaking point and I decided to run. We all know that the labor board would've sided with the school and why should I have expected them to believe me when expat teachers, who know how effed up it can be in Korea, don't believe me?
As for paying for my airline ticket and now needing my pension money? After I told my parents about him trying to rape me, they sent me the money for a ticket, they wanted me home safely as quickly as possible. And since I returned with no job, the money I managed to save while in Korea rapidly dwindled. I've been waiting tables while searching for a professional job, but that doesn't pay all of my bills (rent, student loans, etc).
I really hope that if the two of you ever run into trouble while overseas, you encounter people that will help you and be less judgmental. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Pulling a runner is way too extreme? |
No, you didn't just pull a runner. This is what you don't seem to recognize. You left Korea. You can still pull a runner and stay in the country. Nothing stops you from transferring your visa to a tourist visa if you can't get a D-10.
This is the most obvious reason why it seems like you overreacted. I don't deny anything you stated about your experience, but I can't see how leaving the country makes sense. This is why it doesn't add up, and here are a few additional things you didn't take into account:
1) The airfare to go home could have been used to get a new job.
2) You could have used some of that money to rent, some of it to apply for a new school and visa, and you could have used it for food. Now you have made the airline industry happy.
3) If you have NOT worked more than 6 months, then usually the school requests the airfare to Korea back. This alone could wipe out anything owed for pension and you would be in default for not paying the total amount (pension + airfare).
4) If the hagwon didn't pay into the pension plan, then you would be required to put up 4.5%. Do you want to put in 400 to later get 800? You have already put in over 1,000 probably to leave Korea.
Personally, I would quit while you are not too far behind here. If you are not going to return to Korea, say goodbye and put your energy into making money with your next job. I had a friend last year who left 2 weeks after working with the school. While some of the other teachers thought it was premature, and I was surprised a little, I knew who she was and she made the right choice for her (not me, or other teachers who stuck around longer). I don't know you, but your actions seem to correlate with hers. In other words, when you leave, don't look back. The decision has been made.
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| I really hope that if the two of you ever run into trouble while overseas, you encounter people that will help you and be less judgmental. |
My first job was in Japan, and it quickly became obvious I didn't like working there after a few weeks. The only other decent teachers were my 2 roommates, and 1 of them didn't teach at the same branch. I made 2 flight arrangements, with the same mindset as you, and my dad suggested I stay in Japan and at least look for other work. About 5 days before I had to leave, I got a job offer where I stayed 3.5 years at the same school.
So, I hope you in the future don't run away from the problems you face in life but explore all possibilities before giving up. If this was the right move for you, then move on. Get the job you want.
If you don't like my judgment then simply appeal it and make your own. You are the judge for your life. I am the judge for mine, and this is how I see it. |
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Al Borland's Beard
Joined: 25 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 9:42 am Post subject: |
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So, I hope you in the future don't run away from the problems you face in life but explore all possibilities before giving up. If this was the right move for you, then move on. Get the job you want.
If you don't like my judgment then simply appeal it and make your own. You are the judge for your life. I am the judge for mine, and this is how I see it. |
I don't think she's asking for or cares about your judgement. She probably just wants her question answered. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| I don't think she's asking for or cares about your judgement. |
I never contributed it until she brought it up in her last comment. Scroll up and read before you attack.
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| She probably just wants her question answered. |
I answered it with some valid points. Sometimes I wonder if you righteous people out there would do anything to get just 1 cent from a bad school regardless how many hundreds it takes to collect on it and how many thousands you could be making instead if you just moved on and got another job. It never occurs to you to move on (unless your aim is to troll).
Trying to collect 400,000-800,000 after you spent 1,000,000 won is not smart economics. Now, spending 400,000-800,000 to get 1,000,000 is not only better, but you can do even better. It shouldn't be that hard to put in 200,000 each week and earn 2,000,000+ at the end of the month.
Do the math, this whole thread spells quite clearly how out of touch with reality some people are with money and how easy it can be to imitate it to troll in forums. This original poster is either one of them, and I don't care which. It's for them to realize. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 5:57 pm Post subject: Re: Pension After Running |
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| wandergrl wrote: |
I started teaching in June of 2013 and after 4 months of teaching I pulled a midnight run. I'm not proud of it, but (long story short) there was another American teacher there with me and just about every day after I arrived, he hit on me or made lewd comments. The breaking point happened when I woke up one night and found him climbing into my bed. The school had put us in the same apartment building and he'd jimmied the lock and broken in. Anyway, I fought him off and the next day at school I told the admin what had happened. They didn't seem to think it was a big deal and the next day announced that we would be team teaching a class together.
I ran that weekend and, being that I was nearly sexually assaulted, my mind was in a bad state, so I didn't apply for my pension, I just got on the plane and never looked back. The thing is, now I could really use the money. Is there any way I can get my pension money, even though I am back in the US and have no intention of ever returning to Korea? Or should I just let it go? I'm honestly not sure how much money is in the pension fund since all of my paycheck stubs were in Korean. |
If there is pension money to be had then you can get it, even from abroad. As at the nearest Korean consulate for accurate details on that.
If the school didn't pay into it then it will be pretty much impossible to resolve from abroad. In fact you'd likely lose more trying than you'd stand to win. |
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littlelisa
Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:29 am Post subject: |
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Ignore YTMND.
I'm sorry that happened to you.
If you're not sure if the school paid pension, you can contact the pension office and they will let you know how much they have for you. Don't give up just because it's a big hagwon. They might have still paid.
Looks like enough people already commented that you can get your pension from outside Korea, so you should be all set.
Good luck. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| Yes, please let us know if you get anything and note the amount. I love to eat crow. If you did a runner, then you could be owed a last pension payment from the hagwon, and the office might wait until the hagwon owner pays it. After doing a runner, I am sure he will be thrilled to send that money "bali". |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:57 am Post subject: |
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| YTMND wrote: |
| Yes, please let us know if you get anything and note the amount. I love to eat crow. If you did a runner, then you could be owed a last pension payment from the hagwon, and the office might wait until the hagwon owner pays it. After doing a runner, I am sure he will be thrilled to send that money "bali". |
It will have nothing to do with what the employer wants. In fact, if the school has already paid into the pension system then the owner of the school will probably never even know that the OP claimed her pension money. The government has that money, not the school.
If the school didn't pay in part of the pension that that will be gone. She can only claim on the part that's already been paid in. If more is owing (e.g. the last month's payment) then she simply won't be able to collect on that part. The rest is available. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:54 am Post subject: |
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In fact? There is no fact. That's why some of us are using the original poster as a guinea pig to see what we can get away with from hagwons because we have just as low morals and scruples as them, and there are others who are warning the OP of the consequences, mainly being lost time and lost money. I am not saying to not give minimal effort to find out if the money is there and easily accessible. In that case, YES OP, please let us know if that money is there. It will help future teachers. If not, then realize collecting on it will be very difficult, and there isn't much there to collect on. Either 1/4 or 1/2 of what you paid for the airfare.
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| She can only claim on the part that's already been paid in. If more is owing (e.g. the last month's payment) then she simply won't be able to collect on that part. The rest is available. |
If that is true, I would like to know who was able to do this. I simply haven't heard of it. However, I have heard of people who had to wait for the last pension contribution before they could collect on it. In their case, there was no partial payout. I would be very happy if the procedure has actually changed and to get some first hand information from those that successfully did get partial payout of pension. The OP could then be my first pension superhero. YAY!!!  |
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