Korean Job Discussion Forums

[prairieboy]

I've been pondering this topic for sometime now and still don't know exactly how the two are related or if they are related. I'll make the attempt to ask an immigration officer sometime in the future, but for now I'd like to hear what others have to say on the topic.

In my view, the financial stability is an important consideration for immgration to assess before granting a visa issuance for a foreign teacher. That is, as part of the sponsorship agreement, the school must provide the teacher with the "means" to return to their home country or to leave Korea (not that they must pay return airfare).

If a school is having financial difficulties and is having trouble paying existing teachers, then why would immigration grant a visa issuance paper for a teacher who may not have the financial means to leave if the hagwon goes under?

I ask this question because, my last school terminated my contract early because they were having trouble making payroll and paying vendors. The school's situation has only worsened since that time, but the school was able to bring in another foreign teacher. I'm still owed some money (3 months later but due to be paid by next month), so how is the school going to follow through on "providing the means" to leave Korea, when it's likely they'll have trouble paying salary?

Clearly, immgration didn't take the financial situation of the hagwon into account because they've allowed a foreigner to be brought into Korea by a school on shakey financial ground.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

[Derrek]

Sorry, but it's not their problem to worry about. Not their function.

Their function is to bust people and bribe them for money.

[hellofaniceguy]

Do you want government interference in your own country? Doesn��t big brother control enough of private lives already?
While I agree that immigration could do more��.they won��t. However��.for what it��s worth��a hakwon must have 50 students before immigration will issue a visa for each teacher. Immigration rules. 100 students��hakwon is allowed to sponsor two FT��s.
Most who read this board KNOW that a hakwon is not a school, but a business. And most hakwon owners are idiots judging from the way teachers are treated. It��s only ��how much money will this FT make me.��

[sadsac]

The hagwon doesn't have to provide any finacials, only degrees, transcripts, contacts and sponsorship forms. Immigration don't care about how much money the hagwon may or may not have. Personally, I think every owner should plce a bond with immigration when hiring an FT, equivalent to 3 months salary. This would alleviate so many of the problems many users of this board face.

[No L]

Hellofaniceguy,

If immigration will only issue a visa for a hagwon with 50 or more students, how does a new hogwan hire a teacher to start with the opening?

[hellofaniceguy]

I can only tell you what immigration requires. The do and have asked for a list of names of students from hakwons over the years and still do. I was running a place a few years back for a korean absentee owner and learned quit a few things. It's EZ to "pad the books" and show the man. As I said in my previous...immigration could do more...but won't. And so the saga continues....an unending cycle of BS in the hakwon business in korea.
If you want to beat the koreans at their own game...open a hakwon!! Run it professionally and koreans parents will flock to your school! As a foreigner who is running a hakwon....parents would trust you instead of a korean when it comes to education and teaching ESL. I know of a few Americans who own hakwons and are doing very well. Other korean hakwons in their areas are losing students to the foreign owned hakwons.
If fact, a few I know of have waiting lists for students wanting to join!
I'll be doing the same thing shortly...opening a hakwon.