Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Derrek]

My school has this booklet of 100 English Phrases that the students are often made to study through the year. Last year, they had the foreign staff voice-record the whole thing, but never used it. This year, they tried to do the same thing, and a big fight insued between two of the foreign teachers and our korean foriegner director over the issue. The foriegners were angry because one of them spent days on this last year, and the school never even used it.

We were told it would be used for class.

So the director, who was in a dire situation, wanted me to record the book. I agreed and proceeded to finish the thing during my 1 month summer vacation. It took over 12 hours. I voiced the whole thing, along with a student who has perfect English, and edited it all together into two CDs (it was too much for one).

Since it was my vacation, however, I took my own sweet time doing it. Then one day he calls me up -- freaking out and angry that it wasn't done. I guess I had never considered it that much of a big deal, since it had been done before -- plus I was doing this on my own free time.

We had an argument about it, and he abosolutely royally flipped out when I said, "The administration had better not be planning to make money off of this, because I should get some compensation for doing it on my vacation." I asked him directly if they were planning that, and he wouldn't give me an answer to my question -- he only got really angry and kept saying, "They demand that this is to be done!"

Now, four months later, the assistant principal and one of the teachers proudly pull me aside to see the interactive DVD they "created" to sell for profit.

They paid some company to use my CD -- splitting off the individual tracks -- and adding Korean and English words on the screen that students can point and click on -- follow dialogue, etc. Also, they slapped a photo of two other people on the outside. They did credit my voice in some tiny line on the box, at least.

I know how much money it costs to produce things like this, and it's at least a few million won.

I feel I should be compensated (for my vacation OT at the very least).

Would you be ticked off?

I already know they want me for next year, and if they balk at the salary increase I'm asking for, I'm going to bring this one up. I like my school, and they are very good to me, but this issue burned my ass. I was a TV producer back home in the states and also got paid anywhere from $20 to $300 for :30 of my voice.

Doing it for the students is one thing -- making money off of it and not even compensating me for doing it on my vacation is another.

[mindmetoo]

I would be pissed off, for sure. But what can you do, eh? I know at my work there are times when class numbers are low and I'm only teaching 2 courses a day. I would have surely volunteered to do something like this, just to keep my hands busy. However, like you, I would have done it under the assumption and probably with a verbal understanding that it will be used within the school, with your students, and not for profit. It's a value added thing that makes your school the prefered choice in a highly competative market, etc. etc.

That they might sell it for profit, well, yeah, I'd be super pissed. Of course what are your legal options? Navigate the Korean legal system? Your foreigner word against a Korean's? And the likelihood they'll fire you for sueing.

[Shoon]

I dont mean to sound non-empathetic, but ultimately this is your own doing. You should have clarified things before offering to do it.

You cant complain about not getting anything for the work, when you didnt demand it in the first place.

Now, if you had asked for money beforehand, and not received it, then I can see you being upset with your boss. Otherwise, you have no one to blame but yourself.

[Ajarn Miguk]

It seems to me that at any point along the way you could have simply said, "No." You didn't. In fact, by your own words, you "agreed" to do it. Even when things started getting a little tense and you demanded clarification and didn't get it, you still went ahead and completed the project.

You have a right to be upset with what has happened, but I doubt you will receive the monetary satisfaction you are now seeking.

My rule is simple in such matters. If it's not laid out and agreed to in the contract I signed, it will be considered work above and beyond the contract. If the employer and I can come to an agreement as to how much I will be paid for the extra work, then it's possible I will take on the extra work given my other commitments and interest.

I learned a long time ago to say, "No." This has served me well for many, many years in this part of the world. It has also earned me a lot of money when I would otherwise have been doing something for "free" or because I let myself be bullied into doing something (for free) above and beyond my contract.

If you permit people to bully you, you will be bullied.

Hopefully, this experience has taught you a lesson that you will never forget and use to your advantage in the years ahead. Good luck.

[schwa]

Well theres another school of thought on this. You can accede graciously to requests for reasonable 'extra' duties (time & interest permitting) without any mention of compensation. Reward, sometimes substantial, then comes back to you in subtle & indirect ways. Works for me. A job I like gets steadily sweeter.

The for-profit aspect of your situation is annoying, but realistically its water under the bridge now, it only cost you 12 hours, & there aint a hell of a lot you can do about it. If you like your job, I suggest you shrug it off.

[Derrek]

Your points are understood, and I've thought much the same. My fault for doing it in the first place, and a little late to cry without looking like a jerk to the Korean way of thinking.

I'm ranting with a lot with my post, and I've pretty much tried to get my frustrations out in this forum, and not say anything to my boss.

I suppose it makes me all the more "valuable" to them to keep me, though.

On the flip side, I like my job there a lot, so that's a big part of why I'm trying my hardest to shut-up and let this one float by.

The next thing is this online news thing I'm doing on my own, but also doing a version for the school using students. I already saw where they are planning to have a "CNN news club" next year -- run by a foreign teacher. I'd imagine that will be me, and I think it's probably because they've seen what I've been working on with my writing class, and they like it. I saw this "plan" as a part of one of their brochures for next year, which I was asked to correct. They never mentioned it to me personally, and I suppose it will look like their idea *laugh*. Actually, I don't care, because I'd love to head up that club.

This is an ugly low-quality demo of me (bad audio ... no mic and poor mix) I showed the teachers to explain what I was planning to do -- putting students on the set to introduce their news stories.
http://www.seoulstream.com/Videos/MeTest2_100j.wmv

Have been experimenting with trying to get the highest quality possible at the lowest disk space/bandwidth.

[inkoreaforgood]

[Derrek]

Yes, the Korean way of thinking.

And I agreed to do it for the students.

Not for sale for profit, since I made my feelings about that perfectly clear as it was outside of my contract obligations.

There is a difference, and I know for a fact that in my country, at least, I would win if I decided to take such a thing to court.

[Real Reality]

inkoreaforgood wrote,
"They asked you as a favour,..."

Would the Korean staff that requested the favour reciprocate with a 12 hour favour over their next vacation for Derrek? Would the Korean staff that requested the favour reciprocate with a 12 hour favour over their next vacation for the student that worked with Derrek?

Perhaps, the Korean staff can do a favour for Derrek during their next vacation to reduce or eliminate the inconveniences and "special discrimination" for foreigners living in Korea.

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
Overall living conditions, including education, housing, medical care, transportation, immigration, and access to the Internet are pointed to as inconveniences. Not only inconveniences caused by different systems and customs in Korea, but also special discriminating practices, such as the practice of submitting two years of monthly rent in advance like a deposit, which is required of foreigners just because they are foreigners, are ubiquitous. "Even though Korea has achieved some degree of globalization in going abroad, it has still a long way to go for globalization in embracing foreigners inward," said foreigners residing in Korea.
Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
by Jae-Dong Yu and Soo-Jung Shin
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

[prairieboy]

Check your contract over. The contracts I've had in the past, and at present, gave the institute sole ownership over anything produced by myself for the use of the institute. If you don't have this kind of clause in your contract then you may have a valid legal point...if you wanted to pursue this further.

Good luck with this whatever your decision is.

A friend of mine was asked to put together a phonics and vocabulary book for his school. He did it on the condition that he received 7,000 won for each book produced. He told the director he would only produce the books if he was allowed to retain ownership of the finished master.

The copy he gave to the director is unreadable on the director's computer and just barely readable on my friend's computer. The book was produced and printed by my friend at a nice profit. His cost was roughly 2,500 won a book and the institue sells the book for 15,000 won.

[Derrek]

I think they meant to also use the CNN news stories via CD/DVD that you purchase from the bookstores as study materials.

Hence the name.

Personally, I want it to be named YDN for the school.

[Zed]

[inkoreaforgood]

[paperbag princess]

dude, that's a raw deal. i think you should get paid for it, as they prolly made lots off it, but you won't that's korea for you.

[Us in DC]

At this point I don't think you can ask for any compensation for that time. You were cheated and you trusted they guy and he did screw you. But such is life. Don't trust him again and don't believe things he tells you in the future that sound questionable.

As far as using this for leverage at signing time. I wouldn't do it - but that's me. It sounds to me like he knows he was being dishonest and bringing it up will break the indirect communication rule and he will just flip-out again. He will remember this and if he has a brain at all he will give it to you. Otherwise, move on. You have been there enough to find something better.