Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CustomX]

Im VERY close to signing a contract, but I am just trying to think of some of my options. I've been trying to think of what I would do in case I got fired or I quit. Lets assume I had to pay the school back for the plane ticket. Would I then be able to go to Japan, get a tourist visa, search for another job and then have them send me back to japan for another work visa? I figure that as long as I am in Korea, it wouldnt be a bad idea to shop around for other jobs in case things didnt work out with my employer. Has anyone else ever quit, only to have another job lined up right away?

[peppermint]

I know lots of people who give their school a months notice then use that time to line up another job.

[CustomX]

Yes but did they break the contract when they quit? Im referring more to those who quit and broke the contract or those who got fired for some reason (which i've read about several times on this board)

[phaedrus]

I kept a job pack ready while at my hagwon.

I had an updated resume, pictures, photocopies of my degree, transcripts, everything scanned to disk for e-mails, etc.

You'll have a month to find the new job, but you won't waste anytime collecting stuff.

[Son Deureo!]

You have to get a letter of release in order to get another job here, if you quit or get fired before the term of your contract/visa is up. So it's possible to be stuck in an intolerable job, or left without another job, and still unable to get another job (legally, at least). It's the biggest problem with teaching in Korea.

[CustomX]

i think you're misunderstanding what im trying to say, or maybe im not explaining it very well. if you quit and break the contract, i understand you lose the E2 visa. but say you then fly yourself(or take a ferry) over to japan and get a tourist visa and then come back to korea to look for another job. since you broke the contract, would immigration even allow you to get another E2 with a different employer?

[chronicpride]

Your E2 will have to be cancelled first, by the school giving you a letter of release. Even if you don't get that release, you can still leave the country right away and come back on a tourist visa (assuming that your original E2 was not multi-entry), but the flag will go up when your new employer takes your documents to immigration to get a visa issuance letter, and the first school will still have to release you.

So, to answer your question, your employer will have to give you a letter of release to enable you to pursue work elsewhere. You need that to be in the clear.

[CustomX]

thanks chronic, thats what i needed to hear

[shawner88]

This is why, if you don't have a lot of money saved, it's important to have good credit and a credit card with a fairly high limit. I have one that I don't use, but I know it's there if I get into a jam.