Korean Job Discussion Forums

[schwa]

I took a hit once on a plane ticket. Went to SE Asia rather than home (there were precedents) but the big bosses suddenly decided that wasnt on anymore. The contract was specific. I was out about $1000.

I'm still at the same job a couple years later. My local supervisor took my inconvenience personally & made sure I wasnt unduly pissed off. He found ways to make it up to me several-fold.

[Grotto]

the biggest problem with the public school jobs is that the Gyeonggi powers that be gave no thought to the program(typically Korean) and just slapped the problem ridden EPIK format on it.

If the Gyeonggi do board of education was serious about the program they would set up some kind of place to get feedback from the teachers and listen to them...I mean actually listen to them.

But hey they arent used to thinking when it comes to dealing with their own Korean teachers.

Prime example today there was a meeting for all of the grade 5 teachers in Osan today. When did they schedule the meeting? After 2? when classes are finished? No way that would be logical. How does 12:45 sound? Excellent that way they have to dismiss early. Oh and whats the purpose of the meeting? Getting to meet other grade 5 teachers who work at other schools. Another typical waste of time.

Oh and dont get me started about telling the teachers what classes they will be teaching next school year. They dont tell them until a week before classes start. Then once classes start they have to switch classrooms around and everything. Not a hell of alot of teaching the first week. OMHO it is the biggest clusterfxck I have ever seen.

Until Koreans start telling their bosses they are full of crap and that things can be done better it will never change.

[schwa]

Its not such a terrible system as Grotto's bitter take on it.

[Grotto]

It is still better than hogwan hell by a long shot.

It is just frustrating at the blatant stupidity that you see. The longer you are around the public schools the more you shake your head at the stuff that goes on...and the fact no one speaks up and tells the higher ups how to improve the situation.

[Derrek]

We (foreigners) find out our classes on the first day of school!!!

[Badmojo]

[Saxiif]

Get hired as "consultant" for hourly pay and no benefits. Soooooooo much less hassle. I'm loving it.

[Derrek]

Saxiff, if it weren't illegal for me, it would be nice to try.

[Saxiif]

[Derrek]

Well, it looks like I might be getting paid for my flight.

After being told, "no," then ignored for a month. my advisor told me he had consulted with the Kyonngi officials, and they wanted to tell me some things they said, however my advisor was leaving sick that day, so he is going to tell me next week.

He asked me to provide my plane ticket stub, which I did.

I wonder what he's going to say, since he couldn't seem to give me a 'yes' or a 'no' answer.

I was pretty direct that if I wasn't reimbursed, I'd be making a trip to the labor board, and needed the names and contact information of some individuals at the school and the Kyonngi office.

Why do I have to raise such a stink simply to get what's blatantly due in my contract?

[Real Reality]

"Why do I have to raise such a stink simply to get what's blatantly due in my contract?"

Korea

Foreigners Experience Difficulties in Living in Korea
"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. An official in the International Cooperation Division of Seoul City admitted, "The same complaints regarding visas, transportation, education, and environment are raised every year without being solved, due to the lack of cooperation from government agencies involved and their passive attitudes."
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004070522448

"No chair for foreigner" GM Daewoo head told
He may be the president of GM Daewoo, but he is still an outsider in the Korean car industry. The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association has decided that Nick Reilly, a Briton, cannot be the new chairman of the organization. The automobile association's rule states that only Koreans can lead the industry grouping. Mr. Reilly has thus stepped aside to allow his vice president, Lee Young-kook, to head the organization. An official at the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said it was unthinkable in a global era to have a regulation that denies a foreigner chairmanship. He added that Carlos Ghosn, Nissan Motor president, could head the Japanese association.
by Kim Tae-jin and Lee Ho-jeong, JoongAng Daily (January 18, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200501/17/200501172228551609900090509051.html

[UncleAlex]

Well, I agree that a public school can be just as illicit as a hagwon
when money enters the scene. But not unlike a hogwan, a public
or private government regulated school is not immune to the law.
If I were you, I'd notify the Korea Labor Board and seek arbitration.
A contract is a mutual agreement that must be honored in the eyes
of the Law. I succeeded in obtaining a month's salary that was kept
from me by an irresponsible hogwan owner, although he hadn't yet
applied for my E2 visa and I shouldn't have been working. But we had
a 'contract' which in the estimation of the Korea Labor Board is sacred.
Check efllaw.com for all the information you need concerning your legal
rights and options. Good luck!

[UncleAlex]

By the way, is D super W teacher available to give me Korean lessons
at my place or hers?

[Derrek]

Good news. I got paid, as should be.

Still not happy that I had to raise a stink just to get what was due in my contract.

[UncleAlex]

I'm glad to hear you got paid after all.
Now you can hit the town with D super W teacher!