Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KinKorea]

Just thought I'd post the name of this school so no other people get taken advantage of as badly as I did.

This school was the worst.

They NEVER paid on time (anything up to 3 weeks late), they didn't provide housing for me, when I asked if I was going to be paid the director replied "I don't know"!!!!
Ridiculous hours, unpaid overtime, the boss is really moody. When I finally demanded accomodation after months of waiting I was told to choose between housing or that months pay. I couldn't have both. It became so ridiculous I had to leave and then I was abused and told I was acting like a child and couldn't I understand her (the directors) position?????

I had nowhere to live and no money so it was a little difficult trying to understand her position!!!!

Anyways, no surprise that I was refused a letter of release and my salary of over 2 million won was withheld from me. The boss then told her husband a pack of lies about me and they came up with the arguement that the husband was actually the director of the school, not the wife, and I had seen him a total of 3 times the whole time I worked there. I signed the contract with her, not him. They told immigration I had quit without informing the 'director'!
They also said that they had actually paid me but I quit anyway!!!

That's about the end of my horror story, sorry about the length of this post but I really think other people deserve to know.

I still haven't received a cent of what I am owed.

PALS LAB Daejeon have got away with this far too easily in my opinion.

[TINKERBELL]

Sorry to hear about your situation, it sucks big-time. I found myself in a similar situation and never saw the 1.5 million that I was owed. I was so drained after the whole thing (my first job in Korea) that I didn't have the energy to fight/go to labour etc. I also didn't want any more dealings with my institute. Unfortunately, schools continue to get away with this behaviour because they can.
I hope you manage to find another position. My advice is to only accept a position that has been recommended to you by someone you trust.
Best of luck, hope things get better for you very soon

[Sucker]

Same thing (except for the housing situation) happened to me in the 10th month of my contract.

Go to the Labor Office right now and make sure you go with someone who speaks Korean.

Oh, and go to immigration and make sure of your visa status. Your former boss has probably called immigration and said that you have "run away."

IMPORTANT - get the name of wgover you deal with at immigration - they are really inconsistant and you can get into trouble when you deal with different people.

Good Luck.

[itaewonguy]

did these happen to you guys also at pals lab??

you should have contacted the francise office.. HEAD OFFICE..
because it is all run by them, even though it may be individually owned the head office doesnt want one school going bad and getting it black listed etc.. so they will force the owner to play by the rules..

[KinKorea]

I did go to the Labour Office in Daejeon, they were going to try and sort it out for me but it sounded as though it was going to cost me a lot of money that I don't have to take it through the courts etc. PALS LAB actually believed that they were in the right and they told my korean friend they they would try and sue me if they could!!!

I was advised to let it go because apparently takes years to get settled and then you only get a fraction of the original amount anyway.

Meanwhile immigration was a nightmare. Different people said different things, yes you have to leave the country, no you don't blah blah. I heard that they were actually on the hunt for me for awhile trying to deport me!

After a few dodgy dealings I did manage to get a new visa!

I did write to the head office in Seoul and heard no reply. Maybe I should give them a ring, but I'm not sure that it will do any good.