Korean Job Discussion Forums

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Here is the situation
33 year old guy who never taught before in his life...lied to by his recruiter(like thats never happened before) sent to small town in the middle of nowhere, the only FT, and basically thrown into the class and told to teach.

Owner of hogwan is a teacher at the local high school.

New teacher replaced experienced teacher who had been at the school for 18 months(he was the first teacher).

Anyways the crux of the problems.

From day one they have haraunged him and told him what a poor teacher he is. They basically gave him the textbooks and shoved him the classroom. No help no anything. Just browbeating him and blaming him for any students that leave the hogwan.

Now some of the REAL problems:
#1. They have him working illegaly at the local middle school 2 days a week.
#2. He asked them if they wanted to replace him and they said yes...but told him he has to stay until they find a replacement teacher... Shocked

2 months

Paycheque #1. 633,000 won deducted for ???? In his contract they have a clause that says they will withhold the first 10 days pay and return it at the end of the contract. Also in his contract it says that they will supply him with a cel-phone and he is responsible for the cost if it is lost...well he hasnt lost it but they deducted 347,000 won from his pay anyway. Yes they got him cel phone with all the bells and whistles, mp3 camera etc.

Paycheque #2. Since they agreed they would look for a replacement teacher and he would stick around until they could find one. They deducted 1,400,000 for his airfare. Now in his contract there are 3 clauses covering termination of the contract.

A: if he quits he is responsible for the cost of the airfare.
B: if it is a mutually agreed termination he is not responsible for the airfare.
C: if they fire him he is not responsible for the airfare.

Now about the guy. He is passive to the extreme....he agrees he is a bad teacher, inexperienced etc. He also feels that they are justified in deducting all that cash from him. 2.4 out of 3.8(not including legal deductions)

Oh yes! He did a visa run but after two months still has not recieved his ARC!

I have offered to go in and talk to his boss and get some of his money back. I figure I could get them to prorate the airfare based on months served, get back the 633,000 won deposit and the money for the cel phone. But he is afraid they might fire him outright...in my books not neccesarily a bad thing. He should not be working at a 1 FT hogwan in a tiny town with no support.

Oh yes his predecessor did not recieve health care nor pension and had no problems working illegaly at the local middle school and for the last 6 months illegally ie without a visa!

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

Sheeeeeeeeeeeee ....

What a catalogue of woe .... hope some of the pieces get picked up.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

If you talk to the boss, be sure to get the guy a release letter so he can begin looking for a new job in these 2 months.

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

and there are hundreds of others out there just like that guy.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Man thats freaky.... the first part of the story is me all over!!

Newbie never taught before - thrown into the classroom "heres your books theres the classrooms" - teaching in a small town - last teacher spoke fluent Korean and stayed for 2 years....

Ive only been here 12 days, I just hope I dont get in as much crap as him in later months!!!

Good luck, and I reckon help him in any way you can!

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I've been so lucky with hagwons. No bad employers in 4 out of 5 different jobs.

Newcomers (I hate the term newbie!!) have so many resources on the internet to compare and contrast jobs in Korea. Dave's primarily. Information is power.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

oh yeah they are also deducting 3x as much tax as they are supposed to.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

pegpig · Joined: 10 May 2005

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

salary 1.9 mil tax should be 24,700...tax they are taking off 64,000+ Money in their pocket 40,000 a month. Nice money for doing nothing except taking advantage of someone.

pegpig · Joined: 10 May 2005

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Since I gave notice I've been swamped with offers, even though I clearly state that I will not work with children in a hogwild. This guy should just walk away and leave them high and dry, as they'll have a hell of a time finding a replacement.

matthewwoodford · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Location: Location, location, location.

Provided he has enough money for airfare, he should tell them to pay them the money they owe in full or he'll walk out then and there. And be prepared to walk out and dump them in it.

Just because he lacks teaching experience and feels guilty about it doesn't mean he should let them walk all over him. There are plenty of better jobs out there.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Hmmm Pretty much what I said too....did I mention the guy is passive? Like I mean he could wear a sign that says 'tread on me'

Even looking for a new job he is dragging his heals.

He definately needs to grow a pair and stand up for himself. Its really too bad as he is a decent guy...and with time would probably be okay but the hogwan never gave him a chance.