Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PatrickSiheung]

First, I don't want this to be an all-hate Ewha post. I stayed there for a year and a few weeks and loved most of my time there.

I'm sure many people know of their recent financial problems. This is just a shout out to those who may be answering some of their desperate calls for teachers. They are desperate now because teachers, korean and foreign, are jumping ship.

I'm fighting them tooth and nail just to get my deposit back which is about 500,000 after paying for my final bills. Sparing you the details, they've lied to me repeatedly about why they haven't paid me yet. Of course, Monday I go to the Ministry of Labor.

Here's a copy of an email from the principal at our school. I like to think it carries a bit of weight since the head office is in the same building as our branch. We seem to get info from Brian the man himself faster than others... I've of course taken out the names of the teachers involved, save myself.>>>

(EDIT - Deleted email for a short while until some friends are free and clear of the school)

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That's it, word for word. You can clearly see that Ewha's situation is pretty bad. In the letter she says that I, Patrick, was paid everything. That is definitely not true.

She also says that Brian, the CEO, said that this is the first and last time this has happened. Anyone who's been at Ewha for any length of time should know that isn't true!

So, why am I writing this. yeah, it's a bit of a rant. But mostly I want to save you all some trouble and let you know that if you get a job with Ewha now, you'll probably be looking for another in a couple of months.

Teachers are quitting left and right, the number of students has dropped to about half at the Bangbae branch. They've hired a principal and a head teacher that openly discusses the financial situation of not only the company of also of others teachers. If you're looking for stability, Ewha's not it.

That's my news. Do with it what you will.

[Roch]

You can say that again about Ewha A.L.S. I worked at Mapo Ewha. Bait and switch is their motto when hiring, eh.

Do you hang at Olde Towne and Club DeBut on Hooker Hill and are you from Vancouver, B.C.?

[Thunndarr]

Sadly, this has been a constant state of affairs at Ewha for some time. When I worked there, it was not uncommon for the office staff to go unpaid for months at a time. I've heard of the present problems, because two of my friends still work there, or did up til this week. I hope everyone still working there gets out with most of what they're owed.

[PatrickSiheung]

nope, not from Vancouver. I don't spend any time in Itaewon either >< Little too far for me.

I think it's hilarious that Brian has the gall to say this is the first time this has happened. I really hope Ewha goes under. It's about time she was put out of her misery.

Anyone have any friends working for the papers? I would love if they printed this story. It's about time the papers started printing something about English teachers that didn't leave them looking like sick perverts. I wonder how people would react when they learn that even when we work for a huge company like Ewha, we still get screwed out of pay.

[PatrickSiheung]

I just thought of something else...

I'm sure many are aware of the new laws that limit the amount of money an English school can charge for their tuition...

Ewha got around this by dividing the usual group of 3-5 classes in half. They even went out of their way to create different folders for the classes.
So instead of charging one large tuition, they are now charging two tuitions. At least, that's how they are writing it up in the books.

I would love to be the one that rats them out. Anyone know if any authority would care about this little work-around they've been pulling?

[Hobophobic]

I worked for them for almost 4 years...I am waiting for my deposit as well...

Ewha was good to me...but like the posters before I have to say it is time for the big W to bow out, and atleast fess up to their wrong doings...

Big B Lee mentioned, so I was told, that this situation is like go/stop...
He used to get all the good cards, but for the first time ever it is not working out...great....whatever...

In anycase...pensions haven't been paid since Nov 2004...heads up!

[skconqueror]

worked there last year.. we were late on our payment once. I was paid everything when I left a few months ago. was a great school for me.

anyone hear anything good or bad about the bundang branch?

[skconqueror]

[PatrickSiheung]

I was told by both the principal and the head teacher at the bangbae branch that there is no money right now and they can't pay my pension or deposit.

It really blows my mind that they actually spend the deposit money. In the west, people who collect real estate deposits can't even make interest off of it. It has to go into a special bank account.

Anyway, I have a feeling that it will be some time before I get my pension taxes paid. If my trip to the Ministry of Labor doesn't do any good, they'll probably be bankrupt before I get my money.

[inkoreaforgood]