Korean Job Discussion Forums

resa · Joined: 26 May 2005 Location: Seoul

Company (non-English speaking, non-education).
For children of employees
Christian
They treat me like I'm a Korean woman.
Spiritual manipulation - trying to make me go to their services on Sundays instead of attending my own church. Trying to make me spend time with them on my holidays because I need "Christian fellowship." When told I would have to work 6-7 days a week for an undetermined length of time, I was obviously surprised. When I objected, I got the line, "Some of us don't see it as work. We see it as ministry."

They are paying me a lot of money. But it's just not worth it.

There's so much more. I worked at a hagwon for 14 months before starting this job, so hagwons I can handle. But this...whatever it is, I cannot. But I'm afraid it's going to be ugly if I try to get out of the contract. Not to mention the fact that I get freaked out by how manipulative it is here - from the Christian music playing throughout the entire building before work, at lunch, and at the end of the day. I'm a Christian, went to a Christian college, have a theology degree, and, generally love God. But this place even freaks me out. They have even told me which versio nof the Bible I should use. It's a little too "Agree with us or we'll make you drink some of our red kool-aid" you know?

The job is nothing like what they said it would be. The answer is obvious...get out of it. I've been working here less than a month and I'm miserable. Should I give it more time? Honestly though, it's big stuff. It's stuff big enough to negate the whole "give it more time" line. I just don't know. Any advice?

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

I think you have two options:

#1. Get out asap.

#2. When life hands you a lemon, write an expose. There are a number of cults here. Might make fascinating reading. However, I'd turn down any green Kool-Ade.

peppermint · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject:

You really answered your own question there in that post. Definitely get out of there.

Did you get your ARC yet? If not, then your visa should be expiring within the next couple of months- ( the actual visa is only for 3 months, and the ARC extends it) if that's the case, then take the money and wait for the visa to expire from a nice beach somewhere in Thailand.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Well have you tried praying about it? Razz

No, seriously, you have to find an escape plan. How badly do you want to stay in Korea? If not that badly I would make plans to disappear. The place sounds cultish - you're perfectly justified in pulling a midnight run.

If you want to stay in Korea it's all a matter of doing whatever it takes to get the letter of release. I have no idea how to attempt doing so with such a strange-sounding organisation. Perhaps you could act in such a 'non-Christian' manner that they want to fire you, and then you could say that's fine so long as they take you immigration with an LOR and cancel your visa.

I wouldn't attempt trying to work things out for the better.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Otus · Joined: 09 Feb 2006

Ethically, when I have had to endure those situations without getting paid much money, it's been terrible. When I've been well reimbursed, I factor any unpleasantness into the compensation. It's not that different from working for a New York law firm.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

The Chewbacca Defense · Joined: 29 May 2004 Location: The ROK and a hard place

just write 666 on the nape of your neck and wait for them to discover it.
That'll make them leave you alone!!!

That and get a Rottweiler!

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

peppermint · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 12:02 am Post subject:

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

Otus · Joined: 09 Feb 2006

Any employer who pays well is not thoroughly exploiting the employee. The most common thing with working for any cult is that you find if they don't deprive their adherents of renumeration at first, they soon will, and then some.

Some Korean Hagwon owners do the same thing. Strange lesson for me in Korea: money talks loudest. When an employer has been slow to pay along with any other pay issues, there have always been many other problems. When I have been paid well and on time, most of the other problems do not arise. Despite promises, assurances, and so-called 'friendships', after the fact, reliable payment has always been the yardstick from which all else could be measured. The second anything changed with that, I learned to walk away fast.

Anyway, sorry OP - if you're really miserable, then get out. Just remember, there is a lot worse.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

My former boss was incredibly manipulative. Last I heard of him, he had become a preacher.

dbee · Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Location: korea

Tell them that you've converted to Islam ...

That might be worth it - just to see the look on their faces Razz

Plus they'd probably fire you straight away ... and then you could sue them for religious discrimination. Razz