Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cpraj1234]

Hello everyone,

I've been working for my hagwon for the past 4 months. I'm in a year contract and frankly I'm sick of working here. I have shared housing with a very dirty roomate. It took the school 3 months to come and have someone clean the place because I wasn't going to clean up after her mess. The kitchen was disgusting and she didn't want to clean it because she was happy living like that.

The Director is also not cutting taxes off of our pay nor any pension at all. Does anyone know what happens about my pension refund or if I'll even get it since he's clearly not paying into it? I've met previous employees of the hagwon and they said they paid the school a lump sum amount for their taxes at the end of the contract. They pay our bills for the apartment and every month there is a discrepency from what we get taken off and the actual amount paid. I've had to demand to see the actual bills for electricity and gas and they were more then doubled. The Director is pretty much a slimy and cheap person but I guess that's most hagwon Directors. The sad part is that I don't even get any support from my roomates who are foreign teachers also. They don't even care that all of this is happening. One of them has become a supervisor of the foreign teachers and he's pretty much on the hagwons team.

There are many other reasons for quitting this horrible school. From schedules, to split shifts, people getting fired before their contract is up and constant turnover of Korean teachers.

I hope somone can give me some advice on how I can quit and still work in Seoul. I don't think he'll give me a letter of release and I've read I need that to work at another school. I pretty much need to know what the consequences are if I quit. I also have my return ticket back to Canada in my hand so I don't think they can cancel my flight.

I know I can find a job very easily in Seoul and probably with better pay. I have read the you can get 6 month jobs also.

Thank very much for any advice that anyone can give me.

Cheers

[peppermint]

What does your contract say about leaving early? If you can't get the letter of release you can't work legally in Korea, simple as that.

Worst case scenario- give them 30 days notice, and you have to refund your ticket, the recruiter fees etc in otherwords buy your letter of release

[seoulsista]

You're right about finding another job and needing a letter of release. Although if I were you I would stick it out until the end of the 6 months. If your contract is like most (and you should read it thoroughly to find out) you can quit after 6 months and not owe them anything. However, if you quit prior to the 6 month mark you may be responsible for paying back your airline ticket from home. Believe it or not that is fairly standard despite the fact that your employer has clearly broken the contract and employment law by not paying your taxes and pension.

As far as quitting goes see how much notice you have to give and start lining up another job. I wouldn't mention this situation to any potential employer but rather just say your contract is almost up. By the time you next employer gets around to doing the visa paperwork you should have your letter of release.

You will probably have to pay a lump sum for the taxes and pension though. But I would definately call someone at the pension office to check on that and make sure you get something in writing proving you paid it.

[the eye]

if you still want to work here, you'll be best to take your grievances to the labor board first. it surely sounds like a crappy situation you have, one that would be bst to get far away from...but your boss sounds like the type to make it difficult for you to leave.

that's why i suggest taking this to the labor board. you should gather evidence about the bills, the taxes and the pension. hopefully you have some proof regarding these things. you should also take your contract when you visit the labor board.
they will make a call to your director about the problems, so it would be wise to advise him of your intentions if he continues to behave as he has.

another thing...
being fired from your current job would not be such a bad thing. it's true that if you are fired before the 6month mark, you will owe the inbound airfare, but being fired would automatically free up your visa slot, and you would be able to get a new one with a new school.

[captain kirk]

I'd be low-key, if I were you, and not mention wanting to quit to anybody (don't clean the kitchen for your roomate or ask that it be cleaned; that would be 'apparently unsatisfied behaviour'). You can then carry on with day to day job stability while figuring out what to do in secret. Maybe it has just been a long winter for you and spring'll change your outlook, who knows. I just find if you say 'want to quit' to a Korean boss they get all fugged up and alert on the trigger finger. Nice and easy, peacefully and quietly proceeding in secret.

[Grotto]

Leaving a job.

You can request a letter of release...if your boss refuses to grant you a letter of release you have the option of going to the labour board and filing a claim against your boss. Its not slavery people! If you want quit a job you have options available to you other than sticking it out for 6 more miserable months, doing a midnight run or leaving the country.

I just wish more of the longtimers here would pass along that information.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Quitting and working again anytime soon in Korea = getting a letter of release. That has to be your #1 priority. If you really are serious about quitting (and I think you should be) start thinking of every possible think you can do to secure this.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

ugggah moogah waggle niggle naggle sallde giigle durka woogie moogie!

[sadsac]

Check your contract, see what terms it states regarding your wanting to leave. If the boss fires you, you are not required to repay aifares etc. As Grotto stated, you can leave anytime you want, just do it by the numbers.

[cpraj1234]

Hey everyone,

Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate the help. My contract unfortunately does not say anything about quitting. I'm not sure if that'll be a bad thing or a good thing?

Thanks,

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Don't quote me on this but I believe that under Korean law you are required to give 30 days. However, there's nothing to stop you from doing a runner. I would try to get a post-dated letter of release in exhange for serving out 30-days notice. Don't except a verbal agreement. Tell them 'you give me the LOR immediately, or I disappear'. Submit an LOR for them to stamp and seal along with your letter of resignation. I'd also encourage you to let them know *exactly* why you're leaving. I did, and I can tell you that it sure feels good.

[inkoreaforgood]