Korean Job Discussion Forums

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

A few weeks ago I posted that I was having big pay problems with my hogwan. Here's an update.

I've been in Korea since mid-April. I have been through the usual- work too much, no training, horrible apartment, and nasty co-workers- Koreans and other native speakers. It's been bad. For the pay due on May 10, I was FINALLY paid almost two weeks late. That's right- over 5 weeks in Korea with no money except what I brought. For June 10, I was paid on time- but the checks aren't what they're supposed to be.
No money has been taken out for pension, health insurance, and the taxes come out at a higher rate than what is supposedly the law. Ask any questions? Get treated worse, and worse.
The other native speakers? I found out that both make more money than me (I have better qualifications- education-wise), and neither will even meet with me to discuss any pay issues.

The hogwan is pretty bad.
They LOVE scheduling OT- but will say or do anything to avoid paying it.
On June 16 I submitted a 60 letter of resignation- specifically over the late pay. Since then, my work schedule has been increased (I taught over 200 classes in June), and now all of my work is "bad."
The Director called me in for a meeting to tell me that the owner will not give me a letter of release- and he told me that I only worked two months because once I filed the resignation, that counts as my end of work date. That meeting was filled with BS and threats.
The next day he had my recruiter visit the school- the recruiter is a total waste of space. He lied about everything, and he yelled at me that I have it "easy" and that I should "feel lucky" that anyone would give me a job in Korea. I yelled right back at him over his lies and desertion of me when I needed some help and advice over the pay issues.
The owner of this hogwan seems to like Canadians, and she detests Americans. She seems to enjoy cheating people. I try not to take this crap personally (they would cheat anyone- not just me), but it's really hard.

The other native speakers are useless when it comes to cooperation over the pay issues, and the Korean teachers seem to enjoy any problems any of us have at this school- with pay or in the classroom.
In fact, wan has come out of my check for the gas bill (my apartment), over the past two months, yet my gas was shut off this week for non-payment- it's on now. The Korean teachers thought this was HILARIOUS.
I need to know what my rights are, at this point. No one seems to be able to offer a clear response.
I WILL post the full story, with names of the school (the chain is already mentioned on various blacklist pages), the hogwan owner, and the horrible recruiter as soon as I am clear of this hellhole.
If you do have any advice, please post or PM me. This board is a lifesaver for those of us who need help.
Oh, and I probably will face retaliation if anyone from that hogwan recognizes themselves here. Par for the course.

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

OMFG! I would immediately go to the labor board. I know some people have found them not to be helpful but others have found the office to be very helpful. I had a friend in an almost identical situation pretty recently and over the course of two weeks going back and forth to the labor office about three times things were resolved.

Also, I would start writing things down. I would also have your boss state that she is refusing to give you a letter of release in writing and date it. She may well refuse but keep records of it because it might help you when she backtracks later on.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

You may get more mileage out of threatening to blacklist the school.

I mean that it may be a way for you to get your release letter.

Sounds like a crap deal either way though, Sorry things are not going well for you.

I wish I had better advice to give, but sadly I think most of us who've been here a while have gone through something sort of similar.

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

Hi,

Please check your private message box right away! Do not delay!

ontheway · Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:20 pm Post subject:

wylies99,

My advice:

You are now in a very bad spot. Since you have already given notice and have a bad situation, there's little point trying to fix things. (The way for you to fix things would be to back down, give up on your pension, insurance and taxes and just take it. They want you to do just that. That's why they brought in the recruiter to yell at you. I don't think you're interested in that option.)

You have challenged your Korean boss and questioned his honesty or integrity. (The fact that you may be right is irrelevant to him.) He is angry and possibly will seek revenge in ways such as refusing your letter of release, threats and instant termination and eviction from your housing. You need to be prepared to move at a moment's notice. Keep your valuables safe. Find an emergency safe house.

I think you should immediately look for a new job in a different city. If you can find a decent wonjangnim, he or she can help get a letter of release and make a reasonable settlement with the ******** you are currently working for. You can get a new contract and start over. After you are safe and working, you can BLACKLIST the previous blasturd.

This is like a really bad marriage. You know you're gonna lose but you gotta get out and save yourself. Do the best you can and move on.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

I've already moved most of my valuable stuff.
I am forced to work from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm every weekday, so I can't visit anything anywhere. I need some help with this situation.

Some offer to help, but nothing concrete.

From what little info I can gather from the other native speakers (no backbones) this kind of crap has been going on for years, BUT NO ONE BLACKLISTED THE SCHOOL. I will do it.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

I've tried to find a school that will try to work out a settlement with this hogwan, but no one will do it. I keep hearing (from the reputable schools)"Until you get a letter of release, we can't help you, at all."

Other schools? Actual quote- "I'll be there in an hour to pick you up. I'll give you 2 million wan and you work for us and don't worry about the law."

(I got plenty of those kinds of responses after I posted on the jobs board).

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Plus, I have been documenting EVERYTHING.

wowser · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Location: Kyonggi do

Sorry, this has been written in a PC bang- with no spell checker- and my spelling is shocking...

I feel for you- I really do. I also have a hogwan from hell story. I too posted on this site for advice and support and I was given excellent support...

(Rest of information send via PM)

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

Sounds like an illusive uphill battle if you want to establish working on fair terms...

Provided you have enough money to get out the country by yourself, I would hand in the required notice and just resign on as calm terms as possible. If your employer digs their feet about letter of release, then you call your recruiter/the labor board and ask them to request the employer follow regulation and provide that letter. Use the unpaid pension/insurance as a leverage point in your claims.

braunshade · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: Somewhere better!

call in sick and then you can go visit the labour office and any other place you need to go to. Your boss is a bad bad person.

I hope you come out as the WINNER!

joyfulgirl · Joined: 05 Jan 2006

sorry to hear about your crap situatuon, op

my pay is over 2 weeks late at the moment, with no clear word on when i may ever get paid. so i went to the labour board last week, and they were absolutely useless. they just told me i could file a complaint if my pay was 2 MONTHS late.

so frustrating and depressing.

daz1979 · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Gangwon-Do

I would just refuse point blank to teach until you are paid in full.... Leave them in the shite like they did you!!!

What goes around Smile

ScottyG · Joined: 09 Jun 2006

Hmmm. Sounds like a pretty standard hakwon. My first year I worked at a school that sounds a bit like this. But I didn't have any problems. Other people seemed to. Now that I look back I was accepting my fate a little too happily, but first year in Korea is a training period if you ask me. I'm sure you could improve the situation with some diplomacy, and I'm sure you could get out of it with some hardline tactics, such as faking illness or guerilla teaching methods (ok kids, today we are going to learn about what the internet has to say about this school! here you go, take these home to your parents^^)

buymybook · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Location: Telluride