Korean Job Discussion Forums

[UncleAlex]

Gia, is that really you in the picture? How on earth could you be lonely?
If you didn't isolate yourself in that little shoe box of yours that's supposed
to be an apartment, then you could've met and dated all kinds of lustful
Korean men.

[Milwaukiedave]

I agree with what other's have said, go home and make sure to take care of yourself. If you think your suffering from depression (although none of us can say that for sure) make sure to get in to see a doctor.

I've dealt with some bad situations in Korea and survived, but not everyone can deal with things as well.

[Gia3000]

The last 3 people to leave the hagwan went through 30 days of hell (and worrying that they won't get their last paycheck)... and that's for not renewing the contract! They will crucify me for quitting. For God's sake, they made a grown man break down in tears in front of all his co-workers. The poor guy had 2 weeks to go. When they know you're going, they don't care anymore. I'm so scared of what they might do to me that I don't even care if I lose half a paycheck (the 2 and a half weeks I'm working this month).

Also. the school is interviewing people now and has been doing so for the past 2 weeks. It's because they want to hire a new teacher. They have a few potential candidates. I guess they'll hire two instead of 1. And, I'll go after the first teacher arrives. I didn't want to leave my school in a complete bind so I timed it right.

I tried to find a teacher on my own as well. It has proven to be a difficult task since few people are willing to teach 9 classes a day, have no breaks and only 4 days vacation - yes, days! - 2 in the summer and 2 in the winter.

As far as my eating habits are concerned, I'm afraid I don't have much choice. Even if I want to have balanced meals, I can't. I am working non stop for 9 and a half hours. I have 5 minute breaks between classes but, trust me, I don't get to sit down. (We used to have a 15 minute dinner break but my boss cut that 2 months ago... is this even legal?) Before school, I choose sleep over food and I do pretty much the same thing in the evening. So, yes, I guess I'm lazy. Oh! And the only reason I want "mommy" to cook for me is because she's a nutritionist and I'd rather eat her food than questionable restaurant food that has made me sick in the past.

It took me a week to come to this decision: there is nothing rash about it. I slept on it for many nights and took everything into consideration.

[alabamaman]

[Grotto]

[drumpounder]

[Mr. Pink]

[seoulsista]

In light of that new information than *beep* 'em for sure. They are getting what they deserve.

[alabamaman]

Article 53 (Recess Hours) (In additon to Grotto)

(1) An employer shall allow a recess period of more than
30 minutes for every 4 working hours and more than 1 hour
for every 8 working hours during the working hours.

(2) A recess period may be freely used by workers.

Article 26 (Violation of Conditions of Employment)

(1) If any of the conditions of employment set forth in
accordance with Article 24 is found to be inconsistent with the
actual conditions, the worker concerned shall be entitled to
claim damages resulting from the breach of the conditions of
employment or may terminate the labor contract forthwith.

(2) If a worker intends to claim indemnity for damages in
accordance with paragraph (1), he may do so with the Labor
Relations Commission. If a labor contract has been terminated,
an employer shall pay travel expenses to a worker who changes
his residence for the purpose of securing new job.

I wonder if she could terminate her labor contract considering the working conditions?

[captain kirk]

I just can't understand how someone could just not eat and sleep all the time. That's gotta be depressing. Working in that state you must slide along like a darn slug. It all sounds so passive aggressive. Hurts you, hurts the kids, hurts the boss, hurts the business. The more you put into something the more you get out of it.

Langour like a kind of silent protest that lasts and lasts. If I was the boss such langour in my employees would drive me around the bend. I'd want some more lively flesh puppet to put out the English pronouncements and with more gusto, more viva!

Anyway I wish you all the best wherever you end up. You make a good case. I'd sure like to know how those catty k-teachers could, as you say, make a grown man cry. What's the story on that? Sounds funny as heck.

[Jellybean]

Gia

I did a runner and nobody asked me a thing. Here's my story for anybody who's interested ....

Upon arrival I was placed in a hotel frequented by prostitutes (and I'm a single girl). I did not know this until my 3rd day in Korea when my A/Director 'mentioned' it in passing. That explains why on my second day there I was propositioned by a disgusting old pervert who saw where I was staying.

Not long after arriving I was very ill with some stomach bug. I had diarrohea, was incredibly homesick, was told to start school 2 days after I arrived when I was initially told I would have 4 days before starting and on it goes.

The kids were so bratty and loud and annoying I couldn't believe it! I had some notion they would be polite and sweet but they made western kids look like Mother Teresa (when she was alive).

I don't just want to make this a gripe session; I want to WARN people thinking of going to Korea to do the following:

Don't just take the word of a current teacher there as I frequently emailed a teacher there and she told me the place was heaven - upon arrival she told me the REAL story. I could have kicked her.

Also don't take the word of the Director/Assistant Director who will also lie to you and tell you what you want to hear just to get you there. The teacher I was taking over from told me that he had been given ALL the difficult classes and that he was sorry I was getting them because he just hadn't been able to discipline them. He said he'd spoken to the A/Director about his plight several months earlier and the solution had been to give him MORE difficult classes - thus his luck in having ALL the bad kids!!!!

Check WHERE you will be staying WHEN you get there. Don't get stuck in a place like I did even if it's while your accommodation is being prepared. Check your permanent accommodation too as I've heard horror stories regarding this.

Make sure you are in a place big enough that at least some Koreans speak a bit of English. I was in a hole of a place where nobody could speak a word of English to save themselves and it really added to my culture shock and stress and frustration. On my way home I stayed in Seoul a couple of days while waiting for money and a flight out and I found it much more enjoyable simply because a lot of people understood me and could give me directions and answer other questions. I didn't take this factor seriously enough when going to Korea.[/b]

Don't be honest with them about wanting to leave!!!

I thought I was doing the right thing by talking to the A/Director about not wanting to stay the full term. I told him I was sick, homesick, did not like the job, accommodation, people. I did this because I didn't want to leave them in the lurch. I also thought by telling them this we would be able to come up with some mutually agreeable solution (silly me - I was pounced on like an alley cat pounces on an injured mouse). I was told "YOU CANNOT LEAVE." I pointed out the contract had a clause that said I was free to leave before a 6 month period and explained that was the only reason I had signed the contract - in case it didn't work out. I was still told "YOU CANNOT LEAVE. THE CONTRACT IS NOT REALLY RELEVANT. YOU JUST CANNOT LEAVE." Later on the story changed to
"YOU MUST STAY FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER THREE MONTHS UNTIL WE FIND ANOTHER TEACHER." I said back home 2 weeks was all that was required to give notice but I was still told the above. They talked and talked AT me until I just shutup and pretended they had won me over because they simply wouldn't listen.

I then said I was sick (which I was) and went back to my hotel and did a runner but that's a whole other story! SOOOOOOOOO hard to get out of a foreign place on your own where nobody can speak a word of English. I was so proud to have done it but was scared they would hunt me down at the airport also. They didn't and I got home fine and have never appreciated my country, my life, my friends or family as much as I do now!

I'm glad it works out for many of you but it certainly did not for me and I wasted a hell of a lot of time and money to discover this. I had to borrow money for the airfare home and of course lost the money on my airfare over.

JB

[crazykiwi]

I was lucky, when i left 3 weeks ago, my boss was so supportive. I felt like an absolute ass about leaving as quickly and suddenly as i did. I gave him 4 days notice. yes i know, not very nice when my contract said 2 months was needed. There were extenuating circumstances surrounding my quick exit, i would rather not go into in great detail. long story short, my marriage was more important to me than my job, so i saved that instead! i had tyo give him 4 days notice as once the decsion was made, i needed to work out what i was going to do for the rest of the year and i then had to get home for an university interview. got in, started my teachers degree today and theres absolutly nowhere like home. my boss was amazing, he knew i was so unhappy, he got angry for about 30 minutes, calmed down, and said he understood. my co-worker and i found a replacement for me that day, so that made him a bit happier. i gave him everything in my apartment (i owned all furnishings, including, tv, fridge, oven, computer etc) and he paid me out on my last 2 weeks of wages. took me to the bus stop at 5 am and everything. so all in all, its sometimes not a bad thing to be honest with your employer, you could be suprised. i feel bad about what i did, but not as bad as i would have if id done a runner. it wasnt my bosses fault, so i gave him the courtesy, and it made me feel better about it all. thanls for letting my get it off my chest.

[laogaiguk]

[crazykiwi]

of course not. Samsung language institute in daejeon. its a public school gig plus a bit of hagwan. and the bosses name is mr chai! all round good fulla. tiny hagwan with just 3 teachers but who cares, it was a great place to work. if only i was in a better frame of mine, it woulda been perfect.

[AliNZ]

sad to hear your experience wasn't a positive one. It's a hard place for some and hard when you ar on your own....loneliness can be a killer over there and so can culture shock!

not eating properly and getting anaemic doesn't help either - I did the same during my second year.

This week coming back for a third contract and I am prepared this time. I know more, and determined to get out and meet people and make friends.

Good on you though for having the guts to give it a go, know your limitations and move on.

It's certainly not easy and not for everyone.