Korean Job Discussion Forums

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Would there be any call for a Korean woman ( a stand-firm ajuma) with very good colloquial English skills and moderate temper to be able to work as an advocate/interpreter for teachers here? She has for example done some advocacy work before, bringing in lawyers when needed, and met with some success. However when I bring the idea to her she is interested but concerned about payment. So I suggest pro-rata. However some cases do not involve money - some just work to quicken up a process, or to gather information. In this case there would have to be an arrangement and honesty given by the teacher.

An example of what she has done before:
-Brought in a lawyer when a company went bankrupt. Teacher received severence + loss of income - 5.5 million. (The teacher already had been paid severence 3 months before.) Cool

She is up to date on Labor/Immigration/Tax/Tenancy law and can fight your fight.
You no longer need to go to these administration boards alone. You no longer need to fight alone. She will fight your ex. orpresent employer.

So, if you have a difficulty you can't see clear of, PM me. I'll print it out and give to her. She'll call you straight away.

poet13 · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject:

I think there would be a lot of calls for a lady like that. First question is, how much? I think she has to sort that out first. After that, I may just call her.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Good question. Thanks for reply.
About 10% of a severence settlement that couldn't be had by teacher alone trying to get it. But for that first situation described with the severence a lawyer was needed to file the documents etc and that charge was 50.000 initial fee + 10%. So if she also got the lawyer then she would need about ten percent on top so 20%. At least with that though the teacher gets most of his/her money back plus satisfaction that it is done.
Also, as a representative when teachers leave back to US or Canada etc then there is a secondary benefit, with someone here doing the leg work and fielding the calls and chasing up. A letter, similar to - but not - a power of attorney would suffice to act as rep. for the teacher while overseas.
In a world where it costs me $15,000 in realtor fees to sell my house or a $2500 fee to the lawyer when a parent dies, then maybe this kind of fee is not so steep.
As for other fees where no percentage is available it would have to be on a case basis. It could be that 300.000 won for settling some issue may be reasonably priced. Maybe more maybe less. I guess it depends on time and difficulty involved.
Look, I have to admit something. This lady is my wife. She is a clear headed down to Earth people person with a tough business head. She will work hard for you and bring exact results.

Thanks.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Anyone would expect 50.000 per hour for this kind of service. It's a valuable service.
Please describe to me where this service already exists whereby a teacher in difficulty can call a number and have someone listen to them and reply in clear compassionate English and at the same time already be organizing the resolution of their problem?
I have only heard of a Labor Board number about which teachers complain that information officers don't speak any English. Several teachers who could have received millions of won have left the country and given up.
I think in pricing results are what counts rather than how long it takes to get the job done. If arranging something takes one hour but the result is worth several million won then why should anyone receive .005%?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Perhaps some jealousy running here, ( with a little racism to boot ), you made your point, Bye bye.

Here's some of my mediocre Korean just for you.
어려운 상태를 지나가는 외국사람들에게 진심으로 도와 주려고 하는 제가
이젠 너는 여기서 부정적인 편지를 그만 보냈으면 좋겠다고 생각 해요.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

And what was your problem?
We are talking about serious issues that need resolution. Not just queries.

I'm now inclined to think, "Well, if these officials are as good as they say then why are so many teachers on this board complaining that they cannot resolve anything?

Perhaps they should call you guys (advocates) direct and you can get their severence pays paid or even relief from jail time merely for the same price as a dinner out.
Where is your phone number so they can call you? What is your advocacy number so I can direct all these foreign teachers with real difficulties unresolved with the Labor Dept. to call you?

Please post it here so I can redirect to you.

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

poet13 · Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:48 pm Post subject:

I spoke to 1350 this morning at length. The interpreter was super, and the advice given, (come to the office and file a complaint) was fair. (Yes ttompatz - I shat).
Like ttompatz says, if theres a demand, great. There will always be people who pay the highest price for something thinking that it is the best. No, not slamming your service in any way, just pointing out that no matter how expensive it is, there will always be a few customers....
good luck

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

I said that with this advocacy comes "very good colloquial English skills," yet in all your following posts you keep mentioning "basic English skills" or "mediocre English skills."

God sake, feels like you wish to put people down right from the start.

It's this typical 'tall poppy syndrome' that affects the teaching community on this website.

poet13 · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:17 am Post subject:

"It's this typical 'tall poppy syndrome' that affects the teaching community on this website."

tall poppy syndrome?

I assume that means something akin to, "better than thou", or more colloquially, "my s*** don't stink"...
I'm not sure which is worse; that attitude or generalizing across a whole community.... Wink

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Okay, you are the best. I'm generalising. I'm a dick. You are great. Thank you for the critique. I am a changed man.

Relax, We've decided to let this idea slide.

Tall Poppy doesn't mean as you think. It means "We are small so we will make others smaller than us."

I feel saddened about that particular reaction as much as the others. Seems like you guys have got all the time in the world merely to be armchair critiques of others. Why don't you spend time critiquing the great works? Dostoevsky represents a writer who you could find 1000 flaws with. Why, he was a Russian semi-socialist. Maybe he made a generalising statement and you could sweep him aside as some kind of vermin in your biography of the man.
Who'd read you?

Okay: If anyone has a problem that Labor Dept can't solve and you'd pay the going rate to get absolved from it, PM me. If not, and unwilling to put fair money where the mouth is, sort out your own problems.