Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stakay]

Boy have I had a few chuckles this week. I used to work at one of those infamous 'W' hogwans, and I've written here a few times in the past couple of months about receiving severance and my refund of the stupid housing deposit.

Well this week we, my fiance and I, got every single penny owed out of our scumbag boss!!!! Woo bloody hoo!!

Was not an easy feat, if you're thinking it was, because we did it while living in London.

I publicly thank a special Scottish lady, who may or may not read this board, as she acted as our power of attorney by attending meetings and making phone calls to the labour board on our behalf. Without her this wouldn't have happened. What a legend she is.

So there you go. You can do it, you can get your money owed if you've already left Korea.

One point for the lowly foreign hogwan teacher, zero for the lying cheating hogwan owner.

Good luck to anyone who finds themself in this unfortunate position.

And a huge cheers to my Scottish angel

[Grotto]

Congrats!

most shady hogwans rely on the fact that you are leaving the country and will be unable to pursue any action against them.

Way to go!

[Hollywoodaction]

Yes, good job. If only more hagwon teachers had as much initiative as you and the Scottish lady, fewer hagwon owners would pull such stunts.

[wylies99]

VERY good news.

Oh, and hogwan owners do talk amongst themselves, (ala Linda Richman ). This could help others.

[Cheonmunka]

It's funny, I wrote this and through a majority of the next posts got shot down about the benefits of advocacy.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=64172&highlight=

[Dan The Chainsawman]

When I get ran out of town I will be sure to let you know Chem. That lady sounds superb.

[Pak Yu Man]

Her I thougt it was going to mean " I beat him with a stick, or a bamboo sword" or something along those lines.

[korea252]

Thanks Stakay. It was no bother.
A big thanks should also go to Mr.Hong at the labour board, he was so helpful and made the whole process really easy and painless. He also came and found me when I got lost going to the labour board and then walked me to the bus stop and waited with me to make sure I got the right bus home! Nice guy.

[oldfatfarang]

Congratulations. Well done. I've been wondering for a while now if Korean Hagwons ACTUALLY pay any money owing/damages that are ordered by the Labor Board.
In my country, debtors and sneaky operators just don't pay the damages ordered by the court. Or they just pay one small installment and then you have to go back to court and repeat the legal process all over again. Sometimes, if you want your money it's better to hire a 'debt collector' (gang) to collect your dues. Can anyone advise if the Korean Labor Board decisions are observed (and money paid) by hagwon owners?

[ttompatz]

[JongnoGuru]

Congratulations, and it's nice to see people help each other out here.

I don't often post on Job-related, but that thread title... almost sounded like there was physical violence.

Is "W" code for that rather notorious chain of hagwons? If so, why not spell it out? They can't hurt you know, can they?

[ttompatz]

[Homer]

Congrats to you both!

and..

[jajdude]

That was nice to hear. Did the hagwon owner actually lose anything, or did he merely have to pay what you deserved?

Unless he was penalized somehow, beyond merely paying what he owed, then that hardly deters hagwon owners from continuing to rip off foreign teachers, since they will not really lose anything by trying to rip people off, and sometimes get to keep cash.

[Homer]

But jajdude...it sets a legal precedent or ads to an already set legal precedent. This can and does lead to changes.