Korean Job Discussion Forums

Trumpcard · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

well ive finally made it here, and accpeted a very basic standard contract with quite crappy pay. i felt i did a few things right - spoke to the current teachers, but all in all i feel duped. the school is a franchise from a big chain school and quite horrible. basically straight off the plane (after they kept me waiting 30 mins at the airport) i had to do some training and then next day class observations and then thrown straight in the deep end. bascially the pay is on the low side of average, the location in greater seoul is not quite nice. how can i get out of this and still work here? simply give my 6 weeks notice get the school to give me a letter of release and in the meantime find a more suitable employer willing to sponsor me? is this how it's done? and is my current visa still valid?

this is really not the experience i was planning on having and ive already been misled by the other teachers and the school on a grand scale. ive been here less than a month and truly hate working in this school.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Do a site search for Letter of Release / LOR. You'll find quite a few sagas. Your boss does not have to give you one and probably will be loathe to because if he gives one to you that means that anyone else who comes to the realisation there are better jobs out there can get one, too.

You may be able to get released from your contract but if you really want to leave you may have to look at 10 months in Taiwan, China, Thailand, or Japan because you will probably not be eligible to work at a new job until your current visa expires.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

babtangee · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:26 pm Post subject:

What's so bad about the school? You didn't explain much.

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

Yeah, and be prepared to fork over some cash for the ride over.

So, what's so bad about your school anyway? Details.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

You will also need to repay the flight ticket cost and may be asked to pay for advertizing for a replacement teacher.

ajstew · Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Location: Korea

To the OP... you really should tell us more... because this sort of post is just asking for negative posts about you, and not supportive responses.
You come off as sounding elitist and too good for the position... since it clearly is okay for the other teachers you talked about.

You also suggest that the pay is on the low side of average... so I'm hoping your making something at or below 2,000 000 won a month because that is what I would consider to be just below average. I believe that many schools are offering 2,200 000 won a month and that is what most beginners should be settling for.

You also say the location in greater seoul is not quite nice. It'd be nice if you told us what is 'not quite nice' about it.'

Next... is it really so terrible that you had to wait 30 minutes at the airport? There could be any number of reasonable reasons for why that happened... early flight, traffic, distance, etc... To suggest that has contributed to your decision to leave is harsh.

Finally, like some other posters suggested here... be prepared to pay for the flight ticket your employer paid for you... YOU ARE CERTAINLY OBLIGATED TO DO THAT.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

ya, nobody was there to pick me up from the airport at all. They *ahem* forgot about it.

I'd still be standing there if I was a whiney little mama's boy.

archer904 · Joined: 04 Sep 2006

To the OP (original poster, if you're new):

Be advised that a great many people on Dave's ESL Cafe have nothing better to do than sit in judgement of noobs and others and write insulting summations of their character and/or snarky responses about what they should or shouldn't do.

When they ask you why you want to leave, if you answer (and your answer isn't up to par), be prepared to get a bunch of responses belittling you, telling you why you're a whiner or a wimp, or telling you to go back home. As you can see, the judgements have already started and you haven't even provided any details yet.

Your question was "What should I do?" and a couple people have answered it. Ignore the ones that don't.

On to your question:

Your employer has paid out a lot of money to bring you to Korea. When you give notice, they may deduct the cost of your airfare from your pay. They may also refuse your letter of release, because they are pissed that you want to leave. They know if they don't give it to you that it means you won't be able to work elsewhere until your visa expires.

To get the letter of release, I would tell them that I'd like them to write a post dated letter immediately, and give it to you. Then you will complete your 6 weeks notice. If they refuse, tell them you won't be back to work the next day. These strongarm tactics aren't fun, but you don't have many other options.

I would also be a little bit flexible with them in terms of giving notice. Smile as much as you can, stay friendly, tell them the situation, and ask them how much time they need to find a new teacher. If you are working with them, they are much more likely to want to accommodate your requests. Especially if you're willing to repay the airfare.

Hope that helps. Any questions, just ask.

Teufelswacht · Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Location: Land Of The Not Quite Right

You haven't given a whole lot of information. So, I'll just comment on what information you have provided.

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

To everyone giving the OP a hard time: if 75% of us had, in the past, been stupid enough to buy a defective Pinto station wagon from Mr Lemon's Used Autos, need someone who's unhappy with his Pinto from Lemon's Autos explain himself in great detail?