Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Forbidden-Donut]

Hey guys, I just wanted to see if this is sketchy or not:

Originally the school said they would pay for the flight over. My recruiter just sent me an e-mail which said this:


Dear Brian,
I checked your MD(Maryland) airport about flight cost but it is very very expensive in Korea to get air ticket here.

So i think the school reimbursed for your ticket when you arrvie in Korea. What do you think?

Please check your local travel agency for air fare from your nearest international airport to Gimhae(Busan) international airport. Then you should check timetable and tell me then buy it and send me exact schedule.


Is this sketchy? Or is it understandable and I'm just being paranoid? If i do this, should I ask them to reword the contract and resend it to me (I havent signed it yet)?

[spliff]

[Mr. BlackCat]

I would wonder why it makes any difference that it's 'expensive' in regards to paying you now or paying you later. It's too expensive for the school to pay for it today, but they'll have the money waiting for you when you arrive in Korea? Uh-huh.

When are they going to pay you this money? On your first paycheque?

Normally I'm 50/50 on who pays for the ticket first because both parties are taking a risk. However, when a hogwan uses the expression 'expensive' it usually translates into 'We're not paying for it'.

Be weary and if you do decide to pay for it yourself get it in the contract WHEN they school will reimburse you the FULL amount.

[xeno439]

Under no condition should you pay first. Absolutely don't do it. You could get burned for 2 gs.

[xCustomx]

This is a common tactic by hagwons. They may have told a few other people to pay for their plane ticket over, so by the time that you actually get to Korea, they may have already hired someone and you won't have a job

[sojourner1]

If they are going to pay for your ticket over, they would buy it from a travel agent in your home country to get the best deal. Often, recruiters can set this up who then submit for reimbursement shortly after picking you up at the airport.

It is common for them to request you buy it and then they reimburse you upon arrival.

[Forbidden-Donut]

[cruisemonkey]

Forbidden-Donut,

Do not by the ticket! Make them do it.

The recruiter's 'excuse' is BS and you should be wary.

[dogshed]

Reimbursement is only safe with EPIK.

I just bought a ticket to Bangkok and it was actually cheaper
on the Korean websites.

[Roch]

[Roch]

[Roch]

[Bibbitybop]

[PGF]

The koreans can get a better deal on airfare than you can. I flew in ferom the east coast and my employer said he paid $750. The cheapest I could find was $1200.

YOU WILL NEVER GET REIMBURSED IF YOU BUY YOUR OWN TICKET.

Tell your recruiter thanks, but no thanks. There are a million jobs over here for you.

Have you already sent them your degree and transcripts and got a VISA number?

I hope not.

[Forbidden-Donut]

I replied to their request, stating that I didn't have the money to buy a ticket. Here was their reply:


I think best way is you can use your credit card or
> money to buy a ticket
> from your country.
>
> Please check first airfare and think about it. The
> school will reimbursed
> your money when you arrive in Korea immidiately.
>
> If not, i can ask to vice director on Monday and i
> will let you know what is
> best way.
>
> Please send me your passport copy and nearest
> international airport by email
> just in case.
>
> It takes some time if the school will buy your
> ticket from online or other
> travel agency.


How would you guys respond to this? I want to call them out because this just seems like total BS, but I'm getting sick of the fact that all these job offers I'm getting are falling through. The school seemed good (the first recruiter offer I've gotten that hasn't been a bad-reputation school), the foreign teacher gave a good review, and I thought it was gravy from here on out. arrgghhhh...