Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Milwaukiedave]

This is a bizarre twist in an otherwise really good relationship with a school I worked for.

Background: I worked at a public school from June 2006-May 2007 and left at the end of May. My relationship with the school, the staff and the teachers was good and the kids were sad to see me leave. Everything was settled in terms of my pay and it was done quickly after (within days) I left.

I have kept in contact with the English coordinator there. She said she had some documents to sent me. My assumption was that the documents were how much I made last year for me to file taxes. I gave her my address and received the envelope today.

There was a letter that says I was overpaid for the last two months, plus my severence for a total of 542,000 won and asking for me to return the money. The letter states that the previous person who worked in the administration office made the mistake.

I'd like some honest non-snarky answer what people think I should do. I would also appreciate answers only from people who have been here longer then a year or two.

Thanks...

Edit: As I clarified later in this thread, it is not that I was over paid per se in salary (the total amount of my salary before taxes is correct), but that the deductions may have been messed up.

[pkang0202]

Tell them you have the check, they just gotta come and pick it up from you in the US.

[passport220]

Is the school clearly right?

If you are not sure but you think it could be true. It would be a dispute over the amount and you could offer half to settle the dispute. Things like this are done in business to keep good relationships in North America all the time; I am not sure how it would go over with your Korean school.

If you want to keep a good relationship with the school you might propose it to them and see how it goes.

If they want to get stubborn or belligerent, they have no recourse so tell them to take a walk.

[mistermasan]

were you, indeed, overpaid above and beyond the contract's delineation?

[Milwaukiedave]

Pk,

The problem is I'm not in the US. Which explains why I got the letter in Korea.

MM,

As I said above 7 months later.

passport,

You are probably right.

So far, two of the three responses were unhelpful.

Let me add, my wife is Korean and her sister works at a public school. She called her sister to ask and the sister said don't pay it.

Anyway, I guess at this point, that's what I've choosen to do.

[marlow]

Tell them you need everything broken down contractually and mathematically, in detail and in English, before you can consider sending the money. I'm sure they'd rather skip it than do the paperwork.

My hagwon wanted 100,000 won back after I left, and I wrote back explaining I needed to see their official tax papers before I would pay it, and they never wrote back.

[poet13]

You never answered OP. Were you overpaid?

[Milwaukiedave]

Marlow,

The funny thing is they actually did do that. However, it is still confusing as to what they are talking about. It looks like not just one error in their favor, but it looks like there are several errors. That includes how much I paid for health insurance as well (meaning I overpaid).

[Atavistic]

[Milwaukiedave]

[Atavistic]

[Milwaukiedave]

[marlow]

[R. S. Refugee]

[poet13]

I agree with the other posters.
Do your own math, and see if it agrees with their *new* math.
If you were overpaid, give it back.
If you weren't, or still aren't sure, then no, I wouldn't give them money either.