Korean Job Discussion Forums

philipjames · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

+My experience with Korean hogwan owners is very negative, but also very enlightening. I don't trust one of them. That's my experience. I also found them to be entirely dismissive of contracts.

I am however returning to Korea to work (out of necessity) and I don't want to be screwed again. If my hogwan owner repeatedly violates the contract I want the freedom of getting on a flight.

How many people out there have been able to hold onto their return ticket? Is it possible to do this?

Captain Obvious 2.0 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

Even if you do hold onto it, if you use it without permission that would be fraud. If you left and the school filed a complaint, if you ever came back you would be criminally charged, sit in jail until your trial was over a year later, and then deported with a permanent entry block.

Plus you would still have to pay the ticket back, as well as the new return ticket out of the country.

Rand Al Thor · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Locked in an epic struggle

how would it be fraud, a return ticket is only usable by the person who's name is on it. my name is on the ticket, hence I can use it anytime I want to.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 4:17 pm Post subject:

Replace "fraud" with "illegal" and I guess that's more correct, it could be a breach of contract, I guess. But then, if you take the right course of action about it(notify the Ministry of Labor and whatnot), it might not cause as much trouble.

Still not always good to fight fire with fire...or, in this case, breach with breach.

thaitom · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Phopphra, Thailand

I agree with rand al thor, How can it be illegal if the ticket is in your name?

Zyzyfer · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 7:12 pm Post subject:

Because most contracts are written to state that your airfare is paid upon completion of a certain amount of your contract.

The Den · Joined: 26 Jan 2003

If you are that worried about pay the thousand bucks for your own ticket.

Captain Obvious 2.0 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

mack the knife · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: standing right behind you...

once again i gnash my teeth, finding myself in agreement with captain kill-joy 2.0...

using a hogwon for a free ticket to asia is bad form...if enough folks commit this flagrant foul, sooner or later the contracts won't include airfare as part of the deal...simple as that...

if you get over here and you get screwed, everyone feels for you...but...please try to take the legal route out of a sticky situation...foreigners are not exactly appreciated over here right now...let the hogwon owners earn the scandalous reputations...

Austin Powers · Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Location: Incheon

Usually, return tickets are non refundable and non-transferable, so in the hands of the hogwan owner its useless.
Though shifty, if you really have to, just make sure you have say a photocopy of the ticket or as many details as possible, then got to the airline tell them you have lost your ticket and get a new one issued.
Oh yes take your passport for id purposes.
Then fly back home.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Well, if it bothers you that much, why not just make sure you have enough to pay your own way home and if and when the time comes, you do just that. There's nothing illegal in that. The price for peace of mind.
Better yet, make sure you get a job with a decent school so the chances of you having to do this are much reduced. I know that's not easy, but it is possible. Just make sure you talk to teachers that have worked for a particular school and have finished their contracts. See what they say. If the school can't provide you with anyone, then there's warning sign number 1!
I hope it's not too late yet.
Cheers

gajackson1 · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 1:34 am Post subject:

CO2 is allowed to be both correct a lot AND a jerk a lot. Kindness and wisdom do not always go hand-in-hand!

That being said, an alternative is an arrangement like this (I haven't had this sort of situation, but have suggested it to others, and it seems to work out).

You buy the round trip ticket yourself. The scholl agrees to reimburse you for it, in 2 payments. The first payment is upon arrival, or at the 6-month mark. The 2nd payment is set to coincide with the contract completion.

Get it in writing (into the contract, if possible), and be sure you work out any exchange-rate snafus before it is a done deal.

Yes, it is possible some could make this arrangement, then take the first payment and 'ghost,' but it seems to be better for all the parties concerned, if you remember to try to see it from the (hopefully scrupulous!) hak-won owner's side, as well as the teacher's.

Good luck!

Glen

kojangee · Joined: 11 Mar 2003 Location: Canada

I had my return ticket, used it, and didn't get dinged or sued from anyone.

But then again, I also kept my copy of the contract and make sure I knew exactly all the violations my boss made just in case.

I counted 17.

regicide · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Location: United States

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

If the school pays for the ticket then there is no way in hell that they will leave it with you. Also, isn't there a problem with an open ticket after one year?

---You sound like you are planning to bail on the school and want them to pay for you to do it. Usually, I always defend the teacher against the school, but in this case I would have to say that you sound like a jerk.