Korean Job Discussion Forums

Seoul_Star · Joined: 04 May 2007

After debating the subject over and over, struggling with the pros and cons, I have decided to warn my potential replacement, wherever he may be.

At first I thought; �Well, no one warned me about this job, and I slaved through it for a year, hating every minute of it, but now I have emerged a better person because of it. Simply for the pure reason that no school could be worse than the one I worked at for a year. If my replacement is naive, perhaps the same treatment will do him some good as well, and then he too can move on after a year.�

But then I thought; �Man, if someone warned me about this job a year ago, I may have enjoyed my first year in Korea, with much less stress, and a much more positive opinions of Korea, Koreans, Hagwons etc�I could have done something productive with my time, I could have lead a healthier lifestyle, and enjoyed a better work environment. I could have not had the stress of a manipulative boss, who held my degree for ransom and forced me to work illegally for weeks, pay my own visa run expenses, and then attempted to force me to work beyond my contract by refusing to give me the necessary paperwork to move on.�

So dear replacement, I struggled and struggled before coming to the conclusion that I should offer you a fair warning about the job that you are signed up to begin in May (Between the 10th and 20th to be precise). In fact, there are two of you coming in the month of May, neither of you has contacted a current employee at my hagwon. You should know that recruiters have had an impossible time placing people at my hagwon, so my director is keeping your contact information locked down tighly, so we have no way of contacting you. I just know your basic description.

You: 20�s-30�s, recent collage graduate, possibly worked at a public school in Seoul, or coming to Korea for the first time. Signed a contract at a chain academy, slightly above average salary, longer than average work hours. School claims to have a high end reputation and client�le, but don�t they all? You did not request to speak with any current employees, and if you did, you were given the run-around. You got the job through a recruiter, possibly by posting on Dave�s or WorknPlay. You begin sometime between May 9th-20th, 2008. School is located in Seoul, it is a private academy. If you fit the above profile, please message me with the name of the school you have signed a contract for. If it is my school, I will relay to you all of the relevant information.

I have to refrain from using my school�s name at this point, because my boss is holding my degree, paperwork, and about 5 million won in salary, overtime, and contract completion money. I'd rather just finish out my contract peacefully and quietly without being harassed. Of course, after I�m out, I�ll come back to this thread and post the school�s detailed information.

Imrahil · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject:

Seoul_star wrote:

I have to refrain from using my school�s name at this point, because my boss is holding my degree, paperwork, and about 5 million won in salary, overtime, and contract completion money. I'd rather just finish out my contract peacefully and quietly without being harassed. Of course, after I�m out, I�ll come back to this thread and post the school�s detailed information.

How did your boss get your degree? Also, how did he end up owing you so much money? Best of luck to you, I hope you get everything you deserve.

Seoul_Star · Joined: 04 May 2007

My boss has had my degree since I fedexed it to Korea to get a visa issuance number, and has refused to give it back since then. My last month's salary is 2.7 million, plus 2.7 million in contract completion money, plus additional money owed for over time, all of which is supposed to be paid on my last day. While i fully expect to be screwed out of as much severance and final salary as possible, I try to remain optimistic, as one of the very few people ever to complete a contract at my school.

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

shifty · Joined: 21 Jun 2004

You were fortunate that you weren't called on to vouch for the school. The accrued benefits coming your way would have been at risk if you'd have had to follow your conscience.

It's just so great when a successor pops up out of the blue. At my last gig that what happened to me, so my hands were perfectly clean. It wasn't that bad a place, I mean it could've been worse.

Nevertheless, the sweet lass ran away after 3 months, and as honest broker I was able to congratulate her on her choices. .

In the final analysis it's a straight choice of the replacement's interests or those of the current teacher. Into the mix of interests must go a clean slate at the pearly gates.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

I still can't believe, after all the horror stories and information flying around this website, that people still let their bosses keep their passports, degrees, etc.

Fucking stupid.

Seoul_Star · Joined: 04 May 2007

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Problem #1: Never send your original degree.

Problem #2: Never lay down for your boss and his excuses.

Problem #3: Getting paid on time and not having a "violent" boss does not require you to let him keep your diploma.

Problem #4: You aren't new to Korea anymore, get the degree back today. Don't teach again until its in your hands.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

You should be able to easily get a replacement degree from your university. But, still, don't let them "hold it."

dzeisons · Joined: 14 Oct 2004

That's very nice of you to be concerned about your replacement. If I were you, I'd be more worried about getting my five gorillas. Good luck on that by the way.

Imrahil · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:22 am Post subject:

I can understand his worrying over his degree. If graduated from a Canadian University he can not easily get his diploma replaced. He would need to get a notorized letter stating that he has lost his degree. Seeing as he is in Korea right now, that would not be the easiest thing in the world.

Imrahil · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:23 am Post subject:

I can understand his worrying over his degree. If graduated from a Canadian University he can not easily get his diploma replaced. He would need to get a notorized letter stating that he has lost his degree. Seeing as he is in Korea right now, that would not be the easiest thing in the world.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

If any employer tried to "hold" my personal property, well they would find I would be holding their personal property at the end of the day.

Either the owner would give you back your stuff, or they would call the cops. I'd tell the cops that I was just playing the little game that the owner started.

You get my drift.

Again, why do people let their employers hold passports, degrees, their balls, and so on?

JJJ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

For my visa issueance number, they required a sealed transcript which I ordered from my uni over the phone, and they sent it directly to S. Korea from there. I learned my lesson about 8 years ago when I sent my diploma and they "misplaced it". Remember that for next time.

Anywho, good luck to you.

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

don't wait until the end of your contract to get your stuff back - you're required to leave the country 10 days after your visa expires! if you want it back, get it NOW! tell them that they're breaking the law, and you'll call the cops unless you receive YOUR property, pronto... give them 24 hours and then follow though!