Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cthulhu R'lyeh]

So I just finished my midnight run last night. I couldn't stand working for the boss anymore and just had to get out. The job I had was in Gyeonggi-do and I actually enjoyed my time in Korea, just absolutely hated my job. My boss was pulling all kinds of sneaky stuff like not paying me for over time, trying to get out of paying my health, pension etc. Is there any way I can come back to Korea before the year on the visa that I just had canceled is up? I was here for 3 months.

[butlerian]

[whoami]

Sorry about your situation, but it looks like you don't have many options. I take it you handed your ARC to customs when you left. As I understand it, by leaving without giving notice, your boss is required to inform immigration of your departure. This would go on record at Immigration, which could cause you problems if you apply for a new E2 visa in the future. On the other hand, it may not. If they don't report you as having left your job for whatever reason, they could face possible sanctions, but you will still in all likelihood be registered by Immigration as having broken your contract. If I were in your position, I'd start looking for work in Japan, China or Taiwan, and forget about staying here.

P.S. Did you actually get an LoR from them?

[bejarano-korea]

I can shed some light on your question - I was in the employ of a hagwon until March when after a row about how I greeted my boss (not nicely enough according to her whereas I thought I was being my usual chipper self) I just upped and left for the airport whilst emptying my bank account
and came home.

I wrote to worknplay about returning to Korea after my current visa expired and the nice person on the other end of the emails 'Michelle' wrote back saying 'Do you want to work now' and I told her the situation and that I didn't have an LoR and she said it didn't matter - Just get my docs in order (which is an absolute pain in the arse) and send them to her.

I'm now at the juncture where I will be flying out on the 24th to start work at a PS in Yongin - this is down to the embassy in London issuing me with a visa but it looks like they are going to do it, immigration in Korea have given me the OK and of course so have GEPIK so I don't see why you can't do the same.

I wouldn't think it would be this way if you went to work for another hagwon, it looks like GEPIK/EPIK/SMOE carry weight within immigration
and if they offer you a job then thats a good a green light as you are going to get.

Write to Michelle at worknplay - she has been really good to me and I'm sure she will fix you up with a PS job with GEPIK.

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[yeremy]

If you worked at a GEPIK public school before you took off, you may be out of luck. I know that EPIK won't re-hire you at another EPIK school if you do a midnight run. I'm sure that GEPIK will do the same if they have made a note of it.

If you were at a hagwon and hated it, I sympathize but I did my time in a hagwon, too. I managed to get a ps job and then a LOR so I left with some dignity. I'm not getting down on you or personal. Some friends of mine did a run years ago because they worked at a financially unstable hagwon in down south in Gwangju and they had no plans to return to Korea afterwards.

It must be the season or something like that for runners in Gyonggi-do. I heard about two other runners around the same time as you took off. Good luck in whatever you do.