Korean Job Discussion Forums

bettyspaghetti · Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul (Mokdong)

So I got here June 4th. I was supposed to be paid on July 15th. They put half of my first months salary in my acct on the 16th and said the other half would go in on the 17th (?). Then on the 17th they **promised** to pay me the other half by the 22nd.

Yesterday they told me that they did not put the money in. The school is running a summer camp in the Phillipines and my employers left this morning (one boss for 3 weeks and the other for 1 week). They are taking 20 students to the tune of $ 6,000 each for 5 weeks total- so they received a large amount of tuition presumably. However, they told me that they *might* be able to pay me next Thursday- but if not then then not until the 15th of August- my second pay day. So I will have been here almost 2 and a half months receiving only 1 million won.

Obviously, I am worried and stressed about this. They gave me a receipt for my FULL payment, but did not put the Full amount of money into my account. I have no paper trail to prove this except my bank acct..

When they make promises to pay by a certain time- what kind of paper proof should I ask for. I like my job and I don't want to go home. However, there is a certain amount of Covering My Ass that needs to be done here. What is legal proof in Korea. I want to make sure that if it comes down to me having to go to the labor board I have sufficient paper work.

Any suggestions.

*Between a rock and a hard place*

plynx · Joined: 03 Jun 2008

if they provided the paper saying that they had paid you the full amount, did you SIGN it? i hope not. if that's not the case, then your bank account statement should be sufficient. however, you should find another job. NOW. if they pay you late once and blatantly disregard your questioning when you approach them (pay you the NEXT month?! - HELL NO!), then chances are good that they'll continue to treat you in this manner. again: get another job. NO JOB, FOR ANY REASON, SHOULD EVER PAY YOU LATE.

bettyspaghetti · Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul (Mokdong)

Yes, but I'm sure they won't simply release me. I am locked into this school by my visa, no?

Should I just walk away with out any pay?

How will this look in terms of reapplying for another e2 visa? I have read that I must be released first.

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

So are you going to be working whilst the boss is away on a free holiday to Thailand? You should demand this:

No pay - No teach

Check that the school has contributed to NHI, Pension and is paying tax. It all likely hood he is going to be laundering the money that he earns from the Thai holiday and use it for his own personal use.

I see corruption on all sides. Visit the Tax Office with your contract, ARC and other supporting documents to find out if he is paying tax.

bettyspaghetti · Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul (Mokdong)

I don't know about tax but I know that the last employee who left - they charged her for paying into her pension but they were not.

Where is the tax office?
Do you know how I can get released from this school!??????

I have not signed anything.

How do I find someone to help me?

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

You haven't signed anything? Are you on a legal E-2? If not, then just walk away. You are working illegally.

Assuming you have an E-2, then you will need a Letter of Release from this school to go elsewhere. But it's difficult these days.

1. Tell your school that you need your pay and all legal benefits, because you'd rather not have to deal with the labor board on this.

2. If they don't provide you with your pay and benefits, then go to the labor board and file a complaint.

3. Follow what they say to do.

Your boss has you hogtied unless you get off of your duff and do something about it yourself. He is the type that will push you as much as he can. No one can help you but yourself, and Korean bosses NEED to know that they can't screw with you. In every sense of the word, these bosses (generally men) are children. Treat them as such. They need guidance. They have been coddled and had their asses kissed by their parents their whole lives. YOU need to show them the boundaries.

Be kind and respectful the whole way... smile and be oh so nice. Let him blow his top. It will piss him off to high heaven if you don't.

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

Either they pay on time or you get your walking papers to find a job that does.
I have never heard of a situation where an employee wasn't paid on time that ended up good. No pay no work.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Keep in mind that by following my advice, you will be pissing off this boss to no end, but you will get paid. I'd say that, at this point, there is no reason why you should want to stay at this place anyway.

Another tactic I used once was to go into the office and just sit in a chair. You show up to work, but refuse to work until you are paid. Then they can't say that you quit and wouldn't come to work. Sit there all day if you have to.

Be calm and kind the whole time, and demand your pay.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

Have you contacted your recruiter, assuming you used a recruiter? Doing that may help you get paid. It'll definitely help you get set up for a new job.

Another school is sending a bunch to the Philippines. It's definitely not the first time I've heard this. What's going on?

plynx · Joined: 03 Jun 2008

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

bettyspaghetti · Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul (Mokdong)

I went in yesterday and talked to the manager. She is their employee as well. It turns out that they owe her around 6 million won.

The employee I replaced- they owed her 8 million won but I think they have since paid that.

The other employee who was trying to get her pension fund money back- when I got to the school they owed her 10 million won. Over the next two weeks they paid her 4 million won and when she left for Canada they still owed her 6 million won but gave her a signed note saying that they would pay that to her in 2 weeks...

So basically, even if they do pay me now for the 2nd half of June- I don't really want to stay at this school.

The manager is quitting in August (she said she was "bribed" to stay this long) and the other secretary is leaving in August too. The other foreign teacher (there are only two of us) is already looking for a new job and plans to quit on Monday as his apartment (like mine!) came with nothing on the contract- no AC, kitchenware, etc.. They were supposed to reimburse him for his flight upon arrival but have now pushed that back until...

August 15th.

What happens if I quit and get another job?

How does the release letter work.

The manager thinks that the Hagwon is going to go under and that the owner is going to sell it off. What does that mean for me?

lowpo · Joined: 01 Mar 2007

poet13 · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject:

File a complaint with Labor straight away. The number is 1350. You have to file in person, and do it at the correct office.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

You will most likely NOT get your money, so the best thing is just to go to the labor office and file a complaint.

I'm sorry about your situation. I've been through a similar one....it sucks big time.

Do not believe them when they say they will pay next week, next month etc.

That's what they told the other teachers who are owed 6 million.

The best you can do is leave and find another job now.