Korean Job Discussion Forums

bogey666 · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone

out of curiosity.

is one allowed to take vacation during the school semesters? (meaning outside of the usual August and January periods?

like say a week sometime else? (i'm in a gepik ps)

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

As a general rule - no.

However, it's up to your principal. If he says "Ok", it's Ok... this is why you always pour his soju with both hands. Wink

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

When it is allowed, the teach usually has to make up those classes at some other time. The thinking is that the students are entitled to X number of classes per term.

I_Am_The_Kiwi · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

All depends on your Principal. You don't have much right to demand it outside of their normal vacation time. But you can ask very nicely.

Make up classes only depend on school as well. I know people who have to make up a class if it was on during exams and stuff, others (like me) who don't have to make up any for any reason.

Cracker006 · Joined: 11 Feb 2008

I was told that, outside of the guidelines of the contract (sick days, marriage, births, deaths) I couldn't ask for time off.

poet13 · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

I think it is up to your school. I have been given weeks off during exams, days off for school trips, etc. The point though is that I didn't acutally have any classes during those times. After my first contract here, I had to fight NOT to take my home leave during the semester (September). Now this year, with my wife having a baby next week, I had to fight tooth and nail to take my home leave. Go figure.

bogey666 · Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone

poet13 · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:54 pm Post subject:

I don't know. i know of an EPIK guy who was delighted to have two weeks off during school. My personal take on it is that it is hard enough to be taken seriously here without skiving off on vacation during the school semester.

On the other hand, I didn't feel bad about insisting on this because last year, when I didn't take time off during school, initially they said I could take that time during the winter break. Then come winter break, they gave me some bullshit line about not being out of the country for more than my allowed regular one week. I took the time anyways, but wtf?

Sometimes I think Koreans (well, not just Koreans...) disagree with a good thing because they didn't think of it first.

I also think that it's a control issue. No matter what we do, someone thinks they need to have a hand in it. Case in point. School kept asking me when I was going to get a cell phone. (never offered to help) Just before sumer break I got 2 cell phones in case my wife had an emegency.
They asked for the number. I didn't want to give it to them, but I asked why they needed it?
"Why do you need it?"
"So we can call you."
"Why do you need to call me?"
"So we know what you're doing."

Damn sometimes I'd like to cut that hand off.