Korean Job Discussion Forums

PBRstreetgang21

Ok, so I applied to this school in advert I saw online. School shoots me back some mail saying they're full but he knows a guy in the same town who could use a teacher. The director of that school calls me up does "interview" they do and Ive got a job. Things are going well and all is assemble except my apostilled background check that was supposed to take two weeks has turned into a beauracratic nightmare of snafu and cock up that takes almost two months. In the meanwhile my new director asks for my other documents to see if we can geta head start on things while we wait from the crim check. Thats a no go. But finally after weeks and weeks of extra waiting I finally get the crim check and send it off only to have him call me back after Ive sent him the last of my docs that he has given my job to someone else. But he promises he'll find me a job.

He finds me a job-- no where I really want.

So I find a job. I like the job Ive found.

I call him and let him know, and that they will be contacting him for my documents.

They call him.

The call me, "The guy with the documents wants 1.2million won or he wont hand them over."

So I call him and try not to get as ugly as I want to be, but he can tell Im pissed. His argument is that he paid the 1.2 to be introduced to me, and that either the school pays it or I do but he is not giving them up. He said I can let HIM find me a job with a school that will pay it, and that would be fine. But at some level he wants his money. I tell him I dont give a rats ass, thats my DIPLOMA, and it takes a minimum of three months to get a NEW one you better damn well send it where I ask. Its not my fault you passed my job up.

So first of all it appears Ill just have to wait at least three months before I can try and find a job in Korea. I certainly dont trust the guy enough after this to even bother taking a job he finds me. But I want to know....is this guy really serious about this paying to introduce me? I didnt use a recruiter and neither did he. Am I totally out of bounds saying its not my fault you paid that (if its true) and Im not paying it?

Pooty · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Location: Ela stin agalia mou

That sucks man. Never give your only copy of anything that is important to you to anyone for more than three minutes. You're worth money to them, and they don't give a rats ass about you.

diver · Joined: 16 Jun 2003

Name and location of school?

cazzy3 · Joined: 07 May 2008 Location: kangwon-do

are you currently out of the country?

you are not bound to anything unless you signed a contract which sounds like you haven't done. they have no right to hold your diploma for ransom as it sounds like they're doing.

it seems the man you've been speaking with probably tried to sub-contract you out to another school and reap the benefit of a recruiter's fee.

see if there is a teacher at the school or someone else you can speak to about getting your diploma sent back to you. even if you have to pay for the cost of shipping.

good luck.

PBRstreetgang21 · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:37 pm Post subject:

Well the thing was....I HAD signed a contract with him. But he signed a contract with a new teacher. So I assume that contract isnt really valid anymore.

As far as the school goes....I dont know that I should be naming names but since he seems to have done me one good....Ill do him one too.

The School is called Wall English Institute and its Jeonju.

BTW does anyone think I should let him find me a job or am I right in assuming that that is a ridiculously undeserved amount of trust

cazzy3 · Joined: 07 May 2008 Location: kangwon-do

sounds like he is an a#@hole for what he's doing and since you did sign a contract w/ all your documents he could process the visa requirement and basically have you by the balls.

you may want to check about the school he has ready for you, or even better- have him get a few schools that you can chose from. he needs you to come over here to work or else the person that gave him the money will be on his case.

there are plenty of schools that need teachers and are willing to pay for the recruiting fees so he should be able to come up w/ a few options for you to look into.

since he's acting like a recruiter- see if he can provide the same options they can by offering different jobs based on YOUR needs.

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

He won't process the VISA. It will cost him time and money to sign an absent body and then look for a new teacher. Imigration only grants a certain number of VISA slots per school (in accordance with enrollment). So, he will need to free your spot in order to hire someone else.

Make it clear to him that you're not stayiong in Korea.

Ruraljuror · Joined: 08 Dec 2007

Glass half empty: What a sh!tty thing to have happen to you. You have terrible luck.

Glass half full: You should thank your lucky stars...had you been able to accept that job you would have been miserable working for that *beep*...and he definitely would have robbed you blind at the end of your 12 months of hell. It would have been one LOOOOOOOOOONG year.

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

What a load of crap! Good luck.

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

PBRstreetgang21 · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

Yes I understand that about working illegaly.... but Im not in Korea Im in the states--- trying to get a legal job.

He is essentialling holding my documents hostage.

I suppose the only solution is geta diploma and wait till next year. Or maybe this is a sign of what a racket the hagwon industry is.
Hagwon directors are the used car salesmen of Korea

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Ok, here's what makes sense:

NEVER, EVER BOTHER TRYING TO GET A JOB WITH ANY BUT THE LARGEST OF THE HAKWONS, AND EVEN THEN, STAY IN BIG CITIES. AND EVEN THEN, STILL CHECK THEM OUT AND TALK TO ALL THE TEACHERS.

NEVER, EVER BOTHER WITH A HAKWON JOB UNTIL YOU'VE EXHAUSTED ALL MEANS OF GETTING A PUBLIC SCHOOL JOB IN A BIG CITY.

I_Am_The_Kiwi · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

That sux, what an asshole he is. Guess its always a risky move sending original documents overseas. Esp to this bloody country.
I hope when you get to Korea you go and pay this bastard a visit. Perhaps a few flat tyres or keyed car would be a nice thank you note to leave.

If it was me, personally i wouldnt pay him out of pure spite and get new documents. Then start again with a recruiter.

howie2424 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

Sorry to hear about your situation. It truly sucks and happened to me a few years back while I was in country when I was still naive enough to hand over original documents. I can only imagine what it must be like to have this happen while you�re still at home.

In my case the owner flat out refused to return my docs and the police didn�t seem very interested in taking any steps to secure their return on my behalf. My best advice to you is to immediately order a new diploma from your alma mater and start looking elsewhere for work. That�s what I did. It cost me a few bucks and took a few weeks but it was the only effective solution. Good luck to you.

kiwiliz · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Location: New Zealand

Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing..we have given the OP lots of sympathy but nothing helpful...would the Labour Board..or the threat of the board help? or talk to Immigration...or something.
It appears he has not filled int he forms and has hired someone else so holding on to your documents would appear to be a little illegal to me...

I don't know myself but hopefully someone can offer some ideas...personally I would drop a few things into the conversation..like labour board..who knows..might work