Korean Job Discussion Forums

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

I am leaving hagwon after end of contract and I was told not to look for job in same neighborhood. As long as I did they would give me a good reference. Has this happened to anybody? Whats everybody's advice? Confused

Join Me · Joined: 14 Jan 2008

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

Some private institutes have clauses written in their contracts to keep you from working for another place within a certain distance.
If you make an agreement, stick with it... because you will lose in court if it ends up there.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

I have lived in same place for over 3 years and know a lot of people. Its also very convenient to everything. I can understand about them not wanting competition, but I dont think I need to move across town. And if pay is better...why not?

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Hogwans give good references? Don't bet on it. If you have a good rep in your neighborhood, the next hogwan director knows it and will offer you a contract with or without your old director's reference or approval.

But as stated, read the fine print.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

Non-competition clauses usually stipulate that you cannot work for a direct competitor. I've signed them in the past and have left the industry as a whole when I quit. I've never heard of such a thing as 'don't work in my neighbourhood'. Seems a bit ridiculous to me too.

This isn't Hollywood in the 30s...your boss can't rightfully say 'you'll never work in this town AGAIN!'. Come on.

OP, would it bother you to commute to work? Most people do, and I personally don't find it to be a hassle. I like working somewhere other than where I live. You wouldn't have to move this way...

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

Right, but I find it weird using that kind of clause in an hagwon. There are thousands in the city alone. How can you make the distinction between one in the same neighbourhood and one a few kms away? It's not the same as direct competition clauses back home. They're usually for big businesses, not little enterprises that are a dime a dozen.

Plus, if these clauses really did stand up in court, what would happen? We'd have a one-contract chance in this country. Doesn't make sense.

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

The question is, is that clause in the OP's contract. From the sounds of things, it isn't. So then you can work in the same neighbourhood. Whether its worth the hassle is a different question.

When I quit my Hagwon job, I was told I would only get a letter of release if I didn't work in the same city. My school told students and parents that I had gone home due to a family emergency, and obviously students seeing me at the school down the road would have outed them as liars. Perhaps your school will be doing something similar.

At a Hagwon, English and you the teacher are the commodities being sold, and if students like you, they will follow you within reason, can't blame the hagwon for trying to protect their interest but if you like the area and have a decent offer, I'd stick around.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

It's quite a common request, both for foreign and Korean teachers. Of course once you've got a new job there's nothing they can do about it.

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

OP, what kind of distance are they talking about? Same street? Same town?