Korean Job Discussion Forums

Sahara95355 · Joined: 25 Mar 2008

[b]

I went to the Labor Board and founght a few rounds with my school and came to the agreement that I could stay in my apartment until December 23 and I would finsh my work with them tonight December 5. Then during the evening they demanded I work at the other campus owned by a different Hogwon owner and to sign this note that I will. I refused and they said I had to move out of my apartment tonight, and they refused to pay me my money for November and the extra pay agreed by the labor board. I raced home grabbed a few a valuables and staying temporary in a hotel. I locked my apartment door and some of my stuff is still in the apartment.[b] I need a hotline number to call.[/b]

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Hanson · Joined: 20 Oct 2004

If I were you, I would stay in the apartment until the agreed upon date at Labour, the 23rd, and have the locks changed ASAP. Check the IaninIlsan thread - that's what he did...

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=75572&start=0

I have a feeling your director set you up by telling you to do something they knew you would refuse, and then using that refusal to get you out, even though they can't force you out.

This may get ugly, but I would advise you to keep possession of the apartment until the 23rd.

Sorry, I don't have any contact numbers for you, but good luck.

daz1979 · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Gangwon-Do

You should also post the name of this Hagwon to avoid other working there in future!

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:58 am Post subject:

inkoreaforgood · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Location: Inchon

They waited until the weekend for a reason.

If you're gutsy enough, you could lock yourself in the apartment all weekend, call the cops or something if someone should try to get in. They are going to show up with a locksmith(if they don't have a key already), open the door and dump your stuff.

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:01 am Post subject:

jadarite · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:04 am Post subject:

Another option is to get a goshiwon. They only cost like 200,000 won a month and come with free internet. It may help if you are in transition.

buymybook · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Location: Telluride

What help do you need? Keep your reciepts for the hotel/Goshiwons cost at least 250 thousand won per month but more like 300 these days. Depends on where you stay. Just be ready to evacuate quickly because they are know to have fires.

I'll help you avoid reading 70 + pages of stuff 'Hanson' provided as a link. Just so you know the battle before you, I copied/pasted from what I wrote on another thread...

Even if you video tape your employer illegally entering your home that won't help much because I still have proof(all documented and on a CD downloaded from a camcorder which was provided to the Police/Prosecutor/Court) of my past employer firing me illegally, not paying my salary money, entering my house illegally, taking my luggage outside to the street out of my sight, stalking me, assaulting me in my house by kicking me, spitting on me, attempting to drag me outside like a dog, nearly pulling my arm out of socket while holding my camcorder in the other hand. That�s right Mr. Joongang daily, would you like to put that on the news channel? I still have the CD/camcorder evidence!

I once went to a government funded attorney who asked me why I video-taped my past employer. I told him because I thought I needed to defend myself and he told me I shouldn�t have done that. I told him that he took pictures of me when I demonstrated/protested outside the Hagwon, and he said that was "okay." Therefore, Korean logic is that it�s "okay" for Korean employers to take pictures of "Foreigners" but we can�t video-tape Korean employers while illegally entering our homes.

What the heck is wrong with so-called educated Korean Attorneys/Prosecutors/Judges? Oh, and if a �Foreigner� thinks a S. Korean Judge(s) will abide by its own court rules, they should get a clue and know rules will be obviously ignored/broken if favor of S. Korean citizens/hagwon owners/principals/government entities. That's right, S. Korean witnesses will be allowed to testify against "Foreigners" even though the court rules were not followed. Yes, there are rules before witnesses are allowed to testify, but they are ignored by S. Korean Judges.

Donald Frost · Joined: 20 Oct 2008

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

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

Yes! Get BACK in your apartment ASAP, otherwise you will find your posessions 'gone'. Have the lock changed today if you feel they may try to come in. They can't evict you and the police will support you in this.

Sahara95355 · Joined: 25 Mar 2008

Last night I went with a friend and checked out the apartment. Nobody been there and since I can not change the locks on the apartment, because it is an officetel. I put rubber cement into the keyhole and that should delay the Hogwon owner. I will definately move back to the apartment on late Sunday night or early Monday morning. I have also been to the police and told them about the situation. They took a copy of my ARC and they gave me a phone number to call ARS: 1544 - 1350

Does anyone have a different number for immigration that I should know? I am more worried about the Hogwon cancelling my E-2 visa, would I have to leave the country right away?

My last day at work was this Friday, which was the agreement made between me, Hogwon owner, and the Labor person. I would be allowed to stay in the apartment until December 23.

Join Me · Joined: 14 Jan 2008

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

If they fire you, I believe you may be able to get 1 month extra pay out of them, and easily get a new visa for a new school. And they won't be able to just kick you out of the apartment.

They probably do hope you'll leave, so they don't have to pay you.

Be calm. Stick around. Hold up your end of whatever the labor board said to do. Take notes and record any audio you can. Document your boss's stupidity. Use it as ammo later.

If they cancel your E-2, that's a good thing, because it'll mean you can get a new job more easily and stick around to get what he owes you (probably including an extra month of pay).

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

STAY IN THE APARTMENT. DON'T LEAVE, even if they come and pound on the door and threaten you. Just stay inside.

Can you speak Korean or know someone who can speak Korean? Call the police if they won't let you back in the apartment. If you have someone who speaks Korean with you, you can win this one EASILY. If anything is missing, like CASH, let the police know and let them know who has access to the apartment.