Korean Job Discussion Forums

lisac1983 · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Location: sydney, australia

a few years ago i studied in korea and am returning in february to teach english for a year. ive been offered loads of jobs already and ive been studying the contracts. one thing that has me a little concerned is they all seem to state that should i voluntarily terminate the contract before 12-months is up i would have to pay a refund for my airfare to korea.

i have no intentions of leaving before 12 months, but given that i have a sick grandparent i wish to prepare myself just in case something should happen. i was always under the impression that after 6 months a one-way airfare is guaranteed and a return flight is secured after 12 months. so this is not the case? if i reached the 10 or 11 month mark, for example, i would still have to repay my flight there?

can someone please clarify this for me. cheers.

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

The norm that I knew of was if you finished 6 months, you didn't have to pay back the flight here but were responsible for the flight home. This is the way it goes where I work. They also pay for the plane ticket here. Some places will have you pay for the ticket, then re-imburse you.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject:

Polonius articulated what has been the norm.

However, things with regard to airfare are changing because of a multitude of factors.

Even public - EPIK (I haven't seen SMOE or GEPIK) - contracts for 2009 do not address "airfare" but instead contain clauses re: "entry, exit & renewal allowances" specifying fixed, monitary amounts.

Any contract (public or private) that requires you to pay back the "loan" of airfare (or 'entry allowance') to K-land after six months is not worthy of consideration.

maingman · Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea

lisac1983

a sugggestion
go and try a hakwon, best of luck!