Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sarbonn]

Some of you may remember me from such television shows as "I haven't got paid", "It's been a long time since I've been paid", and "I don't think I'm ever going to get paid". (bad Simpsons/Futurama reference)

Anyway, my job hasn't paid me in three weeks now (he's 3 weeks late), and each day I would talk to my director, he would give me the infamous "I will pay you tomorrow" (or fill in an appropriate amount of time to sound believable). And of course, tomorrow would show up, and there'd be no pay. Same thing happened for yesterday. Was supposed to pay yesterday. Didn't happen.

So, I went in today (my day off) to settle this because other job offers have been actually coming my way. And one thing I noticed was that this was another one of those times when the boss has disappeared and can't be found. As a matter of fact, the last time I heard when I was getting paid, it was relayed through his secretary (who for the record, hasn't been paid either). He doesn't answer his cell phone either, although once he sent me a text message, saying something like "sorry, I pay you tomorrow", and we can all guess how that turned out.

Anyway, so how does one handle it when you can't even get in to see the guy who is in charge so you can get an LOR, which I doubt he's going to give me anyway? Any shortcuts at doing the whole paperwork over again? Am I just better off saying screw this and using the last few won I have to find a plane ticket and go home, hoping to get an immediate job when I get home? (Unfortunately, I haven't been here long enough to even save up enough money to make a clean getaway, as I was going to be starting that nest egg with this last paycheck and the next one that is due next week, which I know I'm probably never going to see)

Yeah, I know I can go to the labor board, but I'm positive he doesn't even have money, so it's going to be like squeezing money out of a rock right now. I'm really running out of options and not sure of what to do. What makes it worse is that I'm still working because I realize the second I stop working, I'll probably get kicked out of my apartment and end up homeless as well as jobless in a country where I'm not allowed to work.

So yeah, I'm stupid and naive, so now that we got that out of the way, any helpful, constructive responses?

[Xuanzang]

You could write your own LOR and then "borrow" his name stamp. I dont why he wont just release you since he's obviously living off loans/lines of credit. guess he wants to milk every last hour out of you until everything totally collapses. Make arrangements to depart. It sounds like it's inevitable. Sorry man.

[marlow]

Do the release letter yourself and see if you can get the school's stamp on it.

Put the business contact information on the release letter and the boss's information.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I had a list of all the parents' phone numbers. I called several with a bilingual friend saying that I had some concerns I wished to discuss, and would you please call the director asap so that he knows. Within minutes the director (who couldn't speak English) had phoned the supervisor, who phoned me pleading with me to stop and promising whatever I wanted.

The next day we were off to immigration to process my LOR.

[TBirdMG]

Yu_bum_suk is smart: threaten the revenue stream and the boss will get rid of you any way you want. If you have the power to control the people that pay tuition, I promise that you'll get your pay AND a LOR. He will be SO happy to see you on your way.....

Good on you YBS...