Korean Job Discussion Forums

[slopey23]

Last month I gave my 30 days notice. I told my boss that my grandmother is dying. Currently I have 3 days left of work. Tonight (payday) my boss came to me and told me that they cannot pay me until they have my alien registration card and my flight itinerary. They claim they need to return my ARC; however I recieved a letter today saying I need to return it upon depature or I'll be fined. I told them this and they just apologize and say they need it and cannot pay me otherwise. I cannot give my flight itinerary either.

How do I get them to pay me in the next 3 days?

I dont need anyone to comment about how stupid it is to give a korean boss 30 days notice... i have learned my lesson.

[Thedudeabides]

so they won't accept a copy of your ARC? I know it sounds stupid, but you have to be very clear with them about what YOU need the card for. Why cant you give them an itinerary?

[slimstinator]

You will get fined 100,000 Won if you dont have your ARC on departure.

Just print another copy of your itinerary.

It seems like they just simply dont trust you are actually going to leave the country. Get them to drive you to the airport, and watch you walking through the departure gate, or get them to give you 100k!

[Cerriowen]

LOL... I thought you were asking for advice for dumping your korean BoyFriend at the end of your contract.

I would suggest - Show your boss the notice saying you have to show it when you leave. Suggest they send someone with you to the airport.

Why can't you show them your airplane ticket? Are you actually going somewhere else? You could tell them your grandmother lives in thailand.

Other than that... honestly you can't force them to pay you. If you want to stay and fight it w/ the labor board, then it's possible. Otherwise, you're screwed.

[PRagic]

Give thema copy of your itinerary along with a copy of your ARC and a separate page with the web site and contact information for Korean Immigration Services. You might also want to include the web site and contact information for the Korean Labour Board.

Tell them that they are more than welcome to check out the proceedures for themselves, but that it is Korean law that you must present your ARC when you leave the country. Also let them know that you have to be paid.

[slopey23]

I am flying to Southeast Asia. The whole situation seemed like a setup. They told me they needed this at 9 pm last night.... i was skeptical. They were so sorry, but they just couldnt pay me until they recieved this information. i didnt want to show them an itinerary and have to tell more lies.

I guess I just feel like they are making up excuses for why they cant pay me. Once i show them the itinerary will they really pay me?? Or will i just get another excuse?? Should i show it to them?

[ekul]

Does your grandmother live in South East Asia? Or are you for some reason getting a connecting flight from that region?

[Straphanger]

[slopey23]

My grandma doesnt live in SE Asia and there is no connecting flight. I just didnt think they would respond well if I told them that their hogwan is crappy and I dont enjoy babysitting the bosses daughter (for 8 hours a week) and taking her to the park. I thought I would give another country a try.

[PRagic]

Give them your itinerary and the COPY of your ARC along with the contact numbers I suggested before. IF they say anything about your destination, tell them it isn't your final destination. IF they push it, tell them that you gave the required 30 days notice and are quitting legally. IF they continue to push it, tell them you lied because it is the 'Korean way' and you just wanted them to save face; you're just terribly unhappy in Korea and need to leave.

Put off all answers to all questions as long as possible. Hem and haw and point to the 1) contract policy on quitting and notice, 2) immigration contact numbers, and 3) labour board numbers.

Good luck. Sounds like they're going to be dickheads.

[WendyRose]

Why weren't you a little more honest? By giving them a notice you would have been doing them a favor compared to the countless people who leave without a word.

I'm sure they're grateful you gave them some time to begin the replacement search - but now that you've lied you have yourself in a difficult situation.

Show them the itinerary. Make a copy of the card.

[PRagic]

The OP DID give notice. They have had time to find a replacement. That's not the issue.

[Scamps]

They don't need your ARC card or itinerary to pay you.
Tell them to call immigration so you can prove them wrong.

[Cerriowen]

[slopey23]

Yup... this ended poorly. No surprise there though. I went in and handed them my itinerary. They were grateful and gave me a cookie. Then they read the itineray and were pissed. They said they need my itinerary back to the states to insure that I wasnt going to come back to korea from southeast asia. (My ARC doesnt expire until April and they are afraid of me coming back and teaching on it). They refused to pay me, I refused to teach. It was parents day at school. There was a lot of yelling. I told my boss i have no more money for food and she offered to buy all my meals. She told me I need a doctors note from my gmom's doctor. I screamed at her. This went no where. Finally I moved to the front desk where any parent could see me. She fired me and told me she would call the cops. I told her go ahead... ill explain to them how you wont pay me. After about 10 minutes of me at the front desk- she took me to the bank to pay me (for Feb). She told me she would pay me for march after i moved out of the apartment and she checked for damage. She was supposed to pay me today. She wont return my calls and hasnt paid me. I am no longer in Seoul... so i cannot go in and make a scene.... and i just dont feel like dealing with these slimy people anymore.

After paying me she took me to immigration (to return my ARC) they politely explained to her (as i had already done) that I hand it in at the airport. She got really shady and started filling out all these forms. I have no idea what the forms were. I am wondering if she blacklisted me.

I have determined that most hogwans owners suck... some are nice to you until things stop going their way, then they become nasty and abusive. I am done with hogwans!