Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dgog]

I am posting this letter on eslcafe.com because I have seen numerous other teachers get the help they needed after they arrived in South Korea and had problems with their employers.

I was recruited by an agency in Busan as an EPIK GET level 2 teacher in Gyeongnam Province. I received my notice of appointment and signed contracts in the mail in the first week of March. At the time, I was in Paris, France. The Korean embassy there was not real keen on issuing a USA citizen an E2 visa and added many other requirements including extensive medical checks, notarized copies of diplomas, etc. I contacted my recruiter who informed me that it might be easier to have the E2 issued at the Korean Embassy in Japan. I began making arrangements and contacted the recruiter again. The recruiter was in hysterics. Literally screaming on the phone and yelling about losing her job due to teacher's visa problems. I decided to stop communicating with them, and contacted the Gyeongnam Board of Education supervisor who informed that I was still expected to arrive in Korea. I informed him that there was a delay mostly due to obtaining a criminal record check. He said I should contact him as soon as the situation was resolved. As my tenancy had expired in Paris, I decided to relocate to Dublin, Ireland.

The Korean embassy in Dublin, Ireland issued me the E2 visa the last week of March. They assured me that all of my documents were in order and that I was ready to teach in South Korea. I was under the same impression about the criminal record check requirement for several reasons: I have NO criminal history. I was under the impression that I therefore did NOT need that document. Here is why. 1)My Notice of Appointment(blue letter?) does not include this requirement as part of the E2 visa process. 2)The signed EPIK application form asked me to authorize a background check in my home country(the United States). 3) The requirement check-list supplied by my recruiter shows my criminal background check as "in progress." As I mentioned, I was unable to communicate with the recruiter, so I purchased the ticket and flew to South Korea on March 31.

After arriving in Korea, I contacted the supervisor of the school in Gyeongnam province and met with him at the provincial Board of Education In Changwon. After a successful meeting the supervisor informed that he did wish to hire me and was willing to wait for the two to four weeks for the criminal record check. A few days passed while I stayed in various budget accommodations. I requested that he met the contract guidelines by providing some accommodation for me, if even temporary. I began to worry when he on occasion sent emails claiming that I was confrontational. After calling him, he claimed there had been some confusion, and that all was in order, except, that he could NOT provide my accommodation to me WITHOUT having the criminal record check. I decided I could wait out the several weeks at budget accommodations until my contract began.

The CRC finally arrived on April 22nd. The supervisor contacted me to schedule a meeting WITH the recruiter where I would sign a new contract and finally go to my accommodation. The supervisor informed me that the recruiter promised him that they would contact me by email and accompany me to Changwon. I telephoned them and the recruiter told me that they neither knew who I was nor had agreed to any meeting. Nonetheless, I went to Changwon with my two extra-large suitcases on March 24th. The supervisor met me with someone apparently from the recruitment agency. The CRC had arrived at his office addressed with my name. He had already opened the envelope and surprised me by telling me that this WAS NOT an official document and that he did NOT wish to employ me. I admit it.. I was a little upset. I asked for my diplomas back and left.

I already have another job. The new employer contacted Korean Immigration. He was informed that my previous employer refused to either transfer the visa or cancel it. Luckily, Immigration cancelled the visa themselves and I can make a visa run. Nonetheless, I feel that I should be compensated for the airfare here, nearly a month of my wasted time and effort, and what was stipulated by my contract. I can really use your help on this..
dgog

[lifeinkorea]

You won't be compensated. You didn't have all the paperwork in order. They had every right not to give you anything, and you have every right to get another school. That's how it goes.

You now know to get ALL the paperwork. If it asks to mail orange socks with your high school girlfriend's name on it, then by golly, send them the socks. Do that, THEN guess what?

THE SCHOOL WILL PAY FOR THE FLIGHT. Yep, if you do what is told, then the school will pay for your flight and you won't be out of cash.

Make sure the school you end up with will pay for your flight home.

[cruisemonkey]

You won't be compensated because you're full of shit. The current supervisor of waygooken is female... moron.

You have no grounds on which to stand.

[bogey666]

..... I don't need a criminal background check because I don't have a criminal history...




dumb with a capital D.

ergo according to that asinine reasoning, the ones they give visas to are the ones who provide criminal background checks WITH criminal histories, so the visa recipients are mostly ex criminals.



compensated? just be thankful someone gave you a job.

[moosehead]

personally I think they do owe you at least the airfare - sounds like they weren't clear on what exactly you needed and since you were issued an E2 - you were ready to work - you really got screwed, didn't you?

call labor (1350 anywhere in K) and talk to them - make sure you have your original contract - did you get one that was signed by the school? or at least a copy for yourself the same as what was submitted to immi? you'll need receipts for your airfare of course (and maybe even boarding passes)

don't know about housing costs but you can give it a shot - the entire mess tho might be better to just chalk it up to experience here in K - it's not at all unusual what happened to you, btw, you'll live and learn is all.

good luck in your new job tho.

[ChinaBoy]

The OP sounds entirely confrontational and I expect him to be posting about problems with his new position in the near future.

[wesharris]

[cruisemonkey]

[loggerhead007]

I no longer am the biggest idiot on daves.

[the ireland]

[poet13]

sniff sniff.....someone ain't tellin' the whole truth.

[thegadfly]

http://pix.motivatedphotos.com/2008/10/1/633584945109156823-trolling.jpg

[Rory_Calhoun27]

For some reason, "International man of mystery" comes to mind after trying to read the first paragraph or two.... whether the mystery is worth solving, is itself a mystery.

Is there a question in all this?

[Kwangjuchicken]

[Straphanger]