Korean Job Discussion Forums

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Well I have been fired. Not good but the school will give me the letter of release. Bads feeling between me and school but in the end they will deal honestly with me.

So school will give me a letter of release. I will get both an english and korean version both stamped and signed. I got the english version off of http://efl-law.com. Yet the site if vague on some areas.

So questions about the letter of release? I know I have to go to the immigration and register the letter. But does my old/ex boss or director have to come? I think getting my old/ex boss or director to come with me immigration will be difficult if not immpossible. Or can I just go on my own and give it to immigration.

I have heard that I have two weeks to look for a new job and then I have to head to another country for a visa run (torusit or E2)? Is this true? I have heard contradictary statements saying that I can sign up with a new school and not worry about a new visa run.

Do I have to register the letter of release right away or can I put it off a week or two while I look for a job? Or will immigration get all nasty about me registering late!?

If anybody can give me some more details about how to go through the letter of release proccess. Please and Thank You.

Skippy

mourningclam · Joined: 27 Jan 2004

I went through a similar experience. First, your director should go to immigration with you when you register the letter. He or she has to put in some other forms into immigration inorder to officially say that you are no longer working there. It is actually in the director's benefit to go with you because ther are only so many teachers the director can legally hire versus the ratio of students. Also, it would be a good idea to get a photo copy of the release letter to show to a prospective employer. Once you finish the immigration thing, you will get an exit order to leave the country within a couple weeks. Immigration will take your alien ID.

I would start looking for a new job now. Once you get the job, you will have to go to Japan to do a visa run. It is sort of a pain in the ass, but see if you could spend a couple extra days in Osaka while doing it. It makes it more relaxed, good shopping near the consulate. Hope that helps.

Alex Buffa · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: South Korea

If they fired you, you don't need a letter of release. Your being fired voids the contract.

You should have known this already. Your letter of release is not necessary. Just go get another position.

Gwangjuboy · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Location: England

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Alex Buffa wrote:
If they fired you, you don't need a letter of release. Your being fired voids the contract.

You should have known this already. Your letter of release is not necessary. Just go get another position.

Completed my contract with my last school, director, my wife and I went to immigration and completed all the documents. Surrendered our ARCs and were given exit orders. No letter of release, has not been necessary to have one to secure a new position. You were terminated, Alex is correct, you do not need a letter of release. Smile

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

The only time you need a letter of release is if the immigration official doesn't want to pocket a bribe from your new employer. I've had 3 hagwon bosses pay 500,000 each on my behalf when hiring me after I quit each time.

Alex Buffa · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Location: South Korea

The reason I wrote that was because a over a year ago my school demanded 1 million won a letter of release. I told them that I would NEVER pay for my freedom nor ask anyone else to.

The cost of a flight to Japan and hotels for 5 days was cheaper, and I considered it a mini-vacation.

My contract was terminated, I was given 15 days to leave and no letter was required.

Whoever said before you need a LOR when your contract is finished has no idea what they are talking about. That paper is used to TRANSFER your contract to a new employer when it has not been cancelled. Hence a little compensation is demanded by your past employer.

I would never pay it out of principle...and the only resort he could do was to either pay me, or fire me.

Very Happy

Alex

paul · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Taiwan

Since when did you have to register a letter of release?????

When I was quit my job at a kids hogwon after three months, I got a letter of release and handed it to my new employer and that was that. Sure I had to do a visa run for my new school, but never had to visit and government officials.

I would advise my new school on the situation and let them handle the paperwork.