Korean Job Discussion Forums

RoyBatty · Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Location: NYC

I have a friend who has been working for a really large, well known hagwon but is planning on leaving soon. He currently owes upwards of 600,000 won in electric and utility bills (there was a major billing mishap due to the hagwon's realtor screwing up the rent contract, so the bill probably shouldn't be that high), but due to the fact that the hagwon holds zero collateral on him, and that he feels they treated him rather poorly during his employment, he feels inclined not to pay and to simply leave the bill for the hagwon (it will presumably be taken out of the hagwon's key deposit).

His only concern is if this large, powerful corporation of a hagwon would be able to take any legal recourse against him for bailing on the bill. For instance, would they be able to alert immigration and keep him from leaving / entering Korea? Would he instantly become a fugitive in Korea? He assumes that once he's back home, the hagwan will have no recourse, but he is rather fond of Korea and would like to be able to return when he'd like to.

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience about this sort of situation?

giraffe · Joined: 07 Apr 2009

His utility bill has nothing to with how poorly he was treated by the hagwon. Is he just looking for a revenge or excuse for not paying his bill? Would you pull this kind of stuff in your own home country? Yes there are bad employers in korea but this is the kind of stuff that gives bad reputations to foreigners.. Its no excuse... Just pay the bill and move on.. it has nothign to do with the hagwon since youre responsible to pay bills. If theres a bill mishap because of the realtor contract then before your friend leaves the hagwon he better get that mishap fixed and then pay the amount he actually owes. Or he can ask the hagwon to cover the difference in the mishap because of their small mistake. Either way you friend should pay something for the utilities since he did use them...

Edit: unless the hagwon owes him money Embarassed

I think it be ok to leave them with the bill.. If not then He should be paying the bills he owes.

mekku · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Location: daegu, korea

wow...how is that possible? like you said, it sounds as if the bill is wrong. my electricity and gas were only 30-40,000 a month combined...even after a year that is only around 370,000 won. and they sure don't keep your power and gas going if you haven't paid the bill in a year.

if i was your friend, i'd get the school working with the power and gas companies to figure out where the problem is and then pay the appropriate amount he owes.

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

They can't prevent him from leaving the country, but they can prevent him from getting a job here again.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject:

Clear up the billing issue and pay what you owe..oh sorry your friend should pay what he owes.

SeoulMan6 · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Location: Gangwon-do

It's people like your friend who cause employers to withhold deposit money from new employee's paychecks, who then come on this forum to complain about it.

oskinny1 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

That bill sounds way to high. Is your friend running a pc room on the side?

There has to be something wrong with the billing and he/she needs to find out exactly what's going on.

As far as leaving the bill, it won't hurt your hagwan any.... they'll just expect the next foreign teacher to pay for it.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject:

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

ardis · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

Kimsmith · Joined: 26 May 2008 Location: The holographic Universe

Do the decent thing and pay.

RoyBatty · Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Location: NYC

I'm sorry but I never asked for the moral judgement of people who know nothing about my friend's situation. He's got some legitimate reasons, and I'm pretty sure many of you would consider the same if you were in his position.

Once again, I ask the simple question on behalf of my friend: does anyone have similar experience or anecdotes they can relate on this sort of situation?
Would the hagwon theoretically be able to keep him from leaving / re-entering the country?

I know it's hard but let's stick to the question and try not to be judgmental.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Obviously, this depends on his case. However, I don't think his security deposit was only 600,000 won. So, the question then would be, why would he sacrifice not getting that extra money if he didn't actually have good reason that the hagwon would screw him?

Sounds like he won't get his money, bills are not really his, I have some bills from the previous teacher here, and no one has offered to pay them.

So, when you get these carryover bills, why should the teacher pay it? There was also another teacher that I worked with that had a similar problem. They ended up evicting her, but they were trying to get gas money from dates before she moved in. The hagwon was just trying to stick it to her.

Hagwons and any other schools need to bring the amount down to ZERO before a new teacher moves in.

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007