Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Luvlykylady]

I've been working in Korea for over a year now. This is my first and only trip here. I'm sure what I'm about to say isn't something new to most of you. I'm hoping that someone considering coming here will read this and do more research than I did. Also.....if anyone has any ideas....I'm open.

In November of last year, I started working for a hagwon. I worked there until November 24th of this year. I worked my entire year contract. During this time, I spent money on school supplies, candy, gifts and other things for the hagwon. I didn't miss a day of work. In other words, I was a good employee.

About April, I got sick and tired of not being paid on time. I threw a fit. I also brought up the fact that I hadn't ever received health insurance and an air conditioner. I got my pay on time and I got the air conditioner but I didn't get health insurance. My boss refused. He said that he would have to pay back premiums and all of this other stuff and he finally managed to talk me out of it.

In late August, I found out that my mother was terminally ill with cancer. I also have a grandchild that is due most any day now. I gave my hagwon owner WRITTEN notice that I wasn't going to renew my contract. I even interviewed the new applicants for him. Again, I bent over backwards to accomodate him.

A few weeks ago, I started talking to him about leaving. He gave me three separate leave dates. I told him that I wanted to go home as soon as possible. I have a very ill mother and a grandson on the way. I finally pinned him down to a leave date of December 10th!!!! I got VERY mad and told him that I wanted to leave before then. He told me that I wasn't allowed to leave before the new teacher showed up. I told him that was bull. Then I asked him about my severance pay. He told me that he didn't have to pay it and wasn't going to pay it either. We argued for a while. During this time, he threatened me and tried to bully me. After listening to him tell lie after lie and being threatened with things such as "I make sure you get no money" I got pissed and left. He actually had the nerve to tell me if I worked till December 10th, he would give me half my severance, but no salary. I guess I was supposed to work for free.

I left and didn't go back. He tried to force his way into my apartment the next day and he threatened me once again. I told him I was calling the police and he went away. I have been staying in my apartment because I have no other place to go other than a "love" motel at this point. He has shut off my electricity and gas and has been coming into the apartment and rifling through my things. I was under the impression I had 30 days to leave but I found out that I probably do, but I don't get those sort of rights here in Korea.

I went to the police station and made a police report. They told me that they couldn't do anything for me because he didn't actually hit me. I've called my embassy....the US...and I can't even get them to call me back. During all of this, my former boss is stealing my mail and watching the apartment.

I filed arbitration and I talked to an attorney today. I do know that I have to move out and I will this weekend. Bottom line is, he is acting illegally and no one can do anything to help me out or to make him stop. He also deducted taxes from my paycheck and after a search, he hadn't paid any of them into the Korean tax system on my behalf. Fortunately, I have a pay slip. I also found out that my utilities bills are high enough for two apartments and there is a remote possibility that I am paying for two accounts on some of my bills.

This has been a nightmare. I don't feel safe and very little is done to help me. At this point, I don't even have enough funds to get home. I certainly won't have them after I stay at a hotel for a week or so. I will have to borrow the money to get home. I'm told that I will DEFINITELY win at arbitration.

I just hope that other people read this and avoid the hagwons. I really wouldn't wish this on anyone. It seems that everyone that has promised to help me, hasn't. And I keep getting told that what he is doing is illegal but that I can't do anything about it.

[VanIslander]

[son of coco]

[VanIslander]

[Big Mac]

Didn't you have a contract with an end date?

Doesn't your visa expire one year after your entry date? If so you're not even allowed to be here right now.

I don't understand why the date you leave is an issue. It's never been an issue for me at any of my jobs because it's always in the contract and there is always a visa with an end date. If they want it extended they have to make an agreement with you and with immigration.

Weren't things like medical insurance, pension and severance pay in your contract? Even if they weren't they are still mandatory and he has to pay them. The labour board will back you up on the severance pay issue, for sure. It's too late to do anything about medical insurance...it won't benefit you if you do. You'll just pay for nothing. Pension should have been paid and it would benefit you to backpay because you would get double what you put into it back when you make the application for a refund.

I don't think it is fair to say that people should avoid all hogwans because of your situation. There are good hogwans out there that do honour their contracts. I know because I've worked for one at least.

A lot of these types of problems can be avoided by making sure your contract is solid before you start a job. Also, doing your homework is important, which apparently you did not do. I still don't think you are all that clear on what the rules of the ESL game in Korea are, even after working here for a year. Sometimes our own worst enemies are ourselves.

[makemischief]

[VanIslander]

I am not bitter; the op is bitter!

A bit blunt, yeah, because the op shows absolutely no awareness of her own role in her difficulties (not that she is to blame, that he is right/she wrong - no, it's more nuanced, more contextual/cultural than that!).

If anyone here thinks they can get angry at their Korean boss, make them lose face by calling out what they say as untrue, and seek to end the relationship on bad terms AND get severance?? (*headshake*)

The law is your only help now then, 'cuz culturally you're goin' up the river without a paddle.

[Savant]

To the OP, your boss sounds like a right piece of work. Hope, you can get all the money back that he has stolen and denied from you.

Korea works different than back home; it shouldn't but it does.

Some Korean hagwon owners will cheat you because they know they can get away with it time and time again because no-one stands up to them.

The OP's boss said he was not going to pay severance, never paid health insurance and cheated her out of tax. I'm sure the relationship was going to end with them being friends for life.

[nero]

[Real Reality]

Ministry Tackles Overdue Wages
By Cho Ji-hyun, The Korea Herald (January 13, 2009)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/14/200901140033.asp
image url:
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/img_dir/2009/01/13/200901130012.jpg

Workers Turning to Government to Get Unpaid Wages
By E Choong-hyoung, JoongAng Ilbo (January 20, 2009)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2900056

[ontheway]

OP,

What was your first day of work under your contract?

What was your last day supposed to be?

Do you have an Alien Registration Card?

What is the date your sojourn expires, on the back of your ARC?



Check these things quickly. You have probably finished your contract, according to your post and you may be in Korea illegally.


And, how could it be, after a whole year here that you haven't saved enough money to fly home? Of course, your school probably owes you for return airfare, final month salary, 1 year of pension (employer's share:12x4.5% of your salary) and your severance - I'm guessing that you've recieved none of these, so maybe about 6 million won - but you should have saved quite a bit up till now.

Keep your chin up and fight back. What city are you in? Maybe some Davite's can help out.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[sunnata1]

If your start date was in November then your contract should have expired in November. Why are you still in Korea?

Why aren't you in a taxi right now on the way to the airport? If you're leaving and not coming back why haven't you just left?

[cruisemonkey]

[some waygug-in]

I have to agree with this part of Van Islander's post:

If you gave WRITTEN NOTICE then you should have indicated the exact date in that letter that would be the last you would be available to work. If that is the end of your contract time, then put that in.

The whole trying-to-persuade-him-that-you-need-to-leave argument is misplaced, as you are not to seek permission but instead to inform. If you sound like you are seeking his approval then of course he won't give it and get you to work until it suits him. You gave him the power over a decision that you frankly should have made by yourself and simply informed him of, refusing to argue the fact at all.



Your boss has no power to tell you to stay longer than you wish. Just leave. You would most likely not have gotten all your salary in any case.