Korean Job Discussion Forums

Canucksaram · Joined: 29 Apr 2003

My first year's contract has been completed. End of year bonus has been paid. My flight ticket home will be rolled over into the next contract.

I agree to re-sign with the school and negotiate a new contract. The new contract is read and accepted by the school and then...limbo. Waiting game. I finally find out that the academic director FORGED MY SIGNATURE on A contract. Just WHAT contract, I'm not sure. It's certainly not the one that I re-negotiated because I haven't bloody well signed anything.

My alien registration card has been renewed. Essentially, I'm here on a legal E2 visa, but I didn't sign anything.

I've asked to see the contract that was submitted to Immigration. Quite understandably, I don't trust anybody at the school any longer, so I want to see what my forged signature has been added to.

I want to sever my ties with the school, but in a way that doesn't get me f@#ked (after all, I'm a foreigner in Korea and who knows what connections the director has, or what "expediencies" he can bribe for himself).

What I want to happen, ideally, is:

1. To get my letter of release.

2. To be paid cash for my flight home.

3. To hire an independent interpreter to accompany me and the
director to Immigration to file my letter of release and to ensure
that I'm not slandered or blackmarked by him, during the process.

Any comments/advice?

One other thing: in Korea, according to Korean law, can I sue them (for money or to somehow penalize them for their unethical and illegal action) for forging my signature?

JackSarang · Joined: 28 Jan 2003

I understand being upset at the massive breach of trust. But given the "palli palli" nature of some Koreans it looks like they just wanted to expedite things, since you made it clear you wanted to stay.

Why not wait to see what the contract states, it might after-all, be every-thing you asked for while re-regotiating. Especially if this school was decent enough that you actually wanted to stay there.

Can't give you any concrete facts on your plans, but if you can somehow proove they forged your signature you may not need to have your employer agree to a letter of release. But I doubt immigration keeps the contracts on file to compare it to your passport or something.

prairieboy · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Location: The batcave.

I don't know if Korea has any laws regarding forgery. But I'm sure if you were to mention this to your employer, "I didn't sign any contract" and threaten to go to the police you may get what you want.

Bear in mind that this is Korea and it's possible that no one at the police office or immigration will care to do anything.

If it's been signed then it's not very difficult to prove whether the signature is genuine or not. If it's photocopied or cut and pasted you will be able to tell. Your signature is unique in that it is never the same twice. However, your signature has specific charateristics that only you can replicate with any degree of accuracy.

Get someone to go to the police with you and inquire about criminal laws against forgery. You may find you now have a heafty bargaining chip.

Cheers.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I agrree that the last minute nature of korea means that they think nothing of signing documents on your behalf. I have been asked to sign a contract on behalf of a teacher and when I refused the director signed it herself. Shocked

Squid · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Anyang

My advice is to get a copy of the "new" contract. Then let your director know you'll be toddling off to the immigration office to sort out the mistake.

Your main problem now is that seeing as you're aware of the deception you will become, if you do nothing, accomplice. This will have ramifications further down the track if any problems arise and you want out of your contract.

If the contract is ok, sign it, take it to the immigration office and ask them to replace the one they have with yours, pointing out the error. They'll do it, and you'll be able to tell us all about it.

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

Honestly, I wouldn't care. It's the same place you've been working at for a year and they've treated you well enough that you decided to stick around. Great. They forged your signature on a contract you would have signed. While it is possible they've slipped something in there that would work against you, it doesn't make any sense that they would have because you could just pull the "hey, they forged my signature" wildcard and walk away victorious while they expose themselves to greater risk.

It's not as though anything has changed in the actual work conditions that you decided to return to.

prairieboy · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Location: The batcave.

So, let me get this...as long as it works for you, criminal activity is ok? Gord, really. It doesn't matter what the contract says. A signature has been forged, which in my opinion is a criminal act. If that's the way you approach the situation that's your choice. But when it comes to offering advice on what to do in this situation, your advice is really off the mark.

Check the contract as Squid suggested and make sure it's in order. If it's the one you agreed to the follow Squid's advice. Squid's advice is the most logical course to follow to get things above board and be sure of it.

Cheers

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Mr. Literal · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: Third rock from the Sun.

Homer · Guest

Before calling in the law dogs and going nuts with this I suggest you talk to your employer (with whom you seem to have a good relationship) and ask him or her to issue a new contract which you will then sign.

The other way to go is to take to the streets and protest which might get things right according to the law but will be in my opinion a lot of hassle (new visa...new paperwork...).

I stayed for 2 years at my first hakwon and they did the same thing you just mentionned. I discussed it with my director at the time and he said he had done it because it was more convenient.
In the end it worked out ok as the school never had any intention of cheating me and abided by the second contract which we had agreed upon.

This is called coming to a mutually beneficial arrangement.

If I had demanded that my boss re-file everything with a new contract it would just have been a lot of paperwork and a bloody visa run (an annoyance for me).

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Not that I am doubting you...but how exactly did you find out they had forged your signature? Did they tell you or what?

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

shawner88 · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Erase the signature and resign it with your aunt's name.

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

Canuksaram, I would also like to point out that if this were to escalate into any sort of Immigration action and they agreed the E2 visa should not have been issued, you're setting yourself up for a forced deportation, blacklisting, possible jail time, and a huge cash penalty for entering the country illegally and working without a valid work visa.

If you wanted to fight it, you needed to have fought it before you arrived. Honestly, you don't have any high ground to use in this scenario.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003