Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jhuntingtonus]

I teach public elementary schools near Jeonju. Here is a timeline of what has happened so far:

April 24 2009 - Signed current contract, with April 23 2010 ending date.

February 19: Got call from my boss thanking me for good work at a vacation-time English fair, and asking me if I wanted another contract. I said yes - he said "positively?" or some such, I said yes.

February 20: I sent him an email confirming that I wanted the contract and documenting the renewal bonus (2 million won) and extra renewal travel time (stated as specifically the two weeks ending with the previous contract expiration date, which is 4-23-10)

February 23: He acknowledged my mail message.

February 26: He announced that he is trading places with someone else who has worked in the same office, who is now our boss.

March 3: I appeared for a scheduled 4:00pm meeting and found another conference of some sort (not for the likes of me). My new boss talked with me briefly, anyway - I asked her about the contract, and she clearly didn't know anything about it, showed that she may not be able to comprehend English conditional structures (e.g. if I sign the contract, I can travel on...), and said we could discuss "my problem" at next week's meeting, set for March 10 - 31 days before I would fly out.

So obviously, I want to sign that contract (or receive word that I am being denied another one) as soon as possible, so I can I book the trip to the US without last-minute plans and prices (since if no new contract is offered, I have to teach those days as usual), and if not, I need all the time I can have for planning my next move. However, I don't want to impair my chances of actually getting one to sign.

I have been an excellent teacher but have had some conflicts with management. I don't think my new boss or his predecessor would deny me renewal, but neither were among the contract signatories last time - it was handled by another office one level higher than the one to which my boss and I report. In the meantime I'm getting the heebie-jeebies about signing that contract on something like April 6th, paying $2500 instead of $1300 for airfare, and finding friends in the US now unavailable.

So, questions:

- Conventionally here, is asking me if I want a new contract equivalent to offering me one? I come from the Yogi Berra tradition where a verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's printed on, and this wasn't even a clear offer, but I'm not in America any more.

- Is this delay anything to worry about?

- In your experience, how much of this is the usual "Korean planning" (an oxymoron), and how much indicates uncertainty about whether they will in fact offer me a new one?

- Do you think that after a point I should go over my boss's head and work directly with the higher-level office, where their English is better and who makes the ultimate decisions anyway? At what point?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

[jhuntingtonus]

OK, maybe all my specifics were too daunting. But can you answer any of the questions below? Even some insight as to how long it takes EPIK to process a second-year contract would be valuable to me. Thanks in advance!

[Michelle]

[jhuntingtonus]

Thanks, Michelle.

Any other thoughts, anyone?

[tokkibunni8]

This was how I approached my renewal. My contract ends in late February. I told my school in early december that if I don't have a signed contract for the upcoming school year by the end of December than I was going to accept a position somewhere else because I hate playing the waiting game with them.

Last week of December I had a signed contract for 2010-2011 and offers on the side. I think giving them a deadline for what you want and following through is the way to go.

Good luck with yours.

[jhuntingtonus]

Thanks! I just sent an email to management asking to sign it this week.

[The Goalie]

You might not want to mention bonuses and such when discussing renewal. If the bonus is in your contract expect to get it. If you don't, then raise a fuss. By bringing up such things when discussing renewal you are showing a lack of faith and dubious motives.

Beyond that, heed other posters' advise.

[jhuntingtonus]

Update: The manager apologized and told me "I will call to your new supervisor and ask her whether she wants a renewal. I think she will want. Don't worry I will sort it out."

After I asked him if I could sign it this Wednesday (10 March), he said "The renewal date is March 25th. I already sent the official document."

I responded by asking him "Just so I understand -
1. Are you guaranteeing I will be offered another contract?
2. Where can I go on the afternoon of March 25th to sign the contract?"