Korean Job Discussion Forums

[danyuk]

As i was reading the question re. handing over passports, someone mentioned the ticket issue.

Don't really wanna hand over my ticket if i get work in korea, but think that as its a return flight they will insist upon this and not return half of the fair.....pleeeeaaasssse, advice!!

[waterbaby]

I happily handed over my return ticket when I first came to Korea... I mean, it's in my name afterall, I'd booked it in Australia... if I really, REALLY wanted to (or needed to), I would have just called the airline or my travel agent and told them that I'd lost it and please re-issue another one. I've never lost a ticket before... surely it can't be that hard to replace?

[Gord]

Well, technically it is their ticket. If you really want to hold onto the return ticket legally, offer to pay for the flight up front and request to be reimbursed when you finish the contract in a year.

[Morning Calm]

If they paid for the ticket, it's actually theirs and have plenty of right asking for it. They showed trust with you by buying a ticket and crossing their fingers that you would get on the plane; show them the same gesture of trust.

Otherwise, Gord had a great idea. Pay in advance for the ticket and then at the end of your contract, get them to pay you back for it.

Another word of advice: Check the starting day of on your contract and see if it matches with your E-2. I'm already guessing they don't match and this will cause a small problem, something to think about, but most inexperienced school or recruiters who have no idea what their doing still buy round-trip tickets. Good schools will fork over the extra dough because they don't want to create the feeling of mistrust by asking for the ticket back. It's really unconfortable for them to ask as well, but the director usually asks someone else to ask it from you. Plus, it shows that they don't have the mind set of retaining their employment with you for the next year. This short sightedness creates small problems because they have to let you go for a short vacation, replace you with a temp, until your return. In a perfect world, they would buy you a one way ticket to Korea, then upon the potential renewal of your contract, negotiate something for you....let a round-trip to Thailand or something which is amazingly cheaper than a one-way ticket home.

[hepopotato]

When I came to Korea my employer asked for my ticket and I happily obliged with them because I don't have any rights to it really. I mean, the ticket is in my name but that's about it. I didn't pay for it. I also wanted to start off on the right foot and I wanted them to trust me and not worry every step i made about whether I was planning on leaving. It has worked out for the best for me in my situation because they think that they have nothing to worry about me leaving. I have a photocopy of the ticket though and if there was ever a problem, I could go to the airline and show them the copy and say I lost it. Not a biggie! I also thought that if I really wanted to leave, I could buy a plane ticket outta here - they can't keep you prisoner.

[VanIslander]

They never asked and I never would have handed it over. I think it's foolish. It's an issue of trust. You trusted that they'd provide a decent enough job and living arrangements and they have to trust that you'd stay there.

I was all prepared to explain to them that I need it to feel safe and secure, and that if I have any problems I'll come talk to them first, second and third, before doing anything drastic. I would say nicely but firmly: It's a basic need. I would have reiterated my desire to do well at the school and complete the full year and get my bonus and a good reference.

I will prepare my spiel for next time if asked to turn it over. There's just no way I'll do it, even with a couple of thousand dollars in the bank. It's an assurance that one will be treated respectfully even if only out of fear. If they keep pushing about it, then my suspicions would be raised: Why are they jeopardizing the relationship at the outset? If they were burned by other teachers in the past it's either indicative of the workplace or their insistence now is a lack of trust in me. I'd work on building that trust, with the ticket in my possession, thank you very much.

[phaedrus]

[Shadow]

Be careful with your ticket as the Director may have worked a deal with the Travel Agency beforehand. For example, my Director made an arrangement with the agent in Canada to have me pay a penalty for 400,000 won with the agent in Korea before returning. I was never re-imbursed this money by the Director. You know how the Wan-Jangs-are? Any way to cut corners and place the onus of responsibility on the teacher. Please examine your ticket very carefully and make a personal visit to the Airline to which your ticket is issued to find out if there are any extra charges or penalties involved.

[J.B. Clamence]

[Crois]

Pile of Waterbaby here.

My schools gave me 1/4 when i forst got here.
Then another 1/4 after 3 months.
Then when I leave they give me the rest.

Basically the ticket is yours. Even if you leave early without telling them. They can keep the housing bond and what ever pay you have earned.

They asked for it and gave it to them but they said they would give it back. They just wanted to see how much they owed me.

[phaedrus]

[OiGirl]

[sadsac]

The ticket is actually a requirement under law, regarding the sponsorship of a teacher by their school. Handing it over is not a big issue and generally as stated by another poster, your return dates will not match those on the ticket. The important element to discover is whether or not you can extend the ticket beyond the year.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

By LAW:

Ethics aside, the ticket is in your name and thus belongs to you.

Morally however, it belongs to them until you finish your contract.

[chronicpride]