Korean Job Discussion Forums

[somethingawful]

Well it seems that SLP in Daejeon is closed for business. Word has it that the Owner ran off with 160million won and is nowhere to be found. I'm probably going to guess New Zealand since that's where his golf course is and he has a home there.

Sucks for those teachers who are (were) working there! What really amazes me is that there were still 3-4 teachers working there (now) that were there when I was at SLP in 2009. Before I left I told them that they had better get out soon since that place was on pretty shakey ground.

Mr. Nam (the owner) invested heavily in a golf course in New Zealand specifically built for Koreans (god forbid they would have to interact with Wayguk's in another country). He even had a house there. What happened to chage things was the economic crisis of 2008. Things went to crap, and the golf course was put on hold. He squeezed every possible cent out of his hagwan (SLP Daejeon) to keep it afloat, and often our pensions were not paid until the day we left, and it was frequent that a bonus did not get paid until the teacher actually returned to korea and collected the cash in person. (people who luckily decided to visit japan or some country near). I personally had to threaten them with a lawyer to get my bonus and luckily me being in China meant that I could threaten them with showing up in person and "getting my money or else!".

Anyway, the signs have been on the wall for a long time, and let this be an example for other people who say, "Oh it's a big hagwon, it's not going to screw me over!"

Sucks for those teachers who got screwed out of their money, and I can imagine the Korean teachers were double screwed since they were more likely to work a few months without pay and ignore the boss frantically pulling copper wiring from the walls.

Anyone else hear about this? I did a search for an existing thread, but you're all well aware how effective the search function is on these forums.

[CtotheB]

More mind-blowing than anything is that now I know that there's a golf course in New Zealand specifically made for Koreans. I had no idea that the demand for Koreans to play golf in New Zealand with other Koreans was so great that they actually have their own segregated course.

[somethingawful]

[CtotheB]

Also, sup goon broseph

[somethingawful]

Ahhh! I've been outed! Must resists horrible catch phrases and memes!

p.s. Anyone in NZ, if you happen to run into a fat adjoshi on a golf course named Mr. Nah bragging about how he owns the place, do everyone a favour and deck him right in his smug nose!

[nw25th]

It was reported that he left for NZ last week. Apparently the school sent out a mass text message two nights ago say they were shutting down (on the last day). I was told that the teachers had no idea. The drivers hadn't been payed in like 5 months. Pretty crazy, the news said they had 400 students...

[somethingawful]

Jesus! 5 months without pay. I know it sucks to be a foreign teacher there and not get your bonus or flight back, but working for almost half a year for free. . .holy crap!

There was a foreign teacher who used to work there that said (years ago) that Mr. Nah's brother once came into the school with a gas can and said if he didn't get the money he was owed he'd burn the place to the ground.

My old co-teacher left there and said to me that SLP has been doing worse and worse every year since 2002 or so due to their structuring and curriculum. 1/2 way through my contract they changed everything regarding hours and pay and the whole mood of the place went from "This is a nice place to work" to "holy crap, what are they going to do next". There were korean teachers who would leave at 9:00pm because they were on the phone pleading with parents not to jump ship.

[altoid]

I was there for that. It was definitely an interesting palce to work and when the police showed up they did nothing. Rumor was that Mr. Nah's family was in the maffia.

I think we all chalked it up to being a different country and culture. We got there in 2002 and had a sweet time the first year and had some fun. The second year we were there went downhill and we were happy to leave!

I am surprised that school was still in business. The crazy part was that it used to have a good reputation among koreans but Mr. Nah's focus started to be NZ more and more. He was always running trips there. He and Mr. Lee were both azzholez. Mr. Lee was damn funny though when he got drunk and hit on everything female.

[sojusucks]

Just proves, once again, what so many of us have learned the hard way. Hagwon owners are the sleaziest people in the ESL industry.

[SeoulFinn]

OFF TOPIC:

Does anyone have any info about a similar case in Gangnam? I believe this happened few months ago, maybe closer to 5 months. Here's the little I know, which is not much.

The owner, Mrs K, had an medical emergency and had to be hospitalized. Her son took the reins at hagwon, while mother wasn't able to work. (Actually, I don't even know if Mrs K is still with us or not. I almost hope that she passed away.) Anyway, the son ran with the teachers' salaries, rent money and kids 3 month tuition fees.

EDIT: Grumpy, this has nothing to do with SLP. The opening post just reminded me of a similar "grab the money and run" case that happened at one hagwon where my ex was working at. Cheers!

[The Grumpy Senator]

This is not Gangnam SLP you are refering to. Used to work there and I talk to Mr. L (the owner) quite frequently. In March, they relocated to a new building he bought and I went to the grand opening. No Mrs. K or her son in the picture at Gangnam SLP.

[oldtrafford]

Don't work for the Slave Language Program that is SLP!!

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

I believe it is called Slave Labor Program

[ontheway]

[somethingawful]