Korean Job Discussion Forums

abigolblackman · Joined: 06 Jun 2009

Just wondering if there is a problem leaving SMOE mid-contract and finding another job with Visa sponsorship. Would I have to leave the country and come back? Do I need a letter of release from SMOE?

Of course I would tell SMOE 30 prior to leaving and I would sign the contract with the new job before I alerted SMOE about my decision to leave. I just want to know if anyone has done this and what thier experience has been.

I have already been here one year and some month with SMOE, and I wanted to pull through the rest of this year at the very least (severance baby), but my happiness matters to me and I will end up in jail if I have to continue to deal with this school, living situation, humiliation, and arrogance.

abigolblackman

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

Careful not sure how SMOE will deal with. Leaving in the middle of the year is hard to replace even with notice. That's if SMOE is nice enough to give training.

Runners get permanently black listed from all public school jobs and mid term quitters might too.

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

the best place to get information for this is immigration. You can get your visa transferred to another school, but both institutions would want to do this. You can give your notice, get a letter of release and then, i think, leave the country and get a new visa. I"m not sure what you would have to do about CBC and medical. Phone immigration.
If you are not happy and they are driving you crazy give them notice and quit. Hopefully that should teach them a lesson.

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009

loyfriend · Joined: 03 Aug 2009

There is no such thing as a black list.

I have a friend out here on this third year.

The first he taught at a private school. He left 8 months in, he was drunk to often. They sent him home.
Last year he worked a public school. Again he got drunk and this school sent him home.

This year he got into a university and drunk, again. He was sent home. Guess what, just this week he emailed a few of us that he got another university job and will be back soon.

He never got any letters of release, no TESOL certificate, and no master�s degree. He would even smoke spot on occasion. If Korea won't keep him out, then a black list is totally fake.

sulperman · Joined: 14 Oct 2008

99 percent sure that it says in the SMOE contract that letters of release will not be given.

I'd look, but I can't be bothered.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

SMOE, are notorious for NOT giving letters of release.

Ignore the advice from UlsanChris, it's wrong/bad (except for the point about contacting Immi, that's solid).

Options:
1. Get LOR, transfer visa to new school, no need to get new docs, no need to leave country. (Not gonna happen with SMOE).
2. Quit, get exit order, leave country, apply for new visa, come back to Korea. New doc's are required, this is your play.

Regarding the blacklist. There is NO "Korea" blacklist. However, each organisation runs its own show. So quitting an SMOE job, would put on a blacklist with SMOE, and you won't get another SMOE job, but Korea as a whole would still be open.

abigolblackman · Joined: 06 Jun 2009

Right, makes sense. Thanks for the response. Guess I gotta push through. Oh well, got basically a 2 month vacation coming up. That'll make things go faster.

abigolblackman

blue monday · Joined: 11 Nov 2009

I've been in a similar situation with SMOE and stuck it out, but wished I'd had the balls to leave. If not to send them a message (which goes totally unnoticed anyway) then to keep myself happy.

I would seriously consider your options..... Leaving the country and coming back. Yes, you have to get the documentation completed all over again which is a hassle, but may be worth it. Also, right now is not the worst time to be looking for a new job in this tight Korean job market.

Make sure you are looking for that new job while you still have one, it can take a while. If you find one and can't transfer the visa after giving notice (which is likely with smoe) then leave yourself enough time to get docs and do a visa run. If this is not feasible, you can always leave the country after quitting and come back as a tourist and continue the search.

good luck

blue monday · Joined: 11 Nov 2009

Also, regarding 'blacklists'. I'm not so sure that they don't exist.

I personally can't confirm, but there was a post about this recently and it wouldn't surprise me if this does exist.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=171162[

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

nomad-ish · Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

i've heard it's difficult to quit SMOE and then get another job in korea. they even state in their contract that no letters of release will be issued. there might be some exceptions with different immigration officers in different offices, but i believe the official rule is that you need a LoR from SMOE to change jobs.

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

I could be wrong about this but I don't think that SMOE or any employer can deny you a letter of release.
Years and years ago people on this board were advising that an employer could not refuse a letter of release. If the boss did refuse then you could sign and date it and take it to immigration. Then they would cancel your visa. I was never sure if this is true or not. The best thing would be to contact immigration and get the information from them first hand.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009