Korean Job Discussion Forums

[walter235]

Here's the deal, I'm in my 4 1/2th contract with EPIK in the same town, same school the whole time. It's in the boonies and I have to drive to work, it's too far to walk. Anyway, I'm coming to school and it's raining hard. Lots of students just off the bus and a big car in front of me. It's about 50 meters in front of the school.

This stupid Korean woman driver pulls out from a side street (on the left) in front of the car that's in front of me. He has to hit the brakes, I have to hit my brakes. Mind you, there's dozens of kids walking in, and this stupid b**** decides to pull right out in front of a car about 10 feet from her.

I almost hit the car in front of me, the woman driver has to back up to let the guy in front of me pass. So when I went by I gave her the "wanker sign" (think jerk off here), and continue into school. I didn't say a thing. About 4 hours later, the local supervisor calls the school because of it. Seems she called him and says I flipped her the bird and said the "F Word" to her--which I didn't.

Now the district supervisor and the bitch are coming at 4:30 to demand an apology from me, which I absolutley refuse to do. I don't really care about EPIK or Korea for that matter. In the last year, my car has been hit 2x while parked in my aparment lot. I don't even have a computer because the school says they have no money for one (I'm in the library now), EPIK has with held the W2 million flight fare I was supposed to get in March--they say I will get it in August. On top of which, 2 weeks ago and I lost about W35 million worth of items.

All this BS, plus the fact I'm tired of my idiot co-eachers and the school. it's not anything illegal, but there is a clause in the EPIK contract that says something to the effect, you can't embarrass your employer. They can't fire me for anything else, not after 9 school terms at the same place.

I don't really care if they fire me, I still have enough money saved I can leave Korea, do the CELTA and find another job. I want to do the DELTA, anyway so I don't have to teach spoiled brat middle school kids again.

My question is, can they fire me on the spot or do I have 30 days? I can arrange to get my stuff in storage and all that. Before 4:30, what are my options? Should I talk to a lawyer?

[T-J]

They have a case to fire you for cause. You could probably win if you fought it. Don't know if it's worth the fight to you. They would have to give you thirty days notice in this situation.

[Ramen]

hard to believe you've lasted that long with that kind of set up.

with that said, they can't fire you. all you have to do is deny, deny, deny,.... just continue to say "don't know what the woman is talking about."

and you may want to contact the lawyer and/or police and file a defamation law suit and complaint against the woman. just to scare the shiat out of her. any case, no one will win. just a lot of hassle.

[Son Deureo!]

Even though the driver is exaggerating about what you said and did, the truth is that you DID lose your temper and make an obscene gesture in front of a bunch of children. Your students, no less.

That woman does not deserve an apology from you, but it's not hard to see why the powers-that-be at your school would be angry at you about this. If an apology will make your last 6 months there go more smoothly and preserve a good reference from your workplace of 5 years, I'd seriously consider swallowing your pride if I were you.

[Ramen]

make sure you record your conversation during the meeting. And let them know you will be recording it since you don't speak Korean well enough and just want to make sure everything is understood.

[alistaircandlin]

Just from a selfish point of view it's better to apologise. You are kind of shooting yourself in the foot if you don't, because if you do get fired, it might cause difficulties with future job applications.

Yes, they are going too far to 'demand,' an apology. But - the hell with it - it makes your life easier if you just go: 'yeah, yeah, really sorry - got a bit angry there.' No big deal, right?

[Juregen]

Deny everything.

[cj1976]

Counter with a demand for an apology from her. If she drives dangerously around children, something needs to be done about it.

[walter235]

Actually, the first 3 years were OK. Last year sucked, I was going to leave Korea and had another contract. At the last minute, the guy I was replacing decided to stay, so they cancelled the contract. I didn't actually sign contract #5 until the 2nd or 3rd week of FEB, because the other place left me in a lurch.

Since the school year began, it's been nothing but constant BS. EPIK is getting very chintzy, one co-worker is about to retire and doesn't care about anything. The other is a 30 year old on a one year contract because she can't seem to pass the Korean licensure test and hates her job too. She's often angry and bitchy. I'm very tired of EPIK and very tired of Korea, period.

I'll pull the guy aside and ask his (supervisor) opinon, he's actually a pretty good guy who speaks English well. I've talked to him in the past, he knows me--not well mind you. But at this point, besides the fact I'll have years of accumulated crap to get rid of, I don't really care if I stay or leave. I'll have about W16 million in pension and the better part of $40k in cash, despite getting ripped off. I was mostly wondering about the 30 days thing--since EPIK is government, I wasn't sure if it applied. Thanks for that info.

[Ramen]

[ThingsComeAround]

Above posters are right. Deny. Use the 'hand gesture' as a defense like "steer" or "brake". She has no proof.

Don't apologize. Change the subject to her almost hitting you as you tried not to run over children. Make it a safety issue. They will back down.

Also, give her a half-assed "I didn't mean to hurt feelings". Don't use the word "sorry" as that is what she wants. Then call the lawyer and stick it to her.

I'm curious- how did you lose 35 mil won worth of stuff? Why didn't you fight the school on the flight reimbursement? Did they put in writing you will get reimbursed later??

[wishfullthinkng]

you sound very angsty and up in arms. perhaps it's for the best that you get let go because it sounds like you are not happy where you are.

maybe a low-stress job not involving vehicular movement and/or people might be a better fit for you?

[eamo]

Tell them in your country that gesture means, 'hey! Great driving!'.

[walter235]

[ssuprnova]

As the previous posters said: meet, record, deny, place the blame on her (safety), threaten a defamation suit (you're a teacher, you *do* have a reputation), find out which students ratted on you and fail them (after a few months, of course). If they have no solid evidence you might get a nice settlement "bonus" from that woman.

It's too easy to discredit eyewitnesses, especially children that you teach - "Oh, MinJi didn't do well on her test last week, she's just trying to get back at her teacher".

This is a blessing in disguise if you play your cards right

PS: for the meeting bring a Korean friend to translate, otherwise your coworkers might engage in "selective translating".