Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pikadoopoo]

I've been losing sleep over this. Here's my situation -

There were a few changes made to the F4 visa policies recently. The laws now state that F4-eligible Korean-Americans who were not over the age of 22 by May 2010 MUST claim dual citizenship and make a Korean passport. So I had no choice but to put my name in the Family Registry (Hojeok) and make a Korean passport.

I got rejected by a few hagwons because they wanted me to get an F4 visa. OK, it's your loss and you will regret not updating your policies to accept dual citizens, because F4 visas aren't available to most Korean-Americans anymore.

I updated my resume to clearly state my dual citizenship. I submitted it to a Hagwon coordinator and mentioned I was a dual citizen to her. Got an interview, and I noticed the principal reading over my resume on webcam. I got a contract. Woo-hoo. I assumed they were OK with it and sent them all of my documents.

Few days later, I get an e-mail saying I need to get an F4 visa. I e-mailed them back clearly explaining my situation. They told me I need to get some sort of letter proving that the laws have indeed changed. I contacted my local Korean consulate, but they were no help. I called Immigration and the Ministry of Justice in Korea, but they told me that they weren't obligated to do any favors for me. They suggested that the school should be ones doing their research.

I told the Hagwon all of this info and they told me that they'll have to discuss this with their main office. They told me that they may have to give me a Korean citizen's contract, which includes lower pay, no housing, and reduced benefits.

Is it just me, or is this not messed up?

Any help would be appreciated.

Edit: Initially hired by SMOE, rejected because of dual citizenship. Please scroll down for more info.

Edit 2: My consulate spoke with the Hagwon principal, but the main office is still offering me the standard Korean contract with no housing.

I am currently trying to find jobs that will offer Korean passport holders housing. I am also trying to find out if I actually am allowed to renounce my Korean citizenship, since my consulate tells me it is not possible at all unless I serve the military or wait until I turn 36.

Edit 3: If I actually am allowed to renounce my citizenship, my plan is to find a job with housing that will accept Korean passport holders. I'll work for the school for maybe around 8 months or so, and quit properly with a notice, etc. I think I have to renounce my citizenship in the US, right? So I'll go back and file for renunciation... Then apply for F4 jobs for the new year. Complicated, but what can you do...

Or perhaps, I'll stick with the job I got for a while and try to make the best of things. I can also tutor and save up money to find my own place, then look for other jobs. So yeah, my main priority as of now is to find a job that will accept me with benefits.

[12ax7]

Is it a franchise? If so, then the hagwon's got it all confused. They can pay you as much as they want. Those celebrity hagwon teachers, for example, earn a fortune.

I don't know if you could do that on an F4, but since you're a citizen now you can easily register with the board of education to become a private tutor.

[ontheway]

Most things in life come with trade-offs.

You now have a new status as a Korean citizen instead of an F4. This will come with many advantages being a citizen, but there will be some losses, as you've already outlined. You'll have to learn to make use of the advantages and find ways to overcome the disadvantages.

You should, however, expect to be treated as a Korean citizen, since you are a Korean citizen.

[pikadoopoo]

It's a franchise, and it's one of the more well-known hagwons.

Yes, I understand that I've gained some advantages.

The biggest problem I have is not the reduced salary, but the loss of housing. I don't have any relatives who live in Seoul, which is where the hagwon is located. I can't really depend on anyone there for financial help either.

Private tutoring is definitely an option, but as I mentioned, I don't really have the means to fly there and find my own housing... unless, of course, I live in a goshiwon or spend my nights sleeping in a sauna.

[12ax7]

Either way, I think the hagwon's simply confused. My guess is that the head office will tell them it's no problem. Worst case scenario, you find a job elsewhere.

[pikadoopoo]

[allan of asia]

also, i hope you are female cos if you are male you will now be eligible for military service.

Plus, public school policy is if you are male and "korean" you cannot apply unless you have completed your military service.

As i say, hope you are female! (at the same time I think women without children should also be required to do military service, but thats a whole different debate!)

[pikadoopoo]

[Troglodyte]

[pikadoopoo]

[12ax7]

[Troglodyte]

[pikadoopoo]

[some waygug-in]

Sorry to hear about your situation.

I hope things work out for you.

I don't know if this will be helpful to you or not but here goes:


As a Korean citizen, I think you should be able to do private tutoring legally.

I don't know the specifics, you may have to get some kind of license or something, but I don't know for sure.

It may take you a while to get things rolling, but once you do, you will be much happier not having to deal with all the political BS in schools and all the mismanagement of hagwons.

Anyway, just a thought.

Whatever you do, best of luck to you.

[pikadoopoo]