Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daejeonsv]

I need some advice from anyone that might be able to help me out. Many thanks in advance for those of you that contribute...

This is my third time in Korea. I went home last October, took a break, and came back with an after school job. Pretty sweet, huh? Yeah right. The man and company I'm working for is a joke. My job was for Daejeon, two schools. I spent my first 10 days in Cheonan and traveling back and forth working 10 hour days. When I moved to Daejeon my boss wanted me to go to Cheonan once a week to teach literally one class at a school. He refused to pay me overtime and I had to be in the office by 9am. Needless to say I was exhausted and broke by Thursday.

Now that I'm finally here I've noticed more and more weird things. I've been in the country for six weeks and don't have a medical insurance card. I asked another teacher who has been here six months and he never got a card at all. I was late being paid and my boss isn't giving me a pay stub. I've asked for my flight money reimbursement and have only gotten 300,000won of the near 1,000,000won that I spent. I'm not alone in this, there are at least two other people that I know of that are having to deal with this.

This leads me to believe that I won't get my pension paid in and my taxes as well. I've decided that working for this man will cause me to lose more money than I will make but only being here a short time I think my options are limited.

My idea is to do this:
Wait six months, save money if I ever get any, and report him to the labor, pension office, insurance, tax, and whatever other board I can. Dave's being one of them. I ask for a letter of release and hope that I get one and find a new job.

Basically I want to know if my idea is a good one or should I start doing something now? I can't afford to lose my job, but I also can't afford my bills. Any advice is much appreciated as I have never encountered anything like this in my time in Korea.

If anyone has a different idea or sees how mine can be changed, please let me know!

[lifeinkorea]

Just go into the office, close the door. Tell him you need what he is obligated to give you. Wait there until he does something. If he kicks you out, find another job. Why continue teaching another class?

[daejeonsv]

I forgot to mention... I quit going to Cheonan after a few weeks because a Korean co-worker quit. Maybe I should show up in Cheonan one day and surprise him??

[sallymonster]

Get a new set of documents, quit this job, and leave Korea. Come back, find a new job, and get a new visa.

[daejeonsv]

Ok, how does that work? New documents?? As in a new FBI check and apostilled everything? Oi vay...

I've never done a run nor known someone to. Most employers will only give you a new job if you have a LOR. I'm really confused on what I can and can't do. I'm so bummed this job is turning out the way it is, completely bad luck. I guess it comes around to everyone at some point...

[SeoulNate]

your first step needs to be:

1. Contact the labor board and pension office with every violation that happens in your office. They WILL do something about it. Also, make sure that you keep on top of the situation and band together with the other teachers there to get your just desserts.

2. Sometimes however, this is not enough and the shady Hogwon would rather operate in defiance to the law. In which case, yes, you will need to get all new documents (FBI check included) and visa run for a new job.

It is unlikely that you would be issued a LOR this early in the contract, and if your employer fails to respect the laws after being contacted by the labor board and pension office it is unlikely that you would be able to get one after 6 months either. Unless of course you are willing to go to court. If you did, you would win though.

[Tigerstyleone]

You need to have a serious meeting with your boss before you do anything.

After school jobs can be sweet or shady. Depends on whose managing the business. Is it YBM Sisa or middle man huslter?

Does he own multiple hagwons or is he sending you to public schools?

[daejeonsv]

He owns both, but I'm strictly in public schools. I know some people are in both, but I'm not one of those. My work conditions, hours, etc are fine but ultimately I need my money!

Would it be best to meet with him alone or with the group of people? Maybe if the other guy and I went into the office we could get our issues taken care of? The man is not right... he yelled at his wife one day and blamed the parents when they called him out on his false advertising. Any sort of talk with him should be an event.

[Tigerstyleone]

You should meet with him alone. Don't attack him and make sure he doesn't lose his face or this will cause even more problems.
Appeal to his emotions and not to logic. Point out how bad you need the money and not that its his fault for not paying you on time.

[akcrono]

Double post.

[akcrono]

[daejeonsv]

Awesome. Thanks guys.

I started the process a few weeks ago with the bills. He says, "Oh, I will pay today or tomorrow." Obviously that hasn't happened. I emailed today and mentioned my bills are due and that my contract states I'm supposed to have my money by now. I'm afraid if I do too much then I won't get paid on my regular day and then I'll really be up shit creek. I know a few past Korean teachers have already reported him to the labor board so this isn't his first rodeo. Hopefully I can get my coworkers on board with this!

[andriabr]

Probably time to find another job, but in Korea.

[cert43]

Why don't you just take a chill pill? It's only been 6 weeks

Plus if Iam not mistaken, aren't after-school programs illegal?

[daejeonsv]

This is my third year in Korea and althought I'm still learning as I go, I understand how things should be. I've done mid-range hagwon, public school, and now this. I've never been run and shuffled around so much. When your employer is late to pay, doesn't provide you with medical insurance that is required by law, and refuses to give you a pay slip, a person has the right to be concerned about where their money is going and when the next paycheck will come in. It's best to figure it out early because the longer you sit and wait the more money you lose. That's the problem with some people, they sit by and don't realize their money is disappearing and try to solve the problem in the four weeks before they leave. By the time they figure out what to do it's time for them to head to the airport and never see their hard-earned won again.

To answer your question, there are thousands of schools who employ outside sources for their English program. The school hires paduk, robot, computer, etc. instructors to teach extra classes at a lower cost for students. I highly doubt a government run school would participate in outsourcing an illegal business for their students. Imagine the face that would be lost. So yes, I think you are mistaken.