Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JCT]

I am searching for answers elsewhere, but I want to ask here also.

My hagwon here in Busan lost a fair amount of kids in the last few months. I think the foreign teachers weren't supposed to know, but I have learned (long story) that if we don't get plenty more kids by the end of February, one foreign teacher will be let go. I am the low man on the totem pole in terms of experience, so it'll likely be me.

I am an American on an E-2 and have been here for 8 months of a 1 year contract. So if I get fired, it will be around the 10 month mark. I would like to stay in Korea, so I have some questions.

LOR: They are a good school, so I think they would be fine with providing me a letter of release to find a new job. Is there any reason that they wouldn't want to do it?

Visa: If I am fired, I believe that my E-2 is immediately no longer valid. Is my best option to use the LOR and transfer to a D-10? How long do I have on the D-10 to find and start a new job before it expires? Also, am I covered under health insurance on the D-10? Should I expect to do another health check if I do the E-2 -> D-10 -> E-2 rodeo?

Documents: Depending on the visa situation, will I need to get an entirely new set of documents? My understanding is that I won't need to if I get a D-10 and then get a new E-2 as long as I've been in the country for 6 months or more. Is it hell getting an entirely new set while living in Korea? Yes I'm a fool for not bringing an extra set initially, but I wasn't planning on staying more than a year. My parents live in the States and can help me with the documents.

Money: My understanding is that my pension money will stay with the Pension Office and I can't touch it until I actually leave the country. Also, I know this might vary by contract, but if I'm fired for reasons beyond my control (money), do I lose the severance bonus and money for a flight home?

New job: How dangerous is it to start looking for another job while still working at this job? Will they be upset (if they find out) that I'm "going behind their back" by looking elsewhere, especially since the foreign teachers aren't supposed to know about this situation? If I talk to another potential job, should I detail my time at my current hagwon, or should I not mention it since my firing could be seen as "my fault"?

Finally, is there anything I should be careful of, behavior-wise, in the future while at work? For example, if they already need to fire me for financial reasons, would making a mistake of some kind give them an easier time firing me/withholding money/etc?

Sorry for the wall of questions. I'm just trying to cover my ass as thoroughly as possible. Thanks for any help you can offer.

[World Traveler]

[MetaFitX]

Wow, Busan schools have been dropping like crazy lately. My contract finishes on Feb. 28th and not only will I not be replaced, but my school will actually close the following month due to no enrollment in next school year's kindie enrollment.

I think this has something to do with the government providing financial aid for students enrolled in Korean and not English kindie's, but I have noticed enrollment is way down in other places too. I know a few public school teachers will are unable to re-up at their current schools due to financial problems as well.

Busan's EFL market does NOT look good!

Otherwise, I hope everything will turn out ok for you OP. At my first school I re-signed and then the school had financial difficulties and had to let me go 3 months into my new contract. They still gave me my flight money and 3/12's of my severance (of my new contract) which I thought was fair.

[ibeattheborg]

It's time to ask management what's happening.You need to know if you are being let go. If getting the LOR is not a problem then you can apply for the D10 when you stop working for that school. Once you have the D10 and you find a new job you will not need new documents for immigration. But you might need a new health check and a Korean Criminal Record Check for the Busan Office of Education( I did ). All hagwons now need to register their foreign teachers with the local Board of Education. Assuming that you get a new job, then the new school will have to register you again. And assuming that your present school has registered you, then you will be fine as regards documents. The D10 visa will give you six months in Korea to find a new job.

[Wildbore]

I'll answer the health insurance because no one answered it. If you receive national health insurance through your employer and wish to keep it while you are unemployed, you must go to your local NHIC office and register as an individually-insured person. The cost will be about 82,000 per month (average Korean salary x rate 5.80%)

[JCT]

Also, is it better for me to quit before this happens or make them go through with firing me?

[YTMND]