Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CLester]

I'm trying to return to Korea after being away for a couple years. I had no idea what I was getting into last time, so I'm trying to be careful. Here's the situation:

I had a great interview with a Gyeonggi hagwon (will name it after this situation resolves). They offered me a contract the next day. I have contact info for all of their foreign teachers and have spoken with four of them. I feel like they've been honest with me about the downsides, and it seems like a good situation. They've all worked there for more than one contract cycle. I've also scoured the internet, and can't find anything bad.

Then I asked to speak with the teacher I'll be replacing. I was originally told he's leaving due to a family emergency. The foreign head teacher said it would be okay. After two days of no communication, he emailed me again. He apologized and said the school directors won't consent to allowing me to contact that teacher. He then divulged that the teacher is being fired, that the school directors are worried he'd misrepresent the school, and that the rest of the teachers aren't aware of this situation. He also said that no one has been fired from the school in a long time (this agrees with what the other foreign teachers said).

Normally I'd be heading for the hills at this point, but two things hold me back:

1. All the foreign teachers seem genuinely happy, and the situation seems great overall and devoid of hagwon nonsense.

2. I found the teacher who is being fired on Facebook and sent him a message. He read it, but hasn't replied. You'd think if he'd been wronged he'd take that opportunity to say so.

Any advice for me? Thanks!

[newb]

Your guess is just as good as mine. So at this point you have to make a decision because you are aware of the situation more than any one of us.

Good luck.

[Ruthdes]

I don't see how it could see any more positive than it is, considering you're not in country. Sometimes teachers are terrible and need to be fired. That in itself isn't a red flag, and if I were the manager, I wouldn't want a trouble maker who I'd had to fire talking to a new teacher coming in either. In fact, wouldn't you rather work for a place that isn't scared to fire an under-performing employee? I'd go for it based on the information you've got.

[Will Wiggle]

Hi. From what I have read, it doesn't look like more risk than accepting any other job here in Korea. The possibility of that story about a teacher being fired and the hagwon not wanting you to have contact with him may very well be the truth. If there are other teachers currently working there, you may ask to speak to them. Also, if you hold out too long, then they may move on to find another teacher. Also, keep in mind that if you do take this job then you are not truly committed to staying the full contract if the school has misrepresented itself. There are just and legal ways around shady employers.

If you ever have more questions as you move through this process, feel free to contact me at [email protected].

[Ruthdes]

[randall020105]

That's not weird!
That's very normal behavior in my book.
What you should be doing is line up a few other interviews
and not have your entire life depend on one uncertainty.

[CLester]

Thanks for the feedback!

The teacher being fired finally got back to me on Facebook. He didn't say anything too bad. It sounds like he was new to teaching, and the hagwon environment was too much for him.

I also spoke with the Korean school director. Apparently they'd taken a lot of steps to help the guy overcome his issues before firing him, and no one else has been fired for a long time. So in the end I decided to accept the contract. I'll update this thread later if anything turns out to have been disingenuous.