Korean Job Discussion Forums

[colleen234]

Hello,

I just received a job offer and since this is my first time teaching in Korea, I wanted to make sure that my contract is solid. Is there any type of specific lawyer I should look into to take a look at my contract? Thanks!

-Colleen

[Hokie21]

There is a contract thread on here....IMO I'd just post it there and save yourself the trouble of contacting a lawyer.

[Markrly]

I honestly don't think a lawyer will be any help to you at all with this. As the above poster said the thread is your best bet.

[colleen234]

Thanks! I'll look into it.

[SeoulNate]

If you are talking about having a lawyer in your home country take a look at it, dont even bother as they will not be familiar with Korean labor law.

[YTMND]

It's not the security blanket of Korean law you need, it's veteran ESL teachers.

Your biggest card you can play is to go to another school when problems come up. Do not work for free and minimize your losses.

Your hardest task as a rookie will be to bail. Here are a few guidelines before you do.

1. Throw away the contract when you arrive, it will serve you no good in the end. Instead, make new agreements with the school when necessary. This builds your relationship instead of creating a sibling rivalry with your boss that you will run to mommy and daddy (the contract) when the bigger sibling beats you. Use logic and stand toe to toe with the owner, they will respect you without the contract more and you can be the consultant for them. You could even change the contract terms to fit your schedule in the end. If both parties don't rely on the contract and maintain a good relationship, then anything is possible.

2. Try to work 6 months or more. This looks better to other schools if you have to transfer and most of the time you won't have to pay back airfare.

3. The 6 months also gives you time to save up money. With 12,000,000 wonaroos in the bank this gives good cushion for the time when you must leave. Don't become a hagwon hermit and stay with the same school for endless years. This is not a career. You will not be promoted other than being handed kimchi and maybe 100,000 more a month the next year because you agreed to come in on weekend events not in your contract that add up to just as much.

4. Find a school while there is a problem, not after. Merge one old job with the new job. Then leaving is easier to manage. Accepting less money in the end for what is owed in exchange for a place to stay to find a new job is also an option and is often better than trying to put up a fight.

5. Don't become one of these teachers who is married to their school and when they are abused they try to avoid a divorce by hammering the contract into the school's skull. "I know you didn't pay me, but I want you to keep me as a teacher because it says so in the contract and because it is Korean law!!"

Remember what they tell an abused woman, "If he hits you once, he'll hit you again. Leave."