Korean Job Discussion Forums

[makelliott]

Hello,

I'm a bit new to this whole teaching experience in Korea, but am currently in the process of ending my contract at my current hagwon (due to many reasons). Does anyone have any useful tips / hints specifically with this company?

Thank you!

[ttompatz]

[Coltronator]

Unless you have a year already under your belt. Then do it the proper way.

If not then do it Ttompatz way if you have any feeling that they might try to screw you. If you have a good relation and that thought never crossed your mind then you would have never posted your OP.

[Nester Noodlemon]

Collect pay Depart quietly next day Incheon exit

[ippy]

Look Very Carefully At Your Contract.

About three months ago i was offered a position with CDI. I turned it down on the following grounds:

1. Deposit. There was a clause removing 1.5 mill won over three months.
2. Early termination: No matter if you follow the letter of the law in your contract and terminate your contract legally and by the book, you are on the hook for the expenses in recruiting and flying you over. I beleive they specifically mentioned the 1 million won recruitment fee as something that HAD to be paid back no matter whether you leave on day 1 or day 364. ANY early termination made you liable.
3. Pay date was 10 days late.
4. No severance. For... reasons? Youre on an hourly contract, not a salary. So er... same shit that companies in Japan used to pull to keep you at part time pay and conditions and flout Japanese labor law. I believe interac got busted for this shifty practice in Osaka, 2011 or so. Its about time Korea got tough on these dirty tricks as well.
6. Random punitive clauses (sickness etc) and a myriad of other little things. Oh and the fact they point blank refuse to change anything. Its a take it or leave it contract, and so i told them Id rather take my chances.

Now if your contract is similar, some things to note.

A: The runner:

Its pay day! Hooray! Cya!

Now youve lost pay on the days youve worked. Depending on the day they pay you, this could be anything up to half a months salary.
Youve also completely lost your deposit.

Are these numbers youre happy to write off? Its likely around the cost of a months salary. Remember, this deposit is YOUR SALARY. You worked for that. Its not like a bonus. Theyve taken your cash from your salary and held on to it PRECISELY for this kind of event. You do a runner and you lose that deposit, and you lose the extra days you worked in that month to reach pay day. If NONE of these apply, then runner is the clear winner (assuming you have another set of docs).

So Option B: You give notice.

If i remember, the notice was EXTENSIVE. I cant remember exactly, but i think it was three months with written notice in advance.

Youre now rolling the dice.

They now know youre quitting. They want recompense. Assume the best of all worlds and everyone is friends:

Youre still on the hook for the recruiter fee and the flight as per the contract.
But you will get back your deposit.
And you might even get a LOR making a transition to a new job fairly simple.

Now assume not everybody is friends:

Youre on the hook for that 1million plus whatever the hell else.
Youre getting shit canned for a minor infraction allowing them to invoke certain clauses in the contract that kick you out of the apartment (and withold the deposit for... reasons), dont provide you with a release letter, and see if you can be bothered to fight the labor dispute to get your deposit returned.

So for me, the best revenge for a job i hate is to turn up on time, switch brain off, cruise on autopilot, finish my contract and then get the hell out with a fake smile and a promise that its not them, you just want to work in x-city/x-country instead to be with random person. All pleasantries completed, all money returned, learn from the screw up. Of course, you may be different. But i urge you to think about the cash and do the math before you let your emotion lead you down the wrong path.

If you just need to get out to restore your sanity, then just go. But if you COULD theoretically put up with the nonsense and youre around month 8 of your contract, theres a good reason to just nail those last few months. The weather is changing, itll be spring soon and everything looks better in the spring. Soon enough itll be summer and youll be done.

Look at your contract. Do the math. Expect the worst if you plan on giving notice and be prepared to either dig your heels in and work your ass off to make sure you get what youre owed, or be ready to eat it and walk away for your own sake. Your call. Good luck