Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CBPowers]

My contract will end in a couple of months, I want to stay three or four months more in Korea (make a little more and I...well, like being like being here). I need some advice, guidance, suggestions.

My situation:

I make the low end of the pay. I came here in less than a week and had no time to look into the whole scene. Let me list as points:

-- I would preferably like to change hogwans at the end of my contract. I have heard that I have to go back to America (my home country) and then come back and start a new contract which I don't want to do because I'd have to pay for the ticket back.

-- If the previous isn't true can I trade in the plane ticket (which I'm to recieve at the end of my contract) for cash or credit?

-- I was told today that I had the option of another year contract because I'd have to fly to Japan to renew my visa with the current company. My understanding is that the company that I'm currently with could renew my contract here without the trip to Japan.

-- I want the severance and the plane ticket that is stated in my current contract. If I sign a new contract (I don't think I would stay another year; I'm not a teacher by trade or desire and don't want to be there for another year) should I demand both the severance and the ticket before I sign. I have heard that this hogwan and the chain in particular are very "shady" when it comes to certain things (I waited five months for my medical, which I only got when I had some dental problems).



Any help would be appreciated.

[Dalton]

You don't have to go home but you do have to leave the country on the calendar day that preceeds the expiry date of your visa.

For example: You arrived Oct. 5, 2003 you must leave Oct. 4, 2004.

You can just get a return flight to anywhere. A same day trip. But then you have to secure accommodation and get the job search going. obviously you can just take their ticket and go home. I'm not sure that you can trade in a ticket for cash the day you get the ticket. They'll probably give you the ticket at the last moment.

You don't have to do a 'visa run' to renew a visa with the same school. I just renewed mine this week. 80,000 won in Seoul includes a multiple entry visa. I can leave Korea for a vacation and return without my visa being cancelled. Single entry results in visa cancellation if I leave Korea.

You can demand severance but Korean law allows them to pay the severance when you leave the job not before. So they may not give it to you now if you re-sign with them. Ditto for the ticket.

If you want a new job when your current contract is done then start reading the job ads now. Here's a link for you:

Hogwon.com

Select 'Jobs in Korea' and you'll get a page of job boards to browse. There may not be jobs listed now for two months away but read up on what's offered now.

If you haven't been saving a lot of money then start doing so now. If you're short then take the ticket home, find some place to stay and continue your job hunt. But you may be able to line up a job before your contract is up which starts shortly after the end of your current contract. In that case you won't get the ticket home since that becomes the contractual requirement of your next school. You are entitled to severance but I'm not sure when they have to give you that. On or before the next anniversary of your payday maybe. Someone else can chime in here.

Don't worry about the medical thing. You just need to learn to find and go to doctors yourself. Some things you can't rely on them for because they just don't get it done. Just check the FAQ's here or post the question for more specific advice.

[Son Deureo!]

There is absolutely no reason you have to go back to America if you don't want to or can't afford to.

You don't necessarily have to leave the country on the day your visa expires. You can get an extension of up to provided you request it in advance before your visa expires by going to Immigration with a ticket in hand showing your plans to leave the country. I've done this twice to buy myself a little time. If you just overstay you're asking for trouble.

The cheapest way to leave the country and come back is to go to the Japanese island of Tsushima (Korean prononciation Daemado), roundtrip ferry from Busan is about 150,000, but that will only get you another 30 day landing visa. If you want to get a 90 day visa, fly to Tokyo or Osaka and back to apply for a C3 tourist visa.

As for what to do with your return ticket, you don't tell us enough info to answer your question. Has your boss already bought a ticket? If not, this may be negotiable. It would be cheaper for him to buy you a round trip ticket to Japan or any number of other Asian vacation destinations with Korean embassies that a one-way to the U.S. If he's already bought it, then I guess you'll have to check with the airline to see if it's refundable.

Good luck.