Korean Job Discussion Forums

cellphone · Joined: 18 Feb 2004

Situation: let's say a good/pretty decent teacher works at a hagwon for a full time E2. 3 or 4 months into the contract boss gets tricky, doesn't hold up to the fair agreements that were made when hiring, head games, things go bad, relationship falls downhill. The teacher tries to make fair negotiations and they agree for an end of contract before the 12 months mark, both parties seem fine and in good business. After the end of the 30 or so day notice, the teacher doesn't get his end of the deal, does not get release letter as agreed, etc, essentially has to leave Korea. Furthermore the teacher realizes that he is being somewhat slandered and the boss is getting crooked, the boss has left the teacher in a rather bad light, to the extent the boss will actually be a curse for the otherwise good teacher's new record. This situation now appears as though the teacher could have been the 'sole cause' for the workplace relationship ending.

Question: This is just a situational example which is not that important, but the question is can future school employers find out from immigration your visa history in Korea?

The above teacher felt he was unfairly treated and moreover was painted in a bad light. He would however like to make and build an esl career over some years, at least some of it in Korea. Later when he goes to apply to another school for an E2 (obviously after his first exp. date), uses a new passport, and decides to wipe that 2 - 3 months off his slate, a new school cannot know right?

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I'm sure it's not a secret. If they wanted to get the info, I have no doubts that the immigration officials would tell them. Your whole file is sitting right there in front of them.

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

Nothing is a secret in this country.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Secrets? In korea?!?!! Anyone can find out anything about anyone....it just takes connections.
And even no connections.
Went into the bank yesterday...KEB...branch at seoul city hall. While waiting in line...the customer who is at the counter being helped by the teller...is looking at his picture, account number, ID number and account balance on the computer screen...as is everyone one else! Including me!
The teller turned her computer screen around for the customer to see whatever she wanted him to see...put's the monitor on the counter and turns it around so all the other customers can also see it! So much for privacy....secured info....tact...finesse, etc...
I can walk into immigration and strike up a friendly conversation with someone I know who works their and also find out where so and so is working and where they were working before. It's no big secret and I have no power either...it's just part of everyday life in the ROK.
I am sure the hakwon owners can also find out things also. And they do.
Besides...what's the big secret?

superhal · Joined: 25 Feb 2005

yes, if you want to try a different hagwon after a bad experience, it is extremely likely for this reputation to follow you within korea.

imho, sticking out the entire contract at a bad hagwon will do a 1000% more for your reputation (in or out of the country) than not fulfilling it.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

On the other hand, has anyone known a hogwan actually to check references?

Sleepy in Seoul · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 6:46 am Post subject:

Yes, Yu_Bum_suk. after I had my interview at my current job, they rang my supervisor at my old job. Fortunately I have a good reference and my last supervisor and I are good friends. After the phone call, I was offered the contract straight away. I was surprised that they rang.

Dawn · Joined: 06 Mar 2004

superhal · Joined: 25 Feb 2005

[quote="Yu_Bum_suk"]On the other hand, has anyone known a hogwan actually to check references?[/quote]

yep, mine did within korea, that was pretty much automatic. often, my boss would know before me (the interviewer) if the person was any good. he would get info from immigration, other hagwons, and parents of and former students.

Squid · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Anyang

Most managers or hagwon owners are pretty circumspect when it comes to a bad few months in your resume. They usually know the "good" ones from the bad ones themselves (Owners that is).

Don't bother to include it in your resume and you'll be fine. If they somehow find out and ask, tell them honestly what happened. Alternatively you could include it in your res. and the reason for leaving.

Either way won't affect your job prospects here much so don't sweat it.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I must say I'm surprised to see that anyone has checked. I can't see having a bad CV as a problem as you'd be able to pull the wool over someone's eyes.

Squid · Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Anyang

Just to clarify: I would not advocate your deceiving a prospective employer, but when listing "relevant experience" there's no need to include a terrible job you stuck out for only a short time.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The previous poster who said there are no secrets in Korea is right. It may have changed since this happened to me, but it did commonly happen at one time. Near pay day, some hakwon bosses used to call banks and ask the balance in employees' accounts. If there was 'sufficient' money, the wangjongnim would use that as an excuse to delay payment. Twisted Evil

Because of that kind of behavior, I quit my first job after 6 months. Later I returned here to a good job. However, this job required a security check. An agent from Seoul came down and talked to my new boss. My new boss called me in and asked why the Korean CIA thought I was a 'bad guy'. After I scraped my heart off the ceiling and thought awhile, I said maybe my first boss put something in my immigration record. I explained my side of the story about why I left that job. The boss was cool about it all and chose to ignore the warning from the KCIA. (I doubt it was really the KCIA--it was probably some security agent. )

Later the same thing happened at two other jobs. Both jobs needed security checks and both times I almost didn't get the job. All of it seems due to the first boss being a rat.

I think it all depends on how vindictive your boss is. If he is angry enough with you, he can put a negative report in your immigration file.

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 9:35 pm Post subject:

Good schools check references. These are the jobs you DO WANT.

Bad schools dont check them. These are the jobes you DO NOT WANT.

So, ruin your reputation and get bad references and its pretty clear which job you will not get. I always say that you should work hard and have a s good a relationship as you can with your employers because it will either pay off for you or burn you in the end.