Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Squid]

Background:

Our second daughter was born Christmas last and I left my job to help out at home for a few months. I got some part-time work and Mid-February a friend called me and asked if I could help out at a hagwon near my home, Hello English.
It's close to the main Samsung Factory gates in Suwon. I'd never heard of them. Mom n' Pop operation essentially with Mr Kim the Director and Mrs. Kim the receptionist. Mostly kids with a couple of early and late adult classes.

Mr Kim and his right hand man Mr Jeong gave me the story that one of their foreign teachers had left after their contract and the other had been no good so they'd let them go. The one F/T left, I forget his name, looked like a hobbit and said literally nothing as I greeted him and asked how things were there. Plausible enough at the time and they needed help for March until two new teachers arrived.

I agreed to cover their morning and evening adult classes for a month. They offered no visa cover, which I had for my other P/T position so I took the chance.

The first few days were standard disorganized "what room?" and "which books?" stuff, but it didn't improve. Also another couple of F/Ts pop out of the woodwork as "part-timers". It's worth mentioning at this point I told them about my previous Labor Office problems with an employer, and that I won and got my money.

The other F/Ts tell me that they don't pay the Korean staff but do pay the foreigners. I've worked a week and 3 left.

The hobbit is fired for being a non-person and the other F/T has a row with the director and walks out. In the meantime the one remaining Part-Time F/T has been laid off and I notice there's a new Korean staff almost daily.

So...I'm it. From a bit of company in the foreigner dept. to none in 2 weeks. Bit surprising even for me. Then they load me with 8 classes a day, full-time. Not surprising given their situation. I told Mr Kim he needed to treat his staff better or they'd continue to quit. I also told him the first day I don't get paid is the last day I come to work- my bargaining chip on the table.

But- I got paid for March then told them I'd have to cut back or get correctly E2'd and asked where were the new F/Ts coming in from overseas. They told me the end of April they had 2 arriving and pleaded with me to continue till then.

Fast forward to now...

I worked April and I'm still waiting for that pay despite numerous phone calls and personal visits, attrition style. Mr. Kim and Mr. Jeong are hardly ever there and Mrs Kim "Doesn't know anything."
I have considered repossessing a few PCs but they're old and worthless, as is everything else in the rooms. The two new F/Ts Scott, from the US, and Chris, from the UK, know everything yet are hamstrung by being newbies and having nowhere to go should they walk. Scott has already had problems getting paid.

If you hear of this lot, Hello English, in Maetan, Suwon... don't even think about working for them. The three of them are consummate liars, cheats and all told snakes.

[livinginkorea]

My girlfriend warned me about that place when I came to Suwon looking for a job. She went for an interview there a couple of years ago and he never got back to her. Then about a few days later (when she got sick of waiting and got another job) he started calling her every week asking did she want a job in his wonderful school. After your experience I'm glad she didn't go. It seems that there are a few schools in Suwon that have a very bad reputation like Global, Easy Education and Hello English. Everybody should avoid them like the plague!!!

About the pay I would go to the labour office but since you didn't have a visa I don't think you can do anything much. Maybe get another job and try and get the students to follow you!! That would hurt them bad!!