Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lchennig]

Longtime reader, First time poster. Howdy.

My teaching program is brand new, so our contract is based on what we've been told is a standard teaching contract. We're under the impression that standard contracts in Korea include paid-for round trip airfare. That's why we're up in arms over the following wording:

"The round trip airfare for Employee's flight shall be loaned by Employer based on an economy class air-fare (less than 75% of the regular price) of the most direct flight available from the airport nearest to Employee's residence."

All our schools have interpreted this as stating that we teachers must cough up 25% of our return flight costs. Our interpretation of the parenthetical section is that it is in place to define what is meant by the term "economy class air-fare", thereby protecting from us booking a first class ticket.

Needless to say, our interpretation is worth quite little. Has anyone encountered a similar clause in a past or current contract, and can advise us sorry saps (all public school teachers in Gyeonggi-do) on how best to propceed with our supperiors?

[Joseph Fitzgerald]

Are you in GEPIK?

[lchennig]

No no. My program is all recent graduates from the University of Wisconsin.

[buymybook]

You are practically screwed compared to what you might have expected. Let's suppose you are lucky enough to finish your contract or are allowed to do such a thing is this miserable place or working conditions(WITH THOSE AROUND YOU). All they will pay after you worked thy butt off for 1 year is half(if your lucky) of you flight home. They only plan(if your lucky) to pay for a flight to the west coast minus 25%. that means you pay(if your lucky) for 50% of your flight home since any flight from the west coast will cost you 25% of a total flight cost from korea. west coast to wisconsin cheese head state is I'm guessing $200-300. sorry to inform you of such patheticness!

[tzechuk]

*loan*?

So they won't pay for you. Just lend you the money.

[denverdeath]

Ichennig,

"Loaned by" is an interesting one that I've not seen before. I'm assuming that whoever wrote the contract meant "absorbed by" or "paid by"? Yes, many places offer return airfare, but not all. Universities sometimes do; often they don't. I would get them to clarify that particular clause before anyone signs anything. They may tell all of you to screw off, but they may meet your demands. If they don't, then go elsewhere. There are lots of jobs here. If "Buymybook"'s interpretation is correct, ~75% coverage is not terrible, but definitely not the best you might be able to get.

[Squid]

If you were outside Korea at the time of contract acceptance then a round-trip ticket to the nearest international airport to your hometown I would consider standard. Though as I understand it's certainly not an employer obligation to include it in a contract, many do. Immigration law link anyone??

If you're in Korea when you sign then it's a one-way or nothing, with increased monthly pay to offset.

As I understand your clause it reads an economy class ticket. The 75% refers to it's cost compared to a regular fare.

I too have a problem with "loaned"...

[JongnoGuru]

I had sex on a yacht cruise holiday.

[peppermint]

Immigration requires a document saying the school will pay for your ticket home ( mentions nothing about contract completion) as part of the visa issuance process, but that form seems to carry very little legal weight- at least with the labor board.

I'd read that as them paying for an economy class ticket as well. On the birght side, you might be able to work the " most direct flight" clause in your favor. Tickets with a stopover are pretty much always cheaper than direct flights- see if you can change your flightplan a little and recoup some money that way, if all else fails

[joe_doufu]

I didn't read your post, just the headline. Sounds awesome! Did you take pictures?