Korean Job Discussion Forums

[plokiju]

So I decided to hang around at my hagwon for an extra month so I could avoid repaying the airfare. I was reading my contract though and the whole resignation thing is a bit vague:

In either case of dismissal or resignation before completeing six(6) months period of the contract term, the teacher must reimburse the employer the cost of the ticket to Korea.

Does that mean I have to wait until the beginning of month 7 to quit "debt-free"? I was planning on quitting Monday, 40 days to the end of completing 6 months (I'm near the end of Month 5). There's a bit of other nonsense too. My contract mentions complete teaching sessions. I arrived Day 4 I think of the teaching session making Month 1 technically incomplete. I always was a bit uneasy about this. I suppose my school could've screwed me out of severance on a technicality. They could do it here too. I'd really hate to have to quit the beginning of month 8. I will quit regardless, the thought of another 40 days is bad enough already. I was just wondering what I should be preparing for.

I guess this is the time to find out what kind of boss you really have.

[deessell]

Why don't you just give them a month's notice when you receive your six month's pay? Seems the obvious thing to do.

[Gopher]

People who attempt to give notice to hogwons tend to pay for it.

The controlling questions: do you intend to stay in Korea or to find work here within the next five years or so?

[plokiju]

My plans were to find another job in Korea. I haven't managed to meet another teacher with a worse job than me. I don't think I'd ever be able to do a runner if that's where you were heading Gopher.

I'd really love to be able to stay until my 6th months pay but that would be the beginning of October (if they take my first month as a month). Then I'd end up working there until November and quite frankly that scares me more than giving up the money.

I really feel like the whole contract is just a scheme. They bring you here and you are indebted to them for the first 6 months so that keeps you from leaving and then you get lured into staying by the severance. I don't feel like playing that game anymore. Don't mind me though, I'm just bitter.

[Summer Wine]

Plokiju wrote:

[Yu_Bum_suk]

As Gopher said, it's all about whether you wish to keep working in Korea. If you don't, you have nothing to worry about. If you do, you've got a lot to worry about. Make a list of the parents' numbers if you can. Document any dirt you can find on management. Do your research and make it clear you know the law (even if you're bluffing a bit). Have back-up plans and be ready for anything.

If I were staying in Korea I wouldn't even worry so much about money issues totalling less than 1 million. All I'd want is to make sure I got that letter of release.

[just because]

To be honest giving bad directors/hagwons notice is asking for trouble....

If you don't plan to teach in Korea then there is no problem.....

However if you do there will be a big problem...
-If he has already been difficult to deal with then he will become a lot more so in the future, just give notice and see what happens...

-If it is only 1 million won then life is to sahort to worry about it, i know you have student loans to pay probably but the stress isn't worth it, just try to get that release letter

[Bulsajo]

[Gopher]

[Son Deureo!]

He may not have any moral reason not to pull a runner, but there are practical considerations for him to keep in mind. If he wants to work (legally) in Korea again for the next 6 months, he will need a letter of release. If going elsewhere or holding out here on his savings or privates is out of the question, so is quitting without notice.

Also, running can sometimes make it harder to get another work visa in the future. Immigration does turn down requests for work visas sometimes.

Running is only the best option when you are not planning on teaching in Korea.

Plokiju, I don't know all the details of your situation, but you're probably better off giving notice or staying. If you give notice, keep your bases covered in case you have to fight for your last month's pay.

Hopefully it won't be an issue, but everyone I've ever known who's stayed in Korea and fought for withheld money has gotten it eventually.

[plokiju]

Maybe I really should just pull a runner. I just don't know. Of course, they have a 600,000 won deposit so honestly I lose either way. I think I might just start ranting now.

The thing is that I don't even know what it is that I don't like. I mean it's a bunch of small things that have just added up to a lot. I hate coming in in the morning for 1.5 hours of class. I hate having 3 hour breaks that I have no idea what to do with. I live outside the centre, there's nothing to do. I don't know anyone who can do anything during that time. I can go to Korean class but all that means is that I don't feel like I get a break at all. I hate teaching 4.5 hours with measly 5 minute breaks. How can I have a split shift and work for longer stretches than those with a block shift? I don't have time to leave the school to even get anything from a Family Mart. I hate that I'm supposed to teach 6 classes straight and then come home and do an hour of phone teaching. I hate that I don't know my own name anymore (school changed it). I hate that my apartment has no A/C and that I can't sleep. I hate that I don't have a table (only Korean style) or a chair. I hate living my life 2 feet from the ground, my mattress is on the floor. I hate that I was demanded to give up a day of my vacation to help the school move and when I didn't I became the selfish foreigner now despised by all. I hate that the two other foreigners at my school are a couple and never do anything. I hate that they refer to the staff as being a family. I hate being angry all the time. I hate being tired all the time. I hate that my school tells me nothing and that I need to be some kind of clairvoyant to understand anything that is going on. I hate making tests and writing evaluations that just emphasize how little they retain and how pointless it all is. Most parents can't even read what I write on the evaluations. Not that it would make any difference if they could. I hate that I can't differentiate between hating the school and the students. I hate that I think about quitting everyday. I hate all these decisions that I make inevitably leading to some kind of disaster because I'm too exhausted to think properly. I feel so unlucky. My bike was stolen after 4 days, my mp3 player erased itself, this external harddrive I bought fell off the counter (had to put it there to sweep the floor since I don't have a table) and no longer works, the students I like all seem to quit. I hate feeling like I can't complain because the school gave me the apartment rent-free. I hate that all I do is complain about work. There are just so many little things that I'm seriously beginning to lose my mind. Of course, perhaps I've already lost it and don't realise it.

I also hate that I can't win with the hagwon. Either they'll have the deposit, the airfare, or me for another few months or maybe all of it. Most of all though, I just really hate not knowing what to do about any of it.

[cubanlord]

I am sorry for your situation and wish you only the best.



Take a step back for a minute...maybe this isn't for you.

[Gopher]