Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hans Blix]

my relationship with my hakwon has deteriorated. 2 months ago i was given free food every day and told i was a gentleman. dizzying highs, i know.

these days they accuse me of coming to work drunk/hungover (wasn't the case) and our relationship is chilly at best.

so with all this reconfirmation of degree business, i'm told also that, after having worked at my hakwon for 6 months, my passport and degree must be sent to the 'tax office'. apparently i'm not on their files or something. (note that this is separate to showing my degree and passport to immigration)

i'm pretty pessimistic about this, and i actually suspect my school wants to indefinitely hold my passport to prevent me running.

for those who might know, does it seem reasonable that the tax office might require to re-verify my passport and testamur? can't say how much i appreciate the help on this forum.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It doesn't sound very plausible to me. Give them a photocopy of your passport and degree. Ask for a form first if there's something you have to submit, and get a Korean friend to translate it for you.

[mishlert]

Tell the school that you will gladly go to the office with them and show the person there your degree and passport. If you are given a song and dance then you know that something is fishy.

[jlb]

Don't hand over your passport to your hagwon under any circumstances!!! Working at a bad school is nightmare enough but working at a bad school when they have your passport and degree is even worse.

Agree with previous posters: either give them a photocopy or offer to go with them to the tax office.

[ejmlab]

I agree.

I've never had to show my original degree and passport to the tax office. Last year I submitted a photocopy of my marriage certificate for an income tax refund. Perhaps the University also sent a photocopy of my Alien Reg Card but I can't remember. Definitely not the original passport or degree. To me it sounds like they want to hold your documents to prevent a midnight run. Do as the other posters have suggested and give them a photocopy and offer to go with them to the tax office if they need to see originals.

Cheers

[Hans Blix]

thanks for the replies that confirm more or less what i thought.

i'd be interested to hear especially from those teachers who have processed their visa by themselves.

[sheba]

If they have no record of you then I guess they havent received any of the tax you've been paying....