Korean Job Discussion Forums

[coffeeman]

Has anybody tried switching jobs in the middle of their contracts? How much of a headache is it? I understand that without permission (employers here seldom let you go easily) you have to cancel your current visa and take a trip to Japan to get a new one sponsored by your new employer. Is the process a long and agonizing one?

[Ya-ta Boy]

[coffeeman]

Thanks Ya-ta! That makes a lot more sense. I guess another option would be to take off to another country (like Thailand), teach and enjoy a work vacation until your current visa runs out. Sure, you wouldn't make the same money, but it would be a positive way to deal with the oppressive labour laws here. Don't get bummed out by your selfish boss. Have a party!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

If you want to go to another country, just leave. If you want to stay in Korea and change jobs mid-contract (like I did) be prepared to get nasty (like I did).

[Homer]

Or and this is revolutionary....be a profesional.

Give your employer notice.

Quit.

Get your LoR. If he or she won't oblige, go to the Labour board or contact efl-law.

Quick question: why do you want to leave your current job?

Running away without notice for no better reason then to quit is just sad. You shaft your employer, your coworkers and your students that way. Unless your school is cheating you should give notice and act like a grown up.

[bellum99]

Unless you are in serious trouble, I would try to finish the contract. It really can bite you on the butt when you try to change jobs. If you have no choice then you do what you have to, but it is best to try and finish.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[coffeeman]

In my case, I like my job and students, but absolutely hate where I live. My neighbor comes home in the wee hours of the morning and shouts and laughs hysterically. I'd join in in the laughter, but I have to wake up at 6:30 everyday for work.

I've complained about this with my employer and they have been lazy about it saying "oh, well. we can give you a housing allowance and you can find your own place.". I think I'd be screwed if I did that because apartment leases are usually a year aren't they? I have 9 months left to my contract.

I don't really like the city in which I live anyway, so if I am going to move, I might as well get out of here and go onto a city I do like. But with the requirement of a letter of release, I might be screwed again. There seems to be no easy solution for this.

It might come down to two choices, to have a serious talk with my building owner and try to get the noise problem resolved (but I doubt the trashy neighbor will listen) or get out of Korea.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I suggest you try to resolve the noise problem first, before you try anything else.

You didn't say why you dislike the city where you are now, so I don't know (obviously) what the problem is. I can say that Korean cities are pretty much all the same. If the problem is lack of Western restaurants, that is different. You have no guarantee that new neighbors won't be just as annoying as the present ones. Lots of people have problems with that...vegetable trucks outside the window, drunk and rowdy neighbors, an elementary school across the street, construction starting early in the morning...

You've been here three months, right? That's about the time most people have it the toughest. The honeymoon is over. Realization that a routine life has been established. The little things about living here that you could ignore before, are no longer tolerable. Time for culture shock (exaggerated negative responses to relatively small problems) to set in.

Anyway, good luck.

[Homer]