Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rrlawyer3]

I am coming here for help. I know I screwed up, so please do not respond just to tell me I am an idiot. I already feel like one. I am just hoping someone with a friendly heart will just give me some friendly feedback. PLEASE DON'T KICK A MAN WHEN HE IS DOWN. I KNOW IT IS TEMPTING. HECK, THAT IS WHEN HE IS CLOSEST TO YOUR FEET. BUT PLEASE HAVE A LITTLE MERCY. I JUST NEED ADVICE ON WHERE TO GO OR EVEN SOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. JUST PLEASE LAY OFF THE HATE.

I had a good job, but it had a 7am to 10pm split. I quit my job because a new employer offered to better deal with block shifts and higher pay. He lent me the money to pay my contract off.

I told the old employer about everything and they were very cool. We still have lunch together - we are friends. I gave my 45 days notice, didn't miss a class and had high student ratings. I even got a letter of release and recommendation.

I gave all my E2 material to the new employer. He is an attorney in the US and Korea and said he could take care of it. I don't know Korean law and he seemed very trustworthy and kind. He then began "outsourcing" and had me signing vouchers for SNU and working at Samsung. My mistake, I thought attorneys were trustworthy (JOKE).

I was also to lecture at Kaist and set up a program to help Korean attorneys get a JD.

I "quit" the job because I was afraid it wasn't legal. I went to my old employer and he said "man, you are in trouble; why didn't he get you an E2?" I said I thought he did since he still had me using my certificate of alien registration number. He advised me NOT to sign another thing, leave and re-enter so I could talk with him.

Yes, I went to law school, but not in Korea. A JD does not make me a genius at international law. I relied on good people here, but they have run out of ideas.

This seemed like Basic English teaching Academy contract stuff. I shuffled papers for an administrative agency. I was a low level regulator monitoring Qwest and a few utilities. I was a bored beaurocrat.

I left to Fukuoka and re-entered. The new employer is now threatening to sue me for "breach of contract."

I came here because we lost 3 family members in the Korean War and I felt a bond with the country. Could someone respond who has something to say besides "you are an idiot?"

THIS COUNTRY HAS SUCH HARD WORKING STUDENTS, LOW CRIME AND GOOD WILLED PEOPLE. I GOT SICK OF SHUFFLING PAPERS AND DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING BETTER WITH MY LIFE. I KNOW I SCREWED UP - I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY QUESTION GENERATED SUCH HATEFUL RESPONSES.

ADMISSION: I acted without thinking. I trusted, but I asked my FIRST employer before making any rash leap of faith. I FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF A RECRUITER WITH 10 YRS EXPERIENCE. I didn't lie to anybody.

The NEW employer wants his money back and I CAN SEE HIS POINT. I wish I could pay him. I can't. The landlord has it in key money. I don't have it to give back. I PROMISED HIM I WOULD RETURN IT WHEN MY LEASE IS UP AND WILL NOT LIE TO HIM EITHER.

I FEEL THIS COMES DOWN TO A SIMPLE E2 WORK VISA QUESTION: Is a foreign worker obliged to honor a contract when the new employer fails to obtain the E2 to allow the employee to work?

[matthews_world]

Aren't you basiclaly living off his money anyway?

List your property for rent and find someone to take over the lease. Collect your key money. Pay what you owe the man. Pass 'go'; collect $200.

[Wangja]

You have a PhD in law and you come to this board for advice?

whew ......

[poof]

Is the guy actually in the process of sueing you or is he just threatening to sue you? If he's just threatening, I think you'll be okay - many employers here use that as a scare tactic. I'm also not clear as to how you could have 'handed your E2 to immigration' then 'didn't get my E2'????????????

We probably can't flood the board with donations to help you out, but I'm sure that many would direct you to the labor board to see what could be done. This also sounds more of a case for EFLLAW.com. Your position of doctorate lawyer is not common to everyone on the board here...One would have thought a doctorate in law would be in a better position to deal with attorneys than us mere mortals.

In brief, this situation will illustrate to any newbie why it is absolutely essential that you don't commence any work until you have the E2.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

You're a lawyer and presumabely you know other lawyers in Korea, don't you? Sorry, but the odds are that a bunch of BAs and grad school dropouts aren't going to be much help with anything but correcting your grammar. I'd suggest you contact the American, British, and Canadian embasseys for their lists of English speaking lawyers.

[rothkowitz]

wtf?

You say you have a Doctorate of Laws and you're asking for advice here after having been mislead?

Are you for real?I doubt it very much.

[Gideon]

sounds strange.. are you for real? A PHD in LAW?? wow.. and you come to korea for work?

[matthews_world]

Well, my friends, it is with KAIST. See above. It's as big as it gets here in Korea and if you've been out reasonably much, you'd know about it.

Just have an upfront meeting with him. And yes, find a Korean to take with you to translate.

Like posters said before, he's pulling tactics to try to get his money back.

And like I said before, if you don't wanna stay at your job, find someone to take over your place, you'll have to pay a small cancellation fee, then take the key money you have and pay back the difference. In the meantime, find a place to live/work elsewhere or return home. If you're employer purchase your airfare, then you probably still owe him for the amount and he'll deduct it also unless you can bargain it off the table.

[Paji eh Wong]

Coincidentally, KAIST is advertsing.

[PRagic]

Several law instituions changed the wording of their basic law degree to 'JD'. This doesn't necessarily mean that he has a doctorate in law.

I would suggest that you go to the labor board with this. Also, as someone suggested, your employer might just be posturing. Pretty common. Sounds like what he is doing is legally sketchy, so I wouldnt' be surprised if he wanted to stay under the radar.

If he had indeed gotten you the E2, you wouldn't even really have a problem. Is it possible to just get that out of the way and finish up the contract?

Lastly, with a JD, you could probably score a university position with some ease. You'd get better hours, better vacation, and, from the sounds of it, a lot less stress. Something to think about.

[PRagic]

Oh, and the pay and hours at KAIST suck.

[Wangja]

The OP as edited bears almost no relation to the original OP.

[rothkowitz]

I don't think anybody intended to make any hateful remarks to you....just it sounded so...well,odd.

A doctor of laws coming here?

Anyway....hope you get it sorted out.

[rrlawyer3]

[rrlawyer3]