Korean Job Discussion Forums

chicka · Joined: 15 May 2005

My contract ends with my school soon and i've decided to go back home when I finish here. I've had a really good relationship with the director of my school right up until I told him I would not be staying. He now acts aloof, or rather just ignores me. What gives????

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

The director is upset because he/she is losing his/her moneymaker. It's hard to find a good English teaching foreigner in this country. That said, is seems that you either are a good teacher or can entertain kids well. That's why. Just make sure you get your ticket home paid and your severance. Ask him/her to pay everything on your last day of work.

chicka · Joined: 15 May 2005

yeah, i think i'll get what's due to me, hopefully... haven't had any of those "problems" with him to date. I'm just so surprised at his sudden change of attitude since i've told him i wouldn't be staying. he's now suddenly penny-pinching when it comes to me...in a really childish manner. it's weird watching a man old enough to be my father act like an emotionally undeveloped child.

Lemonade · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: South Korea

chicka, what you are experiencing is the norm here in Korea. You should have asked for a reference letter before you said a word about not signing another contract. See he's pissed because he has to find another teacher and it costs him money to go looking for another one. He will not do you any favors now. You're lucky to get out and get paid your due before you leave.

chicka · Joined: 15 May 2005

My experience here til recently had been pretty good despite all of the bad experiences I had heard of others having . I'd been told by other teachers that the korean people are great to you as long as you have something to offer them. And I hate to admit it but there seems to be some truth to that. Certainly not all korean folks are like that but this is what I leave Korea with as per my experience. It too bad.

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

I have observed this phenomenon towards both Korean employees and Foreign.

You have broken loyalty with your employer(in their eyes) by leaving you have let them down(in their eyes) and are no longer part of their world.

Strange as it may seem.

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

Directors should realize WHY some mof us don't want to stay another year. I stayed second year at my last school with no new benefits. i didn't get a raise, I still had roommates, and to top it all off, I had more classes and more work. When they asked me to stay a third year under such conditions, I had to say no, even though now I have no job. ( 3 months now).

chicka · Joined: 15 May 2005

Wow, really? The Korean people here seem to have such expectations of others and live their lives grumbling and complaining about all of the duties they have to fulfill. I guess in some ways I now see why they have such drama in their lives, make mountains out of mole hills, and seem chronically dissatisfied. I think I can live with no longer being part of their world.

SweetBear · Joined: 18 May 2003

In my last place of employment if a K teacher wanted to quit, they had to ask permission. This usually meant going in to see the director with tearful eyes, tail between the legs and providing a sick mother in a distant town story. A co worker explained that it is seen as taboo by some of the old world thinkers. Loss of face I guess. I however, was blessed with being ripped off and a tearful, no, sobbing farewell after being strong armed into staying out drinking , until director was passed out drunk. I complied ( had been there a few years and thought what the hell.)

chicka · Joined: 15 May 2005

SweetBear, that was my downfall...I forgot to cry. Oh well, there's always next time.

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

When you tell your director you're not renewing and going back home it's good to have a reason that's easy for them to understand. I'd say something like, "I really miss my family" or "I want to attend graduate school." These are reasons that a director can understand.

identity · Joined: 22 Apr 2006

remember kids, the moral of this story is that all koreans are evil, so take the money and run.

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

My boss also has asked me to renew. He knew I was planning to leave at the end of the contract before he hired me though.
I think he thought I might change my mind. In fact he left me a note attached to my pay stub today to say he wished I'd keep working at the school.
I came here to get university credit toward my M ed in TESOL though... not for the sheer pleasure of working in Korea. I fulfilled my academic requirements after January but had to sign a year contract as I couldn't find one for only 6 months.
Just been hanging in ever since. Only 50 days left to go!

To the OP... that's a real shame about your director. I agree with you that he should be mature enough to realize people move on. Working in Korea is not our entire life... at least not for some of us.