Korean Job Discussion Forums

SpedEd · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Location: ROK

Hello people:

I used to work in a "gagwon" in Ulsan (Jung Chul Interlab) that had managment from hell. To make a long story short, I terminated the contract early and paid for the roundtrip ticket, as per the contract. However, the greedy cretins would go a step further and siphoned the recruiter's fee (about $1000 US) from my pay. *This was not listed in the contract.* The co-owner, "Mary", was a crazyass bitch who made up all kinds of bs to rationalize their decision, like "It's customary in Korea for people to pay double when they break something or offend another person." Like I said, they were quite a bunch. Likewise, the slimey recruiter wouldn't reimbruse me one nickel for *his* fee that I paid.

I want to get this money back and teach gagwon management at schools like JC in Ulsan, that this kind of abuse won't be taken without payback. What resources and contacts are around that can assist me in getting this money back?

Apple Scruff · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

Kick 'em in the nuts and take it.

alabamaman · Joined: 25 Apr 2006

magicwolfman · Joined: 01 Sep 2005

I thought this thead was to be taken literally.. I am a bit disappointed. Cool

buymybook · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Location: Telluride

Have you heard of the Labor Ministry?

That is your first step, call 1350 on your phone for information about what to do/which location to visit.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

To be honest with you.....there is really nothing you can do. You can bluster and moan about it but the amount is so small that you won't go to court and will probably just give up trying to get it eventually. The price of working in Korea is your dignity (+ 1000 dollars)

ScottyG · Joined: 09 Jun 2006

i think most recruitors have to guarantee that their recruitee stays a minimum of 3-6 months or they have to either find a new teacher for free or reimburse. i guess how long you actually did hack it would be a factor, and how much conversation you had with the recruitor before you pulled the plug, and how cleanly you did this. there is no real clean way out of a contract, but some methods gain more sympathy than others. but you are pretty much facing an uphill battle that might prove more touble than it is worth. if you can, go back to the school and see what you can fit in a backpack. plasma tv or two perhaps. or staplers. lots of black market value on them i hear.