Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jameshaddrill]

Okay... This isn't exactly what I wanted my first post on here to be but....

I've been in Korea just over a week and I'm not exactly having fun. The job I'm in isn't everything I hoped it would be. Basically the hours are pretty long and fairly antisocial. The director promised a lot of things that haven't appeared yet, including a desk, chairs, trash can and TV. There are a couple of strange things in the contract that I shouldn't have really agreed to but I was in a rush to leave England.

So my question is... what are the possible consequences of just splitting from here if things get too bad? There's a clause in my contract saying that I have to reimburse the school for my plane ticket if I leave in the first 6 months and I have to give 60 days notice....

Sorry this is long but I thought I should explain my whole situation. Does anyone know what the worst case scenario and likely outcomes are?

Thanks.

[Return Jones]

Don't overreact. Give it some more time. Give them notice if you must, but don't let a missing trash can and chair get to you. Work hours in Korea are not quite like in the West. During your breaks feel free to surf the net, go out and take a walk, listen to your ipod, order food, put your head down and take a nap, etc. Almost every teacher here has done a year of long hours in less-than-ideal circumstances before moving to something better.

As far as consquences go for doing a runner, you could possibly encounter difficulties getting another job in Korean. The Immigration Blacklist is rumoured to be true, but I've never seen concrete proof. Otherwise I don't think you have to worry. I've never heard of anyone getting nailed in any way for a runner once they've made it back home. The cost and hassle of filing a lawsuit across the world likely isn't worth it to an employer.

[Corporal]

[jameshaddrill]

[Juregen]

If you do a midnight run, there is not much they can do.
Extraditing you from England to Korea for a broken contract isn't going to happen.

Ofcourse you might become blacklisted


o yeah, and you cannot return for one year to Korea.

[Mary-Jane]

I'm not actually in Korea, but I'm in the process of getting a job there. So I guess I don't actually know what the reality is like yet, but...

Give it a couple more weeks, see if you settle in? I think it would be better not to think too much about doing a runner, already... otherwise you'll be seeing everything in a negative light and not giving your experience here a proper chance. Maybe you can find some other teachers who work similar hours and get together with them.

[ttompatz]

[laogaiguk]

ttompatz said it best. Good advice with just a little of a wake up call which was needed.

[soviet_man]

I don't agree with the whole "buckle down, grow up and do your job" assessment - some places here are genuinely bad.

Perhaps this person would be better in Japan in one of the big structured programs (like JET, NOVA, Geos etc.) where extensive orientation and training are provided and a fully pre-planned curriculum is laid out - with a large network of support people to help them every step of the way. Maybe that is what he is looking for.

I mean - I *would* give his current job a fair go for a little longer, but if it doesn't work out then that's ok.

Korea is not for everyone. Maybe this man shouldn't have been put in a "sink or swim" situation in the first place.

[jameshaddrill]

I'll be here at least until the second week in October. I would feel very bad about just leaving but if things are really bad then I have to say that I'm going to put my well-being first.

Anyway, we'll see, I think I'm going to have a long chat with my director on Monday if he's willing and see if we can change any of the conditions.

Nothing's set in stone yet...

[ChuckECheese]

[InXTransition]

[EFLtrainer]

[sheba]

Stay longer! One week is not enough time to judge...... Ive had holidays longer than that and probably worse! Are there some problems youre not telling us about? Cos if what youve said is all there is..... well thats not a big deal at all.

I arrived on a Monday, started work on the Tuesday. I was given some books and told to go and teach..... I didnt even know where the classroom was! No one talked to me for about 2 weeks, I didnt know the shedule, what age I was teaching.... I knew NOTHING about my job. They didnt help me in anyway. I lived on cereal for 2 weeks because I didnt know about the food.... I was thrown in the deep end.

After about a month I got used to the books, the students, got into a routine and started to enjoy what I was doing. In the weekends I took walks around the nieghbourhood - I always feel good after getting exercise, and it was really great having a look at all the strange and interesting things around me. I met some other foreigners and started travelling around the country - which was awesome.

The previous teacher could speak Korean, so it took a while for the Korean teachers to talk to me (they were embarrassed about using their English). But once they opened up we started going out for dinners and drinks and it was great. After talking to other foreign teachers, I realised just how good a job I have - the boss looks after me and the teachers are supportive and always help with my problems.

My point being..... give it some time!! I month at the VERY least, 2 or 3 even better. Things change a lot from your first week!!! It only got better for me and I hope it does for you too. If it gets worse, then sure - quit. But at least give it a chance.

[ChuckECheese]

OP said,