Korean Job Discussion Forums

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Those of us who have been here a while, worked in hagwons, know this is not always the case.

But from a western standpoint, isn't this entirely insane, or ridiculous at least?

'Come work with us, we always pay you for your work.'

Man, of course you should, nay must, pay me for my work. It's just so crazy that we accept this is a good reason to work somewhere.

"Hey, one of the perks of this job is that they actually pay you for your work."

We need to give up the idea that this is a benefit or something. It's ridiculous. If you do not get paid on time and full, do not go to work!

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Sometimes I wonder what the Koreans who write the ads (usually recruiters) saying that the school pays on time and will not rip you off think about having to do that? I would be deeply ashamed if I had to write that about my own country. This isn't an attack on Korea, a real question.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

i have worked here for 5 years and have always been "paid in full and on time", without any hassles....

I did lose one severance however in a rather bitter departure from my last position but have never had any problem with salary...

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

babtangee · Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:05 pm Post subject:

I have a Korean friend in the advertising industry. He said his clients rarely pay in full or on time.

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

ontheway · Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 4:27 am Post subject:

This is not a Korea only problem. It happens all over the world, including North America. It happens to businesses, schools and governments. Try being the accountant who has to choose who gets paid and who doesn't and who has to go around and explain that there is no money for payroll this week and could you please wait a few days. (The accountant has to do it because the boss can't face up to the problem.) These bad bosses who won't take responsibility, make bad management decisions, and dump on the workers, are everywhere. It does seem worse in Korea, but it is not unique to Korea.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

OK. That may be so.

I think it is terrible, however, that so many employers will criticize their foreign workers for any problems or misdeeds, yet fail to live up to their contracts.

"You will be paid on the __th of each month" --- standard in every contract.

You do your job as well as you know, you get paid, very simple. If the boss is not pleased, you can move on. No excuses about lack of cash to pay workers. That's nonsense. You should not run a business if you cannot pay your employees.

Maybe Koreans accept this as normal, but us weird foreigners expect that "promise" to mean something.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

I have even been paid late by the public school I work for, so hagwons are not alone when it comes to this. The excuse I was given was that "sometimes they are busy".

wire · Joined: 01 Aug 2006

edited.

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

I have been paid late by a public school (once). Their excuse was that the person in charge of my pay was absent that week.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Just to show you that foreigners aren't the only ones screwed around...

In jinju last week a bus driver killed himself after not being paid for 6 months(along with all the other bus drivers in the company) and basically the company has said we have no money so too bad...

So if you are living in jinju and are wondering why there was not so many buses last week(and maybe this week) than this would explain why...

I can't link an english article as there isn't one
If you can read Korean search 신일교통 and 진주 there are heaps of Korean articles