Korean Job Discussion Forums

[djmarcus]

So my refrigerator broke after being here for less than 2 months. Who's responsible for this? I say the hagwon owner right? Well, I confronted him about this and he laughed in my face and said "that's your problem". Chuckling as he walked away. Words cannot fully express my emotions at that point. So with the help of someone I'm calling a repair man to take a look at it.

Initially my washer broke too. And he did replace that. So maybe he's trying to tell me that I'll never see the nice guy again. The way I see it, he's going to need to buy a new one anyways for the next guy/girl that takes my place. So what the F*** does he expect me to do....

What would you do? And/Or has this ever happened to you?

[jajdude]

I think you can get a used one pretty cheap. Maybe the boss will pay if it's not too expensive.

[ChuckECheese]

I think you're evil wonjan has no responsibility for broken appliances. Get it fixed on your own. It won't cost you that much.

However, when your wonjan asks you for any help or favor outside of your contract, i.e. teaching extra classes, etc. Just return the favor and tell him, "That's your problem", and just laugh and walk away.

What comes around, goes around.

[polonius]

It depends from place to place. In our contracts it says that upkeep and maintenance of appliance is the employers responsibility. Anything due to the employee's degligence is the employee's problem.

My fridge broke down, it was the compressor that blew. The school picked up the tab, it cost 130,000 won. So it can get a bit steep depending on the problem.

That said, there are some second hand stores around, go check out the prices, I don't think a fridge is that expensive. Maybe 100,000-150,000. Tell your wanjang that you are bying a new fridge, throwing the old one out, he can pay for the cost of removal, then when you finish your contract, you can offer to sell him the fridge.

I am sure this isn't what you want to hear, but it all depends on your boss. Just remember that this is a sign of things to come. It will only get worse.

[ben the saint]

�It depends from place to place. In our contracts it says that upkeep and maintenance of appliance is the employers responsibility. Anything due to the employee's degligence is the employee's problem.�

And �No� it does not depend on place to place. First of all, the teachers name is �NOT� on the lease and therefore he/she is not responsible for normal wear and tear of any thing in the apartment. If the school has signed for the apartment then the school is responsible for any normal wear and tear in the apartment. Unless the teacher is stupid and signs the lease agreement, yes then he/she is responsible for all repairs and maintenance in the apartment, just like any normal Korean rental agreement. But since this is NOT a normal rental agreement between a Korean and it is sublet to an �invited guess�, the normal repairs are not passed on the �invited guess�.
Under Korean Law the leasee (renter) is responsible for all repairs and maintenance. If the school as leased an apartment and then sublet it the teacher, the teacher is not responsible.

Now, if the teacher breaks or deliberately destroys anything in the apartment, then yes, they are responsible for all repairs and maintenance. Regardless of what your contract states. To me it looks like your school tries to nickel and dime teachers and cares very little about the fact that they are �invited guess� and should be treated that way.

�My fridge broke down, it was the compressor that blew. The school picked up the tab, it cost 130,000 won�.

Your fridge broke down and the school paid. The school knows the laws and that�s why they paid your bill.

I believe people here mean well and do the best they can with advice, but before you do, you need to know the laws in Korea.

Think about this, I invite you to my house and I want you to teach my kids math. I provide you with a free room and meals. After about a week the water heater breaks and then I ask you to pay the bill. Would you pay for it? Of course not! The same principles apply here.

[jajdude]

Good points. If your boss does not pay he's a jerk. If you want to still work for such an employer, good luck. Meanwhile, if you intend to stay there for much longer, be prepared to buy yourself a fridge. Maybe 100-150 should work. I know a guy who got a good used one around that price. Maybe some Korean friend can help. Koreans know where the deals are, this is their country!

[polonius]

What I was trying to say is that some places will pay, some, as the OP stated will not. Try telling the owner of his school that it is the law. What will the owner do, laugh in his face some more. Bottom line is, he doesn't want to pay it, you can try legal action, but it isn't going to go far.

Should the owner pay for the repairs, yes. By law, yes. Will he? No. Will he be taken to court over a fridge? No.

[poet13]

He should pay by law?
Can't imagine that to be true. I think the employer should have, as he did, pay for the washer as it seeems to have broken very near the beginning of the emlpoyees stay. That was the decent thing to do. But after 2 months, I think repairs, unless explicitly stated, are the responsiblility of the occupant. Yes, we could get semantical and discuss which appliances or accessories in a place are more or less subject to use vs abuse, ie; letting waste food go down your sink and then having a plumbers bill to dig it all out, but I dont think it's worth it. And yes, I think it was pretty damn rude to laugh in your face about it, but I certainly wouldn't go to court over it. Leave the broken ref there, buy your own, take it with you or as the other poster said, try to sell it to him or someone else before you leave. (get cash or he might tax you on the "income"...lol)

[spliff]

Get off It! It's the employers responsibility to to replace the fridge for you. I'd hand in my resignation quick like, if that had happened to me. Where I currently work i(and any other place I've worked) if there is a problem w/ anything in the apartment, I simply tell my supervisor and she would sort it for me at no charge and the same day.

[djmarcus]

Hey guys...thanks for all that advice. I decided to try and fix it through the companys' service center. I heard that they don't charge you an arm and a leg just to look at it, like they do in the states. So hopefully I'll shell out 30-40 bucks?? Keeping my fingers crossed.

Bottom line on this is, I need to get the heck out. Who knows what else may crop up later. I'll take this as a warning sign. I'm ready to jet anyways.

Thanks again.

[OiGirl]

[ben the saint]

Oigirl, to answer your question, no, I am the owner of my apartment, plus I own the small building as well. 4 floors and 8 apartments. As in any Korean rental agreement, the apartment is rented and nothing is provided. But in the case of foreigners renting the landlords normally will furnish the place, but still the name on the lease or lessee is responsible for all repairs and maintenance. If you supply your own furnishing then you are still responsible for all repairs and maintenance.