Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Asiablue]

Can anyone tell me if you've ever gotten your money back after being cheated by your hogwon? This enquiring mind wants to know!

[jlb]

I got fired after 9 months with no notice at my evil hagwon. (Herald School in Cheonan...avoid at all costs!). I stayed for a month and went through the labour board process and got about half of the money that was owed to me.

I could have got everything probably but it would have required me staying in Korea for longer than I wanted to and possibly getting a lawyer, etc, etc, which wasn't worth it for me.

I think the biggest thing the labor board does for hagwons is the intimidation factor. My hagwon couldn't believe I actually went to the labor board and they were a lot more willing to negotiate with me after I did.

[UncleAlex]

The KLB in Seoul ordered a hagwon I had worked in without an E2 visa to
pay me a whole month's salary in arrears because the school and I had a
contract. (Because of financial trouble, my employer couldn't afford to pay
the visa and flight costs by that time.) I ended up getting 2/3rds back for
that same reason.

[Squid]

I'm 2 for 2 with the labor board.

If you need to know anything let me know.

[Asiablue]

Thanks, Squid. I'll email you soon.

[santalucia]

Firstly, your severence pay is supposed to be paid commensurate with the time you've worked, as is your plane ticket. So calcuate severence and plane ticket, divide it by 12 and then time it by the number of months you worked, plus any outstanding salary.

Secondly, remember he that cheateth the teacher cheateth the tax man also. So threaten them not with immigration or the labour board, but with the tax man ... to report them to the tax authorities. I have tried this three times - twice in Korea and one in Mexico and it works like a charm. Somehow, unethical employers do not fear the labour board but do fear the Korean IRS. So threaten away. I got my money when I had actually left Korea. I sent them my UK bank details, and a fax with the threat.

Thirdly: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ALWAYS NEGOTIATE YOUR CONTRACT. Go to EFLLaw.com, look at the contracts. Many of these problems can be forseen. Make sure there is a clause like this in it:

Article #: Early termination: In the event that either party should terminate this Agreement before the term of this Agreement has expired, for whatever reason; the EMPLOYER shall immediately pay the INSTRUCTOR:

(1) All outstanding salary and overtime remuneration.
(2) Severance and flight ticket costs commensurate with the number of months the Instructor has worked.

Make sure your contract exists in Korean even if you have to get it translated and notised in your country of origin.

Hope this is of help.

SantaL.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[willneverteachagain]

my friend went the board route and told me he was labeled a "trouble maker" by blowing the whisle on his old school and trying to get the money he was owed. He got some money but immigration wont give him another E2

[Young FRANKenstein]

[ella]

[lover.asian]

[huffdaddy]

Could those responding also post the labor board office they went through? Maybe there's a trend to be found. Thanks much.

[Young FRANKenstein]