Korean Job Discussion Forums

elephantqueen2003 · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

I have an employer that does not recognize our contract. I have been teaching for about 3 months and never receive my pay in full. I am thinking about leaving and heading home, but I am not sure what type of penalties the government could hit me with since I am on a teaching visa. If I want to leave can I just go and get on a jet home? What do I have to do? Inform my employer or the government? Please let me know. Thanks

Elephant

[email protected]

scott · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

space.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

As far as I know, you can just leave, but if your employer finds out and wants to complain to immigration, you may have to pay some fines. Not that you should pay anything, but sometimes hagwan bosses tend to tell lies to immigration in order to make things difficult for teachers trying to leave.

Your best bet is to book your ticket in advance for a Saturday, a day that you don't work and then don't say anything to anyone. Just work your normal week beforehand and then have everything ready for the Saturday you leave. You will be long gone before the boss knows anything. If you live in a small city, you may want to book your ticket out of town so that the boss would have no way of checking.

Your other option is to first report to immigration that your employer is not paying you according to your contract and then tell them you are leaving. That way you will have first crack at telling what's going on.
I've never been in that situation, so I hope this is helpful.
I did do a run once, but the school had me to work illegally and so I didn't have to deal with any visa questions. I just left.
There are plenty of people who post on this subject, so look at what others have to say before you do anything.
Good Luck
some waygug-in

Boogie · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Pusan

Zyzyfer

william beckerson · Guest

Jasmine · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Hongkers!

You can just leave.
Book your ticket for the first weekend after pay day and go. You'll be able to come back when your E2 visa expires. I did this once and faced no penalties!

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

.....

gmat · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

WTF! This thread is more than 4 years old.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

This is nutty. I guess it's still apt, though. It could easily have been yesterday's thread.

Naughty, Andrew

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

.....

Cohiba · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

I think the really amazing thing here is how many people out there
still have absolutely no clue about working in Korea. Teaching English
is a JOB.

YOU ARE NOT IN THE ARMY. YOU ARE NOT A SLAVE. YOU ARE NOT
AN INDENTURED SERVANT.

You can leave Korea ANYTIME you want and you don't have to tell
anyone.

Immigration WILL NOT STOP YOU FROM LEAVING unless there is a
warrant for your arrest or you are in the process of serious litigation.

GET THIS THROUGH YOUR SKULLS

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Just try to get paid in full before leaving (leave the weekend after you get paid) and, don't forget to bring your ARC card to the airport and turn it in at the immigration checkpoint so you won't be fined for not returning it. Just tell them the school closed down. They have no way and couldn't be bothered checking it out anyway.