Korean Job Discussion Forums

one take · Joined: 08 Nov 2006

My hagwon boss is still keeping hold of my diploma. He says he needs it to register me with the Eduication Board and will give it back when this is done. Is he talking BS?

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

jdog2050 · Joined: 17 Dec 2006

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

OP- how long have you worked there?

bixlerscott · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: Near Wonju, South Korea

This appears to be typical. I have been at my hagwon for going on 3 months and they still have my original diploma. I asked the director for it a couple weeks after arriving and her reply, "I have it". I asked, "OK. Can I have it?" Her reply, "I have it"

I will ask for it again soon. I just wanna know ahead of time if I need a new one or if it's available or if I am going to get rather pissed. She has had a few runners I understand and does not trust me either. Disappointing, I might be moving on despite my co-teachers wishing to stay.

CasperTheFriendlyGhost · Joined: 28 Feb 2007

Dude, get your diploma back. It's your property.

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Call the police, if necessary.

You can also order a new one, at the same time, as a backup just in case it becomes very ugly. It sounds bad, already.

Gwangjuboy · Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Location: England

Demand it back. Simple.

rhinocharge64 · Joined: 20 Sep 2006

I second the notion get it back!! It's yours not theirs, if they refuse then go get the law.

kimchi story · Joined: 23 Nov 2006

The odds are as good that your boss is lazy/absent minded as they are that there is a conspiracy to trap into a year long nightmare that would make Papillon himself cringe.

It took me two weeks to get my docs back from the GEPIK admin. And getting my arc took a week longer than it should have because the coworker who was supposed to pick it up 'forgot' about it for a while.

Ask some questions, put it out there that you want your stuff back sooner rather than later. Don't come apart at the seams about it, whatever you do. (You didn't say anything about the time frame so I'm assuming you are still in your first few weeks at the school - kinda soon to be making your first stink in the place).

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

AwesomeA · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Yeosu

I had a hogwan jack my diploma because I backed out of signing a contract on a Monday and they had fired 2 teachers when I said I would work with them the previous Friday. Gave them my diploma to "verify" my credentials....mistake. They wanted me to pay them 2mil for damages because they fired the teachers when I said I would work there. During the time they were preparing the contract for me to sign, I sat in on a class and got a fowl impression of the school and decided f$%@ this. No government officials will help you get your diploma back, even if a place tries to extort you. I just ordered 2 more from my uni. A couple months later they arrived in the mail. If you have extra copies of your diploma, you will have less worries.

bixlerscott · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: Near Wonju, South Korea

Yes, I got it back. I asked for it again 2 days ago. My directors' reply was, I have it. I then said. Yes, you have it, well, I am proud of my original degree and want to see it on a regular basis and I asked again in a kind tactful and direct manner. Can I have my diploma? She got it out of her locked file cabinet and gave it to me and told me I was doing a good job. I told her I am glad to hear it and that's what I am here to do as well as be happy here.

It is all a game of negotiation with nothing set in stone as in any non-standardized business dealings. Nothing is guaranteed (not even what your entitled to) until you make it happen through tactful negotiation, even after you signed a contract and came to agreements.

(professionalism?) Being tactful, rather than combative is what works wonders, I understand. This is one of those situations that was to make or break me here in line of whether I was going to continue teaching for them or not, that is; succeed or fail. (not to say that all problems are solvable by doing the right things, because sometimes they are out of matter of circumstances not in your control) I pray everyday I do not fall into a very bad situation ever again in my career as I experienced with an uninsured layoff in 2002.

Thanks for your replies in helping me think about it a while and get the wisdom to solve this problem.