Korean Job Discussion Forums

[peterteacher]

I'm American male teaching at Korean Hogwan in Gwangju... been here just over 8 months now. It's been extremely difficult communicating with my director... first of all she's a WOMAN! (Nuf said) Seriously though... She speaks hardly a word of English even though she's been doing this for over 5 years(!?)

Last night I was informed of the Hogwan's "final decision" to fire me.

I've spent the morning researching this site, and here's a checklist that I've come up with:

1) Find out length of notice for termination they intend(ed) to give me vs. what's required by law. Rumors say 1 month standard? My contract doesn't specify anything.

2) Get termination notice in writing

3) Obtain LOR from immigration office, so I can get a better job.

4) "drop by" and Apply for a refund from the pension office.

5) File a complaint with the Labor board... regarding unfair firing in my last months with no compensation.

6) Report the hogwan to the Tax bureau office for mismanaging taxes.

7) Go back to work in the usual hostile environment that I've grown accustomed to these past 8 months.

Let me repeat that since all communications with my director requires UN style meetings, it is extremely stressful for everyone involved in negotiations.

My reaction to the news:
I was shocked, upset, worried, angry, insulted. The reason they stated was that there'd been numerous complaints by students and parents against me.... It's true that in the past few months there had been meetings informing me how bad of a teacher I was, but no real effort to demonstrate how to improve. Just complaints.


An interesting (related?) aside:
Recently I/ we were investigated by Foreign Affairs for teaching illegally at a public school. No results to report on that affair, yet. I say "we" because my hogwan paid me for the gig, and even had a contract with the school. That's how "we" got caught. Actually it was mandatory work that I protested, but they were greatly angered by my audacity, etc... By the way... a lawyer (misinformed or disingenuous) even said I was in the clear teaching there, even without informing immigration. Now I know it was a bad bad thing



PLease reply with helpful suggestions and concerns

[SeoulShakin]

Your list looks good, but was it really necessary to put she's a woman in such bold lettering? Is that really relevant?

[Tony_Balony]

Women are kind, understanding, gentile,nurturative and supportive. Thats the stereotype anyway, so are you expecting compassion from her?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

#3's the only really important one if you want to stay in Korea and #4 if you want to leave. Save #6 until after you've got #3, unless you have trouble getting #3.

[peterteacher]

THere was supposed to be an evil smile there. Meaning... "just joke"

Seriously, tho... most of these Korean forums assume boss is male gender. Both Hogwans I am familiar with have female owners/ directors.

I'll going in to work, now... cover me!

-PTeach

[CentralCali]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[garykasparov]

LETTER OF RELEASE

Teacher Name:

Nationality:

Passport No.:

Address:

Telephone No.:

First Name & Last Name has been working at Name of school from month day, year to month day, year in the position of Foreign English teacher. He was notified of dismissal on September 3, 2007 and his last day of work was on month day, year. I, Director First Name & Director Last Name consent to the above employee working for another English school or English academy.

Dated: month day, year

School Name:

Address of School:

School Telephone No.:

Employer Name:

Employee Signature:

Employer Signature:

/SEAL/

[peterteacher]

My boss, via a Korean teacher ("interpreter"), refused to provide any paper document when I requested a notice of termination.

I pointed out the Article 32 (Advance notice of dismissal) and the reply was (ludicrously) that if I could point to where it said they had to provide written notice, then they would consider it. Of course, I couldn't.

They insist that I take some "deal" in which I change schools immediately without leaving the country...The terms are so insulting and aren't worth considering since they're not on paper, anyways. My insistence that they were forcing me to goto the authorities were met with a disturbing, stoic smile. (((((("I know something you don't know")))))

I left the meeting feeling totally intimidated... joking that when i got back to my apartment, I might meet the boss's Husband who would "persuade" me to take the "deal".


When I did get home, my sweetheart, who happens to be Korean who... and oh yea... also used to work at the hogwan, had apparently already spoke to my director earlier in the day about the "deal".

Today, I feel I need to take a different approach with the situation, as I attempt to clear up my/"our" priorities at "home". It's clear that my girlfriend still feels loyal to an organization that I've grown to despise.

An organization that seems to want war.

[garykasparov]

[Juregen]

Peterteacher

Don't accept any deals.

Tell them that if they do not respect the rules laid out, that you will be "forced" to file a complaint at the Immi office and the Board of Education and the Tax office.

They first need to HAVE a reason to fire you in Korea, and it has to be a formal complaint. Otherwise they CANNOT fire you. (bad teaching is not a reason, they hired you, so its their problem)

If they do have a formal complaint to fire you, then they need to give you 30 days (at least) + a LOR and all other documentations.

As long as you did not receive these things, continue going to work unimpeded. DOn't stay at home and miss work (if you stay home for a week or so, they can "assume" the contract is finished, same goes in any other country)

[ChinaBoy]

get over it and get a new job, why create more stress in your life?

[spliff]

^Best advice yet...

[peterteacher]

"The deal" ... Still nothing on paper yet.

A significant threat has manifested in the form of an unidentified flying "unqualified teacher complaint".

(((((Take "the deal" or we'll file a formal complaint with immigration and you'll never work in Korea again. ))))

OK. I haven't done any research on this, yet... anyone have any experience with "Unqualified Teacher"? The obvious application would be someone who faked a diploma, or goes on binge drinking episodes while on duty.

The question ... could my half-assed-hogwon director who never documents anything on paper (as a rule, apparently) actually get me banned from teaching here?

Wild theory: My director is possibly reeling from expenses incurred from last month's illegal teaching investigation, and overspending on gaudy interior decorating for the new building from 3 months ago... and is trying to force me into some ludicrous deal just so she can make a payment on a cheezy chandelier.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Just got to the health, pension and tax offices if this is the way they're going about it.

They fk you, you fk them. Then get another job. Don't worry about letter of release nonsense or their stupid threats.