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  • mipete07
  • Explorer

    • 5

    • May 01, 2022, 04:16:48 pm
    • Incheon
I arrived in Korea at the end of March and the job which was not correctly advertised to me and was not suitable for me didn't pan out. After three weeks the contract was terminated and after finding a job last week I was given a letter of release by my old school's director under seemingly friendly terms and immediately moved to Incheon on Friday, although my job doesn't start until May 16. I used a moving company to move me and thought all was well until Saturday afternoon when my old school's director suddenly started sending lots of Kakaotalk messages saying that the building manager complained the door was left open for several days (again I got the LOR Thursday, moved Friday, and hadn't even been gone for 24 hrs at that time). Then she said things had been taken, like dishes and pots. I told her I used a moving company, gave the movers the direction presented in the cancelled contract (which was altered after I got here and promises like airfare not kept, although I kept my mouth shut)  to "remove no furniture" via a translation app, and knew none of that info until now, but I was willing to reimburse. She then went on about how I didn't have the place cleaned and sent a picture of a small bag that was overlooked. I restated my offer, and she said while they didn't ask me to take responsibility for the students that left and all the money they lost in tuition refunds, it was very serious, and they could sue me now due to the pots and dishes.  She said nothing good came of this deal with me, and she didn't see why they had to "keep things" which I took to mean keep their word to part ways amicably and pay me this coming Wednesday. She had told my current employer that the school was not a good fit for me, I just needed a more suitable position in order to enjoy life in Korea just days earlier, and I certainly haven't badmouthed them to anyone, so I really thought the situation was amicable, but apparently not? I took screenshots and closed the chat. This morning she contacted me again to continue complaining, threatening lawsuit, and saying the owner (who speaks no English and can't tell me anything himself) feels such disrespect, and it's out of her hands. I pointed out that I was just in her office on Thursday for my LOR, and she mentioned nothing about getting the place cleaned just to send her a message after I had left for Incheon, and she said to be American I have no common sense (not knowing I had already discovered for myself that this is not a requirement by law). She said that she must meet with her boss, the owner, and they will let me know their decisions.  I replied, "okay, thank you." , took screenshots of the chat again, and closed it. My gut feeling is that the director is attempting to save her own job since I didn't work out, and they are less than ethical and are trying to come up with a justification not to pay me by harassment and intimidation thinking I have no recourse and haven't now learned my contract termination was not properly handled, but I really want to know if it is even possible for them to sue me for the refunded tuition fees? This combined school and academy is brand new with very high tuition fees by the way, although I don't know the exact tuition amount and have only a pretty good idea how much each student is worth.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2022, 05:48:53 pm by mipete07 »


  • mipete07
  • Explorer

    • 5

    • May 01, 2022, 04:16:48 pm
    • Incheon


  • T_Rex
  • Super Waygook

    • 379

    • April 23, 2019, 08:10:20 am
They're probably bluffing. For legal reasons it's probably best not to apologize or accept any blame at all for students quitting. Anything you admit to could potentially be used against you. If they don't pay you then you can open a labor board case against them.
"Racism is not dead, but it is on life support — kept alive by politicians, race hustlers and people who get a sense of superiority by denouncing others as 'racists.' "
- Thomas Sowell


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
My eyes hurt and I have a headache after trying to read that  :huh:
Why?

Formatting maybe?
Separating paragraphs avoids the wall-of-text effect and spares the delicate sensibilities of our resident seniors.  :smiley:

But speaking of formatting faux pas, at least you aren't posting images of over 4000 pixels in width like *some* people (who will remain unmentioned). *Cough Cough.*


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
My pleasure.  :wink:


Thank you for explaining how old people view a wall of text. Very much appreciated Kyndo  :smiley:

Nice. We old folks gotta stick together.


  • Mr C
  • The Legend

    • 4127

    • October 17, 2012, 03:00:40 pm
    • Seoul
Nice. We old folks gotta stick together.

My first .sig line in usenet was:

"I'm thirty-seven, I'm not old." --Dennis

I was 37.


Can you be sued?

Yes.

Are you likely to be sued?

No. It's very costly to sue people here, and the burden of proof falls on the plaintiff. Long story short, it's very difficult to prove that a business has suffered or lost clients as a result of a single employee, and even if they could win that probably wouldn't make up for the costs of suing in the first place; furthermore, it would be really difficult for them to justify grievances if there was a mutual parting of ways (which is what this sounds like).

They're just trying to bluff you out of some money.

It's too late for this, I suspect, but as others have said, never apologize for anything, never admit to anything, never sign anything. All of that can and will be used against you, even if you were only trying to be polite or maintain the peace. Hagwons don't play fair, so you need to watch your own back.
« Last Edit: May 13, 2022, 01:51:35 pm by Chinguetti »


  • hangook77
  • Waygook Lord

    • 6829

    • September 14, 2017, 09:10:12 am
    • Near Busan
You should sue them for libel, making you lose face, and damage to your reputation.  Turn the tables on them. 


  • KoreaBoo
  • Expert Waygook

    • 716

    • May 25, 2014, 04:00:42 pm
    • Vancouver Island
They can sue.

They will also lose.

So no.


  • Billy Herrington
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1843

    • June 30, 2022, 12:02:07 am
    • China
    • Banned
    more
Tell your former employee you'll settle it right here in the ring if he thinks he's so tough


  • Billy Herrington
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1843

    • June 30, 2022, 12:02:07 am
    • China
    • Banned
    more
If this 'Arisrocrat' wanted to stay in the closet, then he definitely chose the wrong username  8)


  • VanIslander
  • Fanatical Supporter!

    • 4819

    • June 02, 2011, 10:12:19 am
    • South Gyeongsang province for 13 years (with a 7-year Jeju interlude)
    more
Anyone who gives THEMSELF a title is reaching.

I have rarely cited my 9 chess championship titles. 9. I can show you that- in 5 minutes on any online chess site - sigh - i regularly get my ass handed to me online; yet I have never been beaten face to face (other than the national championships in Grade 4; and my dad), nevertheless i have been trounced online repeatedly. Ugh.

The point here is an aristocrat among rug rats, (man, i couldn't diss a species, had to go with  fake one) is not much of an "Aristocrat".
« Last Edit: July 17, 2022, 05:04:08 pm by VanIslander »
Help others, especially animals. Say what you think, be considerate of others. Appreciate more than deprecate. Teach well, jump on teachable moments. Enjoy Korea as it is, without changing it. Dwell! Yet, at times, change your life for the better. "The most important [thing] is to have a good day."


  • 745sticky
  • The Legend

    • 2871

    • March 26, 2020, 01:52:57 pm
    • Korea
i regularly get my ass handed to me online; yet I have never been beaten face to face (other than the national championships in Grade 4; and my dad), nevertheless i have been trounced online repeatedly. Ugh.

larger sample size


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
    • 🇰🇷
To paraphrase, "In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king."

Also, wrt online chess, some people make and refine some pretty cool scripts for online chess AIs. Does it make you feel better or worse that you've likely been trounced a few times by a long (and probably buggy) sequence of 1s and 0s?  :wink:


  • Billy Herrington
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1843

    • June 30, 2022, 12:02:07 am
    • China
    • Banned
    more
Anyone who gives THEMSELF a title is reaching.

I have rarely cited my 9 chess championship titles. 9. I can show you that- in 5 minutes on any online chess site - sigh - i regularly get my ass handed to me online; yet I have never been beaten face to face (other than the national championships in Grade 4; and my dad), nevertheless i have been trounced online repeatedly. Ugh.

The point here is an aristocrat among rug rats, (man, i couldn't diss a species, had to go with  fake one) is not much of an "Aristocrat".

So help me to understand here. You were beaten in online chess, therefore aristocrats are rug rats?


  • Billy Herrington
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1843

    • June 30, 2022, 12:02:07 am
    • China
    • Banned
    more
Ok. Makes sense.


  • Augustiner
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1902

    • December 06, 2021, 01:18:06 pm
    • Anyang

I have rarely cited my 9 chess championship titles. 9. I can show you that- in 5 minutes on any online chess site - sigh - i regularly get my ass handed to me online; yet I have never been beaten face to face (other than the national championships in Grade 4; and my dad), nevertheless i have been trounced online repeatedly. Ugh.


Can't argue with you there.  It's always been like pulling teeth to get you to bring up the fact you were an award winning journalist back in Canada, or a star football player, or even that you won an award for top English student back in high school (well, you had to share the prize with a girl.)  Anyways, it's nice to see you open up and share with us a bit about your past glories. 


  • Mr C
  • The Legend

    • 4127

    • October 17, 2012, 03:00:40 pm
    • Seoul
Can't argue with you there.  It's always been like pulling teeth to get you to bring up the fact you were an award winning journalist back in Canada, or a star football player, or even that you won an award for top English student back in high school (well, you had to share the prize with a girl.)  Anyways, it's nice to see you open up and share with us a bit about your past glories. 

Have I ever mentioned the time I broke a kid's arm back home when I opened a door and he ran into it?


  • Mr C
  • The Legend

    • 4127

    • October 17, 2012, 03:00:40 pm
    • Seoul
You said you broke a student’s arm, but didn’t go into detail. You opened a door and he ran into it? That broke his arm?

Exactly.  My old school was "Florida plan" meaning rooms opened to the exterior rather than interior hallways.  Shortly after last bell, some sixth graders were tearing around.  I opened the door just as he come by.  He said he was okay but showed up Monday in a cast.