Director,
Our intention is to discuss with you rather than demand an appropriate settlement of our business with you. It is not what we want that is important, nor is it what you want that is important. What is important is what you and we together are able to agree upon as fair.
Since our arrival here, you and we have disagreed about the authority of our contracts. Where we are from, the contract is the definitive agreement between the employer and the employee. Here, the contract seems to be viewed as a formality, while the true bond is the verbal agreement between the employer and the employee. We are flexible. We are not determined to stick to the word of the contract--our very situation makes it impossible to stick to the word of the contract.
Had our contract and our employment with you remained without interruption, we would have received certain compensations at the end of the contract year. These compensations are detailed in the contract: Article IV, section ii - "Severance Pay;" Article IV, section viii - "Transportation;" Article IV, section ix - "Relocation Allowance."
As things stand we are unable to remain for the full year. Likewise, you are unable to employ us for the full year.
Were we being dismissed by you for failure to fulfill our duties, or were we voluntarily resigning, the course of action could be found in the contract, Article VI, section ii: "The employer will have no duty and will not be obligated to pay the cost of return transportation...or any amount of relocation allowance..." However, our case is not so clear as that.
The reasons for the termination of our employment with you do not appear to be voluntary, for employees or for employer. Nor is such a case covered in the contract.
We were invited by you to work as Native English teachers at Nam Inch'on Foreign Language Institute. We were not placed at Nam Inch'on Institute, but rather, at Segyero and Olympiad Hakwons according to your direction. We have, since our arrival, followed your direction and trusted that you would work in our best interests. Barring unforeseen difficulties we would have remained in your employ for the full contract term. Now, however, there is an unforeseen difficulty. This problem is one over which we have had no control since our arrival here. Likewise, it is a problem that could have been avoided if we had been employed at the institute with which we are under contract, and which invited us to Korea (Nam Inch'on).
Due to this problem, we are forced to leave jobs which we had planned to continue for the next five months. Likewise, we must leave a country where we had made plans to live for the next five months.
As we must leave the country quickly, the urgency of our situation is clear. It has taken priority in our lives, and we hope that you too will make it a priority. It is our hope to come to a fair agreement on the terms of the termination of our employ and to have this matter resolved as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
O____ and L____