To Stacy:
Yep. That's pretty much how it is in Korea's less reputable academies. Aside from the established chains like E.L.C, its hard to find a reputable academy outside Seoul and Daegu.
Also, Koreans are very reactive. Chances are the Korean teachers are not advised of changes any sooner than you are. They just go with the flow. In the smaller academies, the spoken language is Korean and everyone forgets that you don't understand what they are saying.
I taught in Korea for five years. At first, I wasted a great deal of time getting organized and planning lessons only to have them blown away by the director. It was exhausting and frustrating. Then I just relaxed, acted as though I were on a long vacation, and laughed off the circus. My sense of humor came in handy. You can criticize, get angry, write memos, but you will not change them. Dont try to do or teach too much. Just go in as a friend of the students and youll find your nerves will thank you for it. Above all, remember, you are not expected to make them learn English. Korean teachers do that. You are a Native English presence.

To Theo
Interesting. I too was struck with a life threatening illness while in Korea. It was at a hagwon in Nammok, Ulsan. I too was denied access to prompt medical care and, I too now have permanent damage, in my case to two limbs, as a result of my guarantors negligence. To make a long story short, the officers of the hagwon were letting me die on their premises. After my necessary, yet much criticized outburst (I was dying for crying out loud!!!) I was finally given a hospital bed. While I was in the hospital, I was secretly fired. Its a serious workplace problem in Ulsan.
Having stated the above, I have to add that the kind people who did go out of their way to help me while I recovered were Koreans, but they were not among the powerful who rule the Ulsan workplace.
According to Korean Immigration Laws, academy owners/directors have a duty, as guarantor, to help their foreign teachers who get sick and this includes getting us to the hospital promptly if required. However, some hagwon presidents have powerful friends who raise them above the law.
ANET