Hello Jennifer,

Contact your consulate immediately and ask them for advise (although I doubt is there anything they can suggest).

If school allow you to work over a month without the E2 visa, then they broke the law by allowing you to work with them illegally. Of course, Korean immigration will support the school claim, you have no choice, but to agree with the school. The reason, the paid your airfare and recruiting fee. School wants that money back with good reasons. If you were hire in Korea, then things could be different as there will not be airfare fees involved.

The best scenario is that you find another place to live first. School probably won't pay any fees the owed you. They may exaggerate on the amount they are going to claim from you (air, recruiting fee if applicable, etc). If you want your freedom to teach in Korea legally, then tell the school that you are willing to pay the airfare fee. For the recruiting fee, school will get the money back from the recruiter (most probably).

More: If the school can convince the immigration dept.(a very simple call) that your intentions were to switch jobs to a better location an better salary. Then you will have a black mark with immigration and that will prevent you to get an E2 visa in the future.

Leave the school asap and agree with them to pay back, even if takes part of your future salary (months of work). Small price to pay for your freedom to teach over the table in Korea.

Regards,

Kim