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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:16 am Post subject: Volunteering Isn�t So Simple in Korea |
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http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200701/kt2007010917422010220.htm
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If you are a foreigner working in Korea _ and volunteering on the side _ could you be fined, even deported? Don�t laugh. Volunteering may put you in danger.
The law governing these matters is the Immigration Control Act of Korea. The law stipulates that a foreigner must obtain, in advance, permission from the Ministry of Justice for ``activities corresponding to a status of sojourn different from his own.��
The law applies even to charity activities and volunteer activities, Lee Hye-jeong of Ahnse Law Offices said.
If the law is strictly interpreted, she said, putting on free art performances and even visits to orphanages could be illegal.
Many government workers, including those at the Immigration Bureau, and lawyers that offer services in English, however, have never heard of the rule, let alone a case of its enforcement.
``I have never heard of that situation before,�� said Danielle Suh, a certified public accountant at Kim & Chang Law Office in Chongno, Seoul.
``These things are often considered on a case-by-case basis, but nobody has come in here asking for services like that.��
Han Heek-young, who works at the information desk at the Seoul Help Center for Foreigners, had also never heard of non-Koreans getting in trouble for volunteering.
``I�ve never even before thought that it could be illegal,�� she said.
When she called the Immigration Bureau on Friday, officials would not provide her information if she would not tell the nationality of the inquirer. She said officials said the question was important because foreigners for these purposes are divided into two groups: Chinese and everybody else.
Officials said foreigners were less likely to have problems if their volunteer work was unrelated to their paid work, Han said. For example, English teachers volunteering in kindergartens are likely to be suspected of taking money under the table for English instruction.
When Han spoke to immigration officials on Monday, they told her that foreigners should have no trouble volunteering, as long as no money is exchanged, even to recoup costs.
The officials were referring to the recent questioning by police of nine foreigners in Pusan after they put on a play that drew fire from the Korean press for being critical of Koreans.
The foreigners suspect that they were interrogated by police because of the content of the satirical play, but police say the foreigners were questioned for visa violations.
One of the foreigners questioned reported that during the interrogation police said that poetry readings and volunteer work were also visa violations.
While those involved in the play say they did not make a profit, they did collect 7,000 won per person at the door to pay for expenses. About 150 people saw the show.
The Immigration Bureau dedicated 2005 to cracking down on illegal activities performed by foreigners in Korea, and the push seems to have gained some momentum.
While the number of foreign residents decreased from 750,873 to 747,467 between 2004 and 2005, the number of registered residents as a proportion of the total increased, according to the ministry�s most recent figures. Of those registered, almost half were Chinese.
The forum for immigration information on the bureau�s Web site contains little other than anonymous postings about illegal activities. There are some requests for information by foreigners, but as of Monday there were several unanswered requests.
It is possible to find some information on the Web site about how to register activities, although the information is several clicks away from the homepage.
To register an activity, you must apply to a local or district immigration office with jurisdiction over the area in which you live. The application should be made in person, but could be made by proxy in special cases.
You must have your passport, alien registration card, downloadable application forms, and other documents that pertain to your visa category, which are detailed on the Web site. You also have to pay a 60,000-won fee.
If your application is accepted, you will receive a stamp in your passport and amendments on the back of your alien registration card.
The process is required for each activity that may go ``beyond the current visa status.�� |
For any who wanted to know. |
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Butterfly
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject: Re: Volunteering Isn�t So Simple in Korea |
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Well, despite the opening line of this article, the rest of the piece should provide ample information to let people know that you WILL NOT BE DEPORTED for hanging out with some kids who don't have any folks in your free time.
It's a shame that the article starts negatively, it's really a non-piece, telling us what we already knew. That despite the constant moronic statements of a few posters on this board, even Korean governement officials cannot tell you it is illegal.
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| When Han spoke to immigration officials on Monday, they told her that foreigners should have no trouble volunteering, as long as no money is exchanged, even to recoup costs. |
Even those performers in Busan didn't get deported, they just got cautioned, and they were making money.
So, if you don't want to volunteer, fine, but you no longer have the 'illegal' line as an excuse. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:07 am Post subject: |
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The definitive word: no one can give you a straight answer. Welcome to Korea.
Do the right thing, volunteer, coach, entertain - just don't take any money for it. If authorities want to hassel you for doing so it shouldn't be hard to make them look bad in the end. |
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unplugged_boy
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:30 am Post subject: |
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| actually... i was wondering if there is a program or an organization somewhere i can help/volunteer teaching some under priviledged children? i am sick of teaching rich spoiled kids and i think it would be refreshing to teach some kids who would want to learn and appreciate it. |
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Butterfly
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:32 am Post subject: |
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| unplugged_boy wrote: |
| actually... i was wondering if there is a program or an organization somewhere i can help/volunteer teaching some under priviledged children? i am sick of teaching rich spoiled kids and i think it would be refreshing to teach some kids who would want to learn and appreciate it. |
There was this thread a while back~ contact the OP http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=59607&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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stevenisi
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| There is a monthly trip to orphanages here |
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Rteacher
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Western MA, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:39 am Post subject: |
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This ad was posted in the classified section of the website for free Korean classes:
Every Sunday, my tennis mates go to the orphanage.
Making food, doing laundry, fixing some stufss, playing with kids..
I have a kind of idea that if there's an English native speaker who is able to teach them or play with them for couple of hours as a volunteer.
If some of you are interested in teacing English as a volunteer,contact me please
Sang-im Park - [email protected]
(cell 011 685 8477)
http://kongbubang.wo.to/ |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:10 am Post subject: |
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| Even those performers in Busan didn't get deported, they just got cautioned, and they were making money. |
This is misleading. The organization, headed by a Korean, was charging an entrance fee. From what I understand, the foreigners were NOT making money.
Can anyone with more info the situtation clarify this? |
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Butterfly
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
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| Even those performers in Busan didn't get deported, they just got cautioned, and they were making money. |
This is misleading. The organization, headed by a Korean, was charging an entrance fee. From what I understand, the foreigners were NOT making money.
Can anyone with more info the situtation clarify this? |
Oh for f sake get a life. Point was secondary. |
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