Korean Job Discussion Forums

Jashlee83 · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Location: NJ, USA

So I got a call tonight from a recruiter at SM Entertainment, a pretty well known company in Seoul (thank you, Wikipedia). I've posted my picture along with my resume on the customary ESL sites, but this call kinda freaked me out Confused

He was wondering if I'd be interested in modeling, saying I could make between 10-20 million won a month and be on an entertainment visa instead. Not that it matters, but I'm a young, black woman and after reading posts about how minorities are often viewed over there, I really found that call....interesting. But what do you think?? Has anyone been asked this before and what in the he11 would you do in my situation???? I'm curious...but cautious.

soviet_man · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

The entertainment visa is intended for prostitutes (it is the only visa which requires a HIV test).

browneyedgirl · Joined: 17 Jul 2007

I did a little search and saw that they trick lots of foreign girls into prostitution with the �modeling� thing (a lot in Japan) , and once the girls are there they are so isolated and trapped that they end up with no way out. They try to get girls of all backgrounds for guys with different tastes.

If you want to model for real then you should look into that. Remember that a real modeling company doesn�t make you pay anything (off topic-I know)

Jashlee83 · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Location: NJ, USA

ok...ew.

I figured as much...so many creepy weirdos out there.

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

I have no idea if these people are legit or not but I would say there must be some chance they are. I would just ask them about what exactly you would have to do as a model. If it sounds legit and it is something you are interested in then why not?

In a worst case scenario, you turn them into the police. Prostitution is a serious crime here.

Bottom line: Do your own research. People on this board can point you in the right direction but in the end it is up to you. I wouldn't miss out on opportunity just because someone on an anonymous site said something.

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

Are you a professional model that has the experience and portfolio to warrant that high of a salary? That's a pretty high salary to be offering someone without an in-person interview.

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

Ok, Ok. You are right; prostitution is everywhere but it has been forced behind closed doors instead of in your face like it was for a long time. I still think if she went to the police and told them she was asked to work as a prostitute, they would shut that company down fast. But I could be wrong...

Korea is working very hard to change their image as a place of human trafficing.

endo · Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Location: Seoul...my home

Jashlee83 · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Location: NJ, USA

Fresh Prince, no I am NOT a professional model. But even here in the US, I often get asked if I am. I'm not going to lie - the thought has crossed my mind. The recruiter did not ask me for money or anything, just more pictures. But his English was a little choppy so some of it got lost in translation. At this point, I think the good ole E-2 is safest. Why in the world was he browsing ESL teacher websites anyway??? That was kind of a red flag... Confused

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

PeterDragon · Joined: 15 Feb 2007

I'd blow this guy off. Modeling and acting can--- and should--- be done on an F-4 visa. Remember, having your visa reprocessed means temporarily yielding your passport. You don't want to do that unless you are absolutely sure that the person you're dealing with follows labor law and is not--- to say the least--- a slaver. In many countries, the Koreans are famous for trafficking, and woman accept jobs from Korean recruiters at their peril, ESPECIALLY "entertainment" jobs.

jjurabong · Joined: 22 Jan 2003

Jashlee,

Don't be so quick to dismiss what might be a great opportunity for you. Although the entertainment visa does also cover Russian bar girls, I have friends who are legitimate performers who are on that visa.

SM is a huge entertainment company - it wouldn't be that difficult to phone and verify that the guy who contacted you is an agent.

As for trolling the teacher's websites - it is an easy way for them to find foreigners in Korea, and since most resumes have a pic attached, they can quickly find people with the "look" they want. As far as I know, there is no model database for Korea that deals with amateur or up and coming models, so the teacher resumes are their best bet. I really don't think there is anything underhanded about this, particularly if you "look" like you should be a model.

Foreigners are used in all kinds of media here, from background actors in tv shows that are "set" abroad, to music videos and advertising. African-Americans seem to turn up just as often as caucasians in these things. A lot of the stories about discrimination deal mostly with the teaching field.

Just my 2 cents - and I've been here for 12 years...

Optimus Prime · Joined: 05 Jul 2007

My bet is that he's a perv that wants to choke his chicken to your pics.