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Pee tests too easy to cheat
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bassexpander



Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

PostPosted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:33 pm    Post subject: Pee tests too easy to cheat Reply with quote

If Korea wants to be serious about pee testing for drugs, then they need to change the way they conduct the testing.

If you go to the main hospital in Bundang, located next to the Poonglim I-Want building, you can get your approved health-check done. Here's the really stupid thing...

At the end, you pee in a cup and pour it in a test tube. You do this alone, and then set it on the ledge above the urinals, next to everyone else's test tube from before you. There the tubes sit -- out in the open for everyone to tamper with, change, or whatever. No one watches you pee (as is done in the USA during many drug tests). No one is guarding the vials of pee. They are collected after a long while (not sure how long they all sit there).

What is to stop people from cheating? Nothing.
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seoulsucker



Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff

PostPosted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Right now the health checks don't include drug screening, from what I understand. They are simply to test for kidney/liver function, diabetes, etc.
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butlerian



Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea

PostPosted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:36 pm    Post subject: Re: Pee tests too easy to cheat Reply with quote

bassexpander wrote:
If Korea wants to be serious about pee testing for drugs, then they need to change the way they conduct the testing.

If you go to the main hospital in Bundang, located next to the Poonglim I-Want building, you can get your approved health-check done. Here's the really stupid thing...

At the end, you pee in a cup and pour it in a test tube. You do this alone, and then set it on the ledge above the urinals, next to everyone else's test tube from before you. There the tubes sit -- out in the open for everyone to tamper with, change, or whatever. No one watches you pee (as is done in the USA during many drug tests). No one is guarding the vials of pee. They are collected after a long while (not sure how long they all sit there).

What is to stop people from cheating? Nothing.


It's a product of an honest culture (although admittedly this is changing, due largely to globalisation and Westernisation). It's like walking into tourist attractions - I know people who don't buy tickets but they're never questioned because the security guards just assume they must have a ticket.
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Bibbitybop



Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Drugs tests are stupid for 2 reasons.

1. Really harmful drugs get out of your system in matter of hours or days.
2. Marijuana tests don't test for the drug, the THC. They test for cannabinoids which aren't a drug.

Anyone who smokes in Korea is an idiot, plain and simple, but world-wide, drug-testing is flawed. A marijuana user in the USA won't be high after a few hours, but the residue is in his/her system. Hell, alcohol affects someone the next day more than marijuana.

Coming to Korea 3 weeks later and having that residue doesn't affect that person's ability to teach one bit nor does it mean they will do drugs in Korea.
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rocklee



Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:47 am    Post subject: Re: Pee tests too easy to cheat Reply with quote

butlerian wrote:

It's a product of an honest culture....


What???

Quote:

...although admittedly this is changing, due largely to globalisation and Westernisation.


You think Koreans are an honest bunch? WTF are you dreaming about.
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T-dot



Joined: 16 May 2004
Location: bundang

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 1:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They test for diabetes. It is not a drug test.

Basic test is

X-Ray check for TB
Blood check for AIDS,STDs
Urine Diabetes.

This is the basic test required for all people to work in Korea. Anything else is more $$ outta your pockets and into theirs.
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Hank the Iconoclast



Joined: 08 Oct 2007
Location: Busan

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 1:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am glad you don't have someone standing over top of you while you are taking a piss test. I would be really irritated or even pissed if they implemented that. Since personally I need some privacy to produce a urine sample.
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icnelly



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Location: Bucheon

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 2:22 am    Post subject: Re: Pee tests too easy to cheat Reply with quote

bassexpander wrote:
If Korea wants to be serious about pee testing for drugs, then they need to change the way they conduct the testing.

If you go to the main hospital in Bundang, located next to the Poonglim I-Want building, you can get your approved health-check done. Here's the really stupid thing...

At the end, you pee in a cup and pour it in a test tube. You do this alone, and then set it on the ledge above the urinals, next to everyone else's test tube from before you. There the tubes sit -- out in the open for everyone to tamper with, change, or whatever. No one watches you pee (as is done in the USA during many drug tests). No one is guarding the vials of pee. They are collected after a long while (not sure how long they all sit there).

What is to stop people from cheating? Nothing.


Ever taken a pee test for a job in the USA before?? Cuz I have and nobody watched me...

Usually, in the USA, there must be a reason before someone will watch you take your pee test, BUT they do seal the pee up right after you give the sample (well at least for mine they did).
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Milwaukiedave



Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 2:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll pee anywhere.
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Jizzo T. Clown



Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Location: at my wit's end

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Milwaukiedave wrote:
I'll pee anywhere.


Me too, and I'll sell my urine for a reasonable fee. PM for details!

Wink
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JungMin



Joined: 18 May 2005

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 4:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bibbitybop wrote:
Drugs tests are stupid for 2 reasons.

1. Really harmful drugs get out of your system in matter of hours or days.
2. Marijuana tests don't test for the drug, the THC. They test for cannabinoids which aren't a drug.

Anyone who smokes in Korea is an idiot, plain and simple, but world-wide, drug-testing is flawed. A marijuana user in the USA won't be high after a few hours, but the residue is in his/her system. Hell, alcohol affects someone the next day more than marijuana.

Coming to Korea 3 weeks later and having that residue doesn't affect that person's ability to teach one bit nor does it mean they will do drugs in Korea.



I agree 100%...you took the words right out of my mouth.
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Bibbitybop



Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

JungMin wrote:
Bibbitybop wrote:
Drugs tests are stupid for 2 reasons.

1. Really harmful drugs get out of your system in matter of hours or days.
2. Marijuana tests don't test for the drug, the THC. They test for cannabinoids which aren't a drug.

Anyone who smokes in Korea is an idiot, plain and simple, but world-wide, drug-testing is flawed. A marijuana user in the USA won't be high after a few hours, but the residue is in his/her system. Hell, alcohol affects someone the next day more than marijuana.

Coming to Korea 3 weeks later and having that residue doesn't affect that person's ability to teach one bit nor does it mean they will do drugs in Korea.



I agree 100%...you took the words right out of my mouth.


It's good to see other people thinking logically in times of irrationality....which would include the last 25 years in the US's War on Drugs.
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On the other hand



Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Bibbitybop wrote:
Drugs tests are stupid for 2 reasons.

1. Really harmful drugs get out of your system in matter of hours or days.
2. Marijuana tests don't test for the drug, the THC. They test for cannabinoids which aren't a drug.

Anyone who smokes in Korea is an idiot, plain and simple, but world-wide, drug-testing is flawed. A marijuana user in the USA won't be high after a few hours, but the residue is in his/her system. Hell, alcohol affects someone the next day more than marijuana.

Coming to Korea 3 weeks later and having that residue doesn't affect that person's ability to teach one bit nor does it mean they will do drugs in Korea.


Well, Korea DOES have that "internal possession" law, I believe, so technically you're in violation of the law if you set foot in the country with the cannabinoids in your body.

Nevertheless, I agree that any tests would be stupid and discriminatory, not least because they're not likely targetting Korean teachers just back from a trip to Amsterdam. Furthermore, given the nature of the youth culture that tends to contribute the lion's share of foreign teachers over here, they could be losing a lot of competent instructors who have only ever smoked in their home country, and have no intention of ever smoking in Korea.

Here's what they should do...

Administer two drug tests, the first at the halfway point of your contract, the second in the last month. If you fail either of these tests, your contract is immediately terminated, you're slapped with a fine that is double your bonus, and deported immediately thereafter. If you are unable to pay the fine or the airfare, you are kept in the lockup until such time as the neccessary arrangements are made.

I suppose that under this system, people could still smoke at the very beginning of their contract, plus immediately after the first test. However, figuring out the safe "window" for smoking, plus having to trust in your own calculations, plus the fact that weed just can't just be bought on any street corner in Korea, would likely make the whole process of smoking a bit too much of a hassle for most people to bother with.


Last edited by On the other hand on Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:47 am; edited 2 times in total
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On the other hand



Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Anyone who smokes in Korea is an idiot, plain and simple


I have to add that I agree with this wholeheartedly. And I say this as someone who has indulged in more than my fair share back home.
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Norith



Joined: 02 Nov 2007

PostPosted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm still in my home country, and I'm set to leave for Korea in a few weeks. I smoked liberally until I signed a contract, at which time I quit immediately for the sole reason that I may be tested at some point in Korea. I don't care how easy/hard it is to get any drug in Korea; I will not go near anything once I've arrived (and will not go near anything between now and then).
As for the 'internal possession' law...I've heard of people being hair-follicle tested in Korea; I know that most of these tests look back 90-days. Should I be at all concerned that this will occur?

I hadn't heard anything about having to get a TB/aids/std/diabetes test to legally work in Korea....can someone give me some info about it/confirm that I'll have to take this 'basic test'? Is it part of obtaining an ARC?
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